The name 'Bon Iver' (pronounced "bon ee-VAIR") is a play on the French phrase 'bon hiver' meaning 'good winter'. Vernon independently released Bon Iver's debut album For Emma, Forever Ago in 2007, most of which was recorded during a four-month stay in a remote cabin in Wisconsin.
While in high school and college Vernon founded the indie-rock bands Mount Vernon and DeYarmond Edison in Eau Claire, Wisconsin, where he still resides.
According to the For Emma Songfacts, after the break-up of De Yarmond Edison, Vernon retreated to his father's log cabin, out in the woods of north-east Wisconsin to hibernate for three snowy months. There he collected his thoughts and formulated them into a suite of songs, For Emma, Forever Ago . The album was originally self-released in late 2007 in a run of 500 copies and sold out instantly.
The album garnered critical acclaim, and was picked up by the indie-rock label Jagjaguwar, which gave the album a proper release on February 19th, 2008. The album was released in the UK and Europe by iconic indie 4AD on May 12, 2008.
When released in the UK, For Emma, Forever Ago received 5/5 and "Album of the Month" reviews in both MOJO and Uncut magazines. It is currently the third highest rated album of 2008 on review-aggregator site Metacritic, with accolades from publications including The Village Voice, The Hartford Courant and The A.V. Club.
The group's second album Bon Iver, Bon Iver was released on June 17, 2011 to universal acclaim. It was named by Pitchfork Media as the best album of 2011 on their annual list. At the 2012 Grammys, the album won Best Alternative Album and the group was awarded Best New Artist, despite having debuted in 2007.
www.boniver.org
Hey Ma
Bon Iver Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I took it remote
I wanted a bath
"Tell the story or he goes"
"Tell the story or he goes"
Full time, you talk your money up
While it's living in a coal mine
Hey Ma, hey Ma
Tall vote, you know you mope it up
Well, you wanted it your whole life
You're back and forth with light
I waited outside
I was tokin' on dope
I hoped it all won't go in a minute
With the past that you know
I wanted all that mind, sugar
I want it all mine
I had a heavy mind, sugar
It took it, it was right
Full time, you talk your money up
While it's living in a coal mine
Tall time to call your Ma
Hey Ma, hey Ma
Tall vote, you know you mope it up
Well, you wanted it your whole life
You're back and forth with light
(Back and forth with light, back and forth)
(You're back and forth)
(Back, back, back and forth)
I waited outside
Then you took me in the room
And you offered up the truth
My eyes crawling up the window to the wall
From dusk 'til dawn
Let me talk to 'em
Let me talk to 'em all
Full time, you talk your money up
While it's living in a coal mine
Tall time to call your Ma
Hey Ma, hey Ma
Tall vote, you know you mope it up
Well, you wanted it your whole life
You're back and forth with light
Hey Ma by Bon Iver is a song that is both personal and heartfelt in its narrative delivery. It tells the story of a son who has come to ask his mother for her truth, and the repercussions that come when that truth is finally revealed.
The song opens with the line, “I waited outside, I took it remote.” This line suggests that the singer is waiting outside of someone’s house or building, hoping to have a conversation with them. The line is followed up with, “I wanted a bath, ‘tell the story or he goes’” which can be interpreted as the singer’s need for a metaphorical cleansing before they hear the truth.
The chorus of the song is where the title comes into play, “Hey Ma, hey Ma” being repeated multiple times. The line “Full time, you talk your money up, while it's living in a coal mine,” is a comparison of the singer’s struggle to survive versus the one his mother experienced in the past. The coal mine is a metaphor for a difficult life, one that is dangerous and leaves little joy. The song ends on a hopeful note, the singer being invited inside to hear the truth which they then intend to share.
Line by Line Meaning
I waited outside
I anticipated outside while the situation unraveled inside.
I took it remote
I removed myself from the situation.
I wanted a bath
I desired to cleanse myself from the situation.
"Tell the story or he goes"
Give an explanation or there will be consequences.
"Tell the story or he goes"
Give an explanation or there will be consequences.
Full time, you talk your money up
You constantly brag about your wealth.
While it's living in a coal mine
Despite being in poor conditions.
Tall time to call your Ma
It's time to reach out to your mother.
Hey Ma, hey Ma
Addressing mother.
Tall vote, you know you mope it up
You always complain despite getting what you want.
Well, you wanted it your whole life
Despite your complaining, you always desired this lifestyle.
You're back and forth with light
You struggle with finding a consistent path.
I waited outside
I anticipated outside while the situation unraveled inside.
I was tokin' on dope
I was smoking marijuana to calm down.
I hoped it all won't go in a minute
I wished the moment could last longer.
With the past that you know
With the knowledge of previous events.
I wanted all that mind, sugar
I craved that state of mind.
I want it all mine
I want complete ownership of that state of mind.
I had a heavy mind, sugar
My mind was heavily burdened.
It took it, it was right
The relief was just right for me.
Full time, you talk your money up
You constantly brag about your wealth.
While it's living in a coal mine
Despite being in poor conditions.
Tall time to call your Ma
It's time to reach out to your mother.
Hey Ma, hey Ma
Addressing mother.
Tall vote, you know you mope it up
You always complain despite getting what you want.
Well, you wanted it your whole life
Despite your complaining, you always desired this lifestyle.
You're back and forth with light
You struggle with finding a consistent path.
(Back and forth with light, back and forth)
Repeating the idea of inconsistency.
(You're back and forth)
Continued inconsistency.
(Back, back, back and forth)
Repeating the idea of inconsistency.
I waited outside
I anticipated outside while the situation unraveled inside.
Then you took me in the room
Then you brought me inside.
And you offered up the truth
And you revealed the truth to me.
My eyes crawling up the window to the wall
Looking around the room.
From dusk 'til dawn
All night long.
Let me talk to 'em
Let me speak to everyone.
Let me talk to 'em all
Let me speak to everyone.
Full time, you talk your money up
You constantly brag about your wealth.
While it's living in a coal mine
Despite being in poor conditions.
Tall time to call your Ma
It's time to reach out to your mother.
Hey Ma, hey Ma
Addressing mother.
Tall vote, you know you mope it up
You always complain despite getting what you want.
Well, you wanted it your whole life
Despite your complaining, you always desired this lifestyle.
You're back and forth with light
You struggle with finding a consistent path.
Lyrics © SC PUBLISHING DBA SECRETLY CANADIAN PUB., CONCORD MUSIC PUBLISHING LLC, Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd.
Written by: Bradley Cook, Brandon Burton, Justin Vernon, Simon Christensen
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@sevsthepokey
I feel like this song is about a kid growing up and being hardened by the world, forgetting what it means to be a kid. As a child, he was full of creativity, childish spirit, and happy energy, as we see in the video and the first verse. However, as we all do, he grew up and was consumed by work and the material world, forgetting what really matters: family, being happy, and being at peace. "Full time you talk your money up, well it's livin in a coalmine." The coalmine is the dismal state of his soul and his family life. He works full time and is consumed by it, detached from his home life and relationships, completely forgetting his childish spirit and love of life.
It's "Tall time [he] called his ma." She will remind him of what is really important and keep him grounded.
And as always when he calls her, he complains about how strenuous his work is and how miserable he secretly is. "Tall vote you know you mope it up,"
But she reminds him sadly,
"Well you wanted it your whole life."
He was in a rush to grow up, and now he realizes too late that he can never go back.
Pretty amazing song.
@majesticcasual
not your typical lyric video 🔥
@yahstino
However very typical of Justin! Nice to see you here man :)
@gannonrinehart6077
With a Bon Iver song, it's like hearing your favorite song from one of your past lives for the first time in this life. The memory is hazy and faraway, but you feel the remembrance deep within you
@gannonrinehart6077
@@ktaww9492 that's me
@tnx01
Totally. And this is why I press Replay
@MultiGuitarify
Shit this is such an apt description
@gannonrinehart6077
@Kyle Hickman wingardium leviosa
@gannonrinehart6077
@gg dd lol nah
@LeftLeftRightRight16
I wish my life was only surrounded by people who appreciate music like this
@tnx01
Oh god same
I wish I could talk (more) about music with my friends