Bon Iver – Woods

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I'm up in the woods
I'm down on my mind
I'm building a still
To slow down the time

Send "Woods" Ringtone to Cell


Lyrics submitted by gazelle

Track duration: 04:45

"Woods" as written by Justin Deyarmond Edison Vernon

Lyrics © CHRYSALIS MUSIC OBO APRIL BASE PUBLISHING

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Woods song meanings
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  • 0
    Translation:I'm up in the woods (He's actually in the woods)
    I'm down on my mind (He's depressed)
    I'm building a still (He's pouring himself a drink meaning alcohol)
    To slow down the time (getting drunk)
    Flagged IAMKINGon August 17, 2012   Link
  • +1
    General Comment:In my family, we are lucky enough to live directly infront of a stretch of woods, which out patio leads straight into. I remember, one morning, when I was awake at about 6:00 am (couldn't sleep, just split with my girlfriend). The house was totally empty. I'd opened all of the blinds downstairs, and white, autumn morning sunlight flooded in. Everything was completely still, until a hummingbird just hovered infron of the window for around about a minute. It sang and seemed to be comforting me. When it flew away, I walked out into the wood, bare feet, to try and find it again. And then suddenly it hit me. The beauty all around us everyday. I just lay outside on the bark and moss, with the sparks of light from the gaps between the leaves. I lay there for around two hours, and it was absoloutely breathtaking. At that point a royal mail man turned up and probably thought I was crazy haha. But I tried to recreate the morning every day that next week, but I could never quite capture the stillness, and the beauty of doing nothing, in a place where the only sound was birds, and there was no wind, and nothing to indicate anything at all was happening, other than just living. And that, is what this song is about.
    Flag 3astyon May 16, 2012   Link
  • 0
    My Interpretation:I've been listening to this song consistently for a few years now, and once I got over the auto-tune, I fell in love with it. It's so simple, but really striking. Here's my interpretation:

    "I'm up in the woods, I'm down on my mind"

    Taken literally, for the first part, Justin is in the woods of Wisconsin. But nothing is face value with his songs. I feel like he's talking about a place of solitude and peace. The next part, "I'm down on my mind," supports this. The definition of mind is "The element of a person that enables them to be aware of the world and their experiences, to think, and to feel." He's able to quiet his own thoughts and feelings.

    "I'm building a still, to slow down the time."

    A still is something that purifies alcohol, by boiling it and capturing what evaporates, then condensing it. But he's talking about time, not alcohol. He's found a pure, perfect moment, and wants to hold onto it as long as he can.


    I imagine him slowly trudging through freshly fallen snow, weaving between trees, then pausing to look around at the blank canvas of a white world, the roar of complete silence filling his ears. I've experienced that before, and it's such a unique thing. It's a feeling of serenity.
    Flag noiamnotwhereibelongon February 04, 2012   Link
  • +1
    My Interpretation:This song meaning is so obvious to me!
    He's lost and feeling down, so he's getting drunk, to slow down the time. And that's all there is to it. :)
    Flag RavioliFaceManon July 29, 2011   Link
  • +1
    General Comment:heard this on kanye west new album and i was sure it was im lost in this world im down on my mind. very disappointed to realize i was wrong. being lost in this world really clicked with me when i heard cuz i feel totally lost in this world right now....
    Flag beezybeaston February 21, 2011   Link
    • 1 Reply
  • -1
    Song Meaning:Justin Vernon was literally in the woods writing this song in a cabin by himself. He was literally down on his "mind". Shit went down in his life so he need to take time to calm down, "build a still", and seek solitude and peace of mind in the "Woods". He probably also means taking time to gather yourself, notice your surroundings, etc., but he was literally in the woods and he's writing about being in the woods to seek peace.
    Flag powers26on December 25, 2010   Link
  • +1
    General Comment:an excellent play on words where two of the meanings of the word "still" fit.

    "still" as in alcohol distillation goes along with being "down on my mind" and "slow down time" (the ataxic effects)

    "while still" "a period of calm or silence" also fits with being alone in the woods.

    lyrically and musically beautiful.
    Flag magicgason December 09, 2010   Link
  • 0
    General Comment:i love everything of bon iver's. for emma is without a doubt one of the most beautiful albums created.

    when i first heard "woods" my first thought was, oh please oh please don't let that be autotune. hiphop has just ruined the technique and made it corny and tacky. but i continued to listen because bon iver has such a beautiful voice; his voice and the accompanying harmonies make this song is a perfect example how to use autotune correctly.

    this song is simple and yet still haunting.
    Flag rockisgroovyon July 14, 2010   Link
  • 0
    General Comment:inexplicably beautiful.
    Flag deuceishiphopon June 30, 2010   Link
  • 0
    General Comment:gets me every time
    Flag JoannaWynanton April 24, 2010   Link

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