As for the title "Skinny Love" it could be an affectionate term he gave his petite girlfriend, or maby the fact that their love is wasting away- shrinking to skinny. The latter is probably more likely, due to the reference in the first line ("Come on, skinny love just last the year").
"pour a little salt, we were never here"
Salt has healing properties, when put on open wound they help the process along. Probably metaphorically speaking, he wants this doomed relationship to heal, to even "Just last the year."
I like the vivid imagery to blood and crushed veneer in a sink, as if a vase was broken in a fit of rage. I dunno if that ties into the salt reference, maby indirectly.
he then basically tells her to let him go, to cut off the tethers binding him to her.
the third stanza deals wih a blaming the other for the failure of the relationship. She couldn't meet with his expectations, either that or she treated him poorly, probably both.
stanza four seems like a mixture of memories, stating why have we gone wrong when we once loved each other? and how even though the burden of pain (through separating) is heavy, it's still hard to "split."
The last part gives us a glimse as to WHY it went sour. it seems she kind of led him on, that she wasn't that into him- when he really cared for her.
He then states that its unlikely she'll find anyone worthwhile, no one will be able to love her for all the stuff she puts her partners through.
wonderfully honest and emotional, i love this song.
I like your way of thinking... I tend to agree with the metaphorical interpretation about the love wasting away but it could be literal as in a pet name or stature. Could be a reference to addiction as well.
I like your way of thinking... I tend to agree with the metaphorical interpretation about the love wasting away but it could be literal as in a pet name or stature. Could be a reference to addiction as well.
I do sense though he gave her fair warning as to how difficult it might be to sustain their love for the myriad of reasons a relationship might fall apart. Especially one with a talented busy musician. Distance, groupies, or even his own complicated personality. I sense he tried to reasssure her that he cared and loved her...but failed.
I do sense though he gave her fair warning as to how difficult it might be to sustain their love for the myriad of reasons a relationship might fall apart. Especially one with a talented busy musician. Distance, groupies, or even his own complicated personality. I sense he tried to reasssure her that he cared and loved her...but failed.
She may have fallen off the train and was heartbroken as well and he is truly disapointed and heartbroken as well but doing a good job of masking it... She couldn't be reassured and lost faith in what they had and moved on.
I think he accepted all the flaws she had but knew that he had a "tall order" ahead of him by accepting her love. She may have been complicated on some level or he could be referring back to himself...
I sense that she was fragile and he thought of her as his baby bird...but now he is realizing his own fragility. She may have powered up and now he is standing in an endless line to get back to her...
Salt also burns. I think its a reference to the bittersweet nature of what they had or could have had if she had been patient. They never even got to the place he ideally wanted them to be.
I love music so much do to it's subjectivity. I do tend to apply my own situations and thoughts to the poetry. I think this is why I love Bon Iver. There is a quality in his voice and in the musical arrangement that makes me want to weep and rejoice at the same time. I want to dance around a bon fire drunk on wine, crying and laughing and getting all that saddness out... It's tribal and ethereal and most majestic!!!
"Skinny Love" is soulfully poetic but could be vague in meaning. It's only after you read posts from shortandsweetem and further analysis from vamul1 that it seems so simple. I agree tho with vamul1 and maheeganyaknow: I had originally interpreted the "pour a little salt" line as burning or pain, almost as if the characters would never intentionally worsen the state of the relationship or stir the waters between them.
"Skinny Love" is soulfully poetic but could be vague in meaning. It's only after you read posts from shortandsweetem and further analysis from vamul1 that it seems so simple. I agree tho with vamul1 and maheeganyaknow: I had originally interpreted the "pour a little salt" line as burning or pain, almost as if the characters would never intentionally worsen the state of the relationship or stir the waters between them.
I agree with most of that is said. But as for the salt lyric, i see it as when people pour salt on the ground so that nothing grows there anymore or remember anything. Which is followed by "we were never here" So perhaps he's basically trying to forget some part of this relationship.
I agree with most of that is said. But as for the salt lyric, i see it as when people pour salt on the ground so that nothing grows there anymore or remember anything. Which is followed by "we were never here" So perhaps he's basically trying to forget some part of this relationship.
I think it is such a wonderful song, my interpretation of the salt lyric is- punish me (poor a little salt) and then we are even and we can move on ( we where never here), I think he is saying here i am, I am wounded (by the veener? a thrown glass) throw salt on me, I am giving you everything (I tell my love to wreck it all). Can we just move on . I think it may be when relationships get so caught up about who is right and who is wrong who holds the balance ect.
I think it is such a wonderful song, my interpretation of the salt lyric is- punish me (poor a little salt) and then we are even and we can move on ( we where never here), I think he is saying here i am, I am wounded (by the veener? a thrown glass) throw salt on me, I am giving you everything (I tell my love to wreck it all). Can we just move on . I think it may be when relationships get so caught up about who is right and who is wrong who holds the balance ect.
Just my own interpretation and probably way off the mark;
Just my own interpretation and probably way off the mark;
Could ^Skinny love" be reference to an under-age virgin who would be of age in a year and whom the singer had fallen in love with but wanted to wait until it was all legal?
Could ^Skinny love" be reference to an under-age virgin who would be of age in a year and whom the singer had fallen in love with but wanted to wait until it was all legal?
This would tie in with the first chorus of "I told you to be patient......"
This would tie in with the first chorus of "I told you to be patient......"
"In the morning" could be a metaphor for her coming of age when their love will "be a different kind"
"In the morning" could be a metaphor for her coming of age when their love will "be a different kind"
Him "Holding all the tickets" could mean he would feel like he had won the lottery. And her "Holding all the fines" could refer to guilt and uncertainty after the event.
The next line ".....what happened here" in my opinion is the turning point of the song when the singer finds out that his love hasn't waited for him but turned elsewhere.
This would explain the second chorus telling her "Now all your love is wasted" and asking "Who the hell was I?"
"I'm breaking at the britches" refers to his pent up sexual desire after being kept dangling "at the end of all your lines"
The last three lines of the song can be taken quite literally.
Like I said, just my own interpretation and probably way off the mark. Comments please.
Love itttt!
With regard to the salt thing, I read it as when you pour salt on ice, it melts it. The bad patch where they were cold to one another was probably the ice, and "pour a little salt, we were never here" is him wanting to melt it and make it disappear.
Love itttt!
With regard to the salt thing, I read it as when you pour salt on ice, it melts it. The bad patch where they were cold to one another was probably the ice, and "pour a little salt, we were never here" is him wanting to melt it and make it disappear.
Wonderfully interpreted, absolutely wonderfully.
This is by far the most perspicuous and/or well-articulated interpretation of any song I've read on this site to date. Bon Iver was only recently revealed to me and this song, appearing to be one of his bigger hits, if not the biggest, is incredible. I've listened to it quite a few times and have yet to tire of each element therein. Nevertheless, this song is not the point, but your thorough dissection. Well done, Sir or perhaps Madam, very well done. Unquestionably, I could never have done so well myself.
Wonderfully interpreted, absolutely wonderfully.
This is by far the most perspicuous and/or well-articulated interpretation of any song I've read on this site to date. Bon Iver was only recently revealed to me and this song, appearing to be one of his bigger hits, if not the biggest, is incredible. I've listened to it quite a few times and have yet to tire of each element therein. Nevertheless, this song is not the point, but your thorough dissection. Well done, Sir or perhaps Madam, very well done. Unquestionably, I could never have done so well myself.
Excellent analysis. I agree "skinny love" refers to the relationship itself, that it's thin, tenuous, superficial, etc.. The last line is about a "wound" to the relationship that reveals just how superficial it was because only a "veneer," a thin external layer, had to be shattered to let flow the "blood", life, substance of the relationship. And it was a wound so small that a little salt could fix it. All of this captures the idea that insubstantial relationships can be damaged by trivial problems, disagreements, etc..
Excellent analysis. I agree "skinny love" refers to the relationship itself, that it's thin, tenuous, superficial, etc.. The last line is about a "wound" to the relationship that reveals just how superficial it was because only a "veneer," a thin external layer, had to be shattered to let flow the "blood", life, substance of the relationship. And it was a wound so small that a little salt could fix it. All of this captures the idea that insubstantial relationships can be damaged by trivial problems, disagreements, etc..
And just to add another layer to the salt metaphor--in the good ole days, salt was an important preservative, so in addition to healing the wound, it would also help to preserve the relationship to atleast "last the year."
Yeah i was gonna say the same thing as shinpads. about snow melting ice and snow. considering the fact that he wrote this all cooped up in a cabin the winter that would kinda make sense. but all the things about the wounds and also, about stuff not growing back makes a lot of sense.
Yeah i was gonna say the same thing as shinpads. about snow melting ice and snow. considering the fact that he wrote this all cooped up in a cabin the winter that would kinda make sense. but all the things about the wounds and also, about stuff not growing back makes a lot of sense.
She got in her car, and left crying as she drove home. Her heart was broken, for it was not her intentions to screw up...she can't think straight and was naive and gullible thinking it truly would be a couple of beers...This morning she woke up, setting out to keep making things right...she told "interritus", and I quote "in the avalanche I lost the one I truly love....not to be confused w/ 'lust'....but, if his heart is the same, we will cross paths again - as I'll keep searching to make it right" to which he responded (today at...
She got in her car, and left crying as she drove home. Her heart was broken, for it was not her intentions to screw up...she can't think straight and was naive and gullible thinking it truly would be a couple of beers...This morning she woke up, setting out to keep making things right...she told "interritus", and I quote "in the avalanche I lost the one I truly love....not to be confused w/ 'lust'....but, if his heart is the same, we will cross paths again - as I'll keep searching to make it right" to which he responded (today at 1:18pm) "I can hear the resolve in your words" and she said "Yes b/c until this person I never knew what love was...that's how I could differentiate the two (love/lust). As 'corny' as it sounds; when our eyes locked I was lost for words, when I became lost in his words it was love; devine intimacy". She has it in her heart to make it right, and will do nothing but keep trying. She realizes she cannot drink, unless it is with him...she realized it was no excuse, and she realized that she's an idiot and in order to respect herself, she has to respect him first and foremost; she will...then she will prove her love is true...
I agree with TayMay07 and found a wikipedia article that talked about how it was a ritual to pour salt on the ground of conquered cities to curse the land. I also thought the salt could refer to the phrase "with a grain of salt" and how there was doubt about the relationship lasting even from the beginning.
I agree with TayMay07 and found a wikipedia article that talked about how it was a ritual to pour salt on the ground of conquered cities to curse the land. I also thought the salt could refer to the phrase "with a grain of salt" and how there was doubt about the relationship lasting even from the beginning.
It's about love gone sour.
As for the title "Skinny Love" it could be an affectionate term he gave his petite girlfriend, or maby the fact that their love is wasting away- shrinking to skinny. The latter is probably more likely, due to the reference in the first line ("Come on, skinny love just last the year").
"pour a little salt, we were never here" Salt has healing properties, when put on open wound they help the process along. Probably metaphorically speaking, he wants this doomed relationship to heal, to even "Just last the year." I like the vivid imagery to blood and crushed veneer in a sink, as if a vase was broken in a fit of rage. I dunno if that ties into the salt reference, maby indirectly.
he then basically tells her to let him go, to cut off the tethers binding him to her.
the third stanza deals wih a blaming the other for the failure of the relationship. She couldn't meet with his expectations, either that or she treated him poorly, probably both.
stanza four seems like a mixture of memories, stating why have we gone wrong when we once loved each other? and how even though the burden of pain (through separating) is heavy, it's still hard to "split."
The last part gives us a glimse as to WHY it went sour. it seems she kind of led him on, that she wasn't that into him- when he really cared for her.
He then states that its unlikely she'll find anyone worthwhile, no one will be able to love her for all the stuff she puts her partners through.
wonderfully honest and emotional, i love this song.
I like your way of thinking... I tend to agree with the metaphorical interpretation about the love wasting away but it could be literal as in a pet name or stature. Could be a reference to addiction as well.
I like your way of thinking... I tend to agree with the metaphorical interpretation about the love wasting away but it could be literal as in a pet name or stature. Could be a reference to addiction as well.
I do sense though he gave her fair warning as to how difficult it might be to sustain their love for the myriad of reasons a relationship might fall apart. Especially one with a talented busy musician. Distance, groupies, or even his own complicated personality. I sense he tried to reasssure her that he cared and loved her...but failed.
I do sense though he gave her fair warning as to how difficult it might be to sustain their love for the myriad of reasons a relationship might fall apart. Especially one with a talented busy musician. Distance, groupies, or even his own complicated personality. I sense he tried to reasssure her that he cared and loved her...but failed.
She may have fallen off the train and was heartbroken as well and he is truly disapointed and heartbroken as well but doing a good job of masking it... She couldn't be reassured and lost faith in what they had and moved on.
I think he accepted all the flaws she had but knew that he had a "tall order" ahead of him by accepting her love. She may have been complicated on some level or he could be referring back to himself...
I sense that she was fragile and he thought of her as his baby bird...but now he is realizing his own fragility. She may have powered up and now he is standing in an endless line to get back to her...
Salt also burns. I think its a reference to the bittersweet nature of what they had or could have had if she had been patient. They never even got to the place he ideally wanted them to be.
I love music so much do to it's subjectivity. I do tend to apply my own situations and thoughts to the poetry. I think this is why I love Bon Iver. There is a quality in his voice and in the musical arrangement that makes me want to weep and rejoice at the same time. I want to dance around a bon fire drunk on wine, crying and laughing and getting all that saddness out... It's tribal and ethereal and most majestic!!!
btw, just thrownin it out there, theres also the term "adding salt to the wounds" which causes more pain
btw, just thrownin it out there, theres also the term "adding salt to the wounds" which causes more pain
Really great analysis.
Really great analysis.
"Skinny Love" is soulfully poetic but could be vague in meaning. It's only after you read posts from shortandsweetem and further analysis from vamul1 that it seems so simple. I agree tho with vamul1 and maheeganyaknow: I had originally interpreted the "pour a little salt" line as burning or pain, almost as if the characters would never intentionally worsen the state of the relationship or stir the waters between them.
"Skinny Love" is soulfully poetic but could be vague in meaning. It's only after you read posts from shortandsweetem and further analysis from vamul1 that it seems so simple. I agree tho with vamul1 and maheeganyaknow: I had originally interpreted the "pour a little salt" line as burning or pain, almost as if the characters would never intentionally worsen the state of the relationship or stir the waters between them.
like your reply
like your reply
I agree with most of that is said. But as for the salt lyric, i see it as when people pour salt on the ground so that nothing grows there anymore or remember anything. Which is followed by "we were never here" So perhaps he's basically trying to forget some part of this relationship.
I agree with most of that is said. But as for the salt lyric, i see it as when people pour salt on the ground so that nothing grows there anymore or remember anything. Which is followed by "we were never here" So perhaps he's basically trying to forget some part of this relationship.
Salt poured on land also prevents things from growing again.
Salt poured on land also prevents things from growing again.
i agree with taymay, i think that maybe there was a sort of stint in their relationship that would be better off forgotten.
i agree with taymay, i think that maybe there was a sort of stint in their relationship that would be better off forgotten.
I think it is such a wonderful song, my interpretation of the salt lyric is- punish me (poor a little salt) and then we are even and we can move on ( we where never here), I think he is saying here i am, I am wounded (by the veener? a thrown glass) throw salt on me, I am giving you everything (I tell my love to wreck it all). Can we just move on . I think it may be when relationships get so caught up about who is right and who is wrong who holds the balance ect.
I think it is such a wonderful song, my interpretation of the salt lyric is- punish me (poor a little salt) and then we are even and we can move on ( we where never here), I think he is saying here i am, I am wounded (by the veener? a thrown glass) throw salt on me, I am giving you everything (I tell my love to wreck it all). Can we just move on . I think it may be when relationships get so caught up about who is right and who is wrong who holds the balance ect.
Just my own interpretation and probably way off the mark;
Just my own interpretation and probably way off the mark;
Could ^Skinny love" be reference to an under-age virgin who would be of age in a year and whom the singer had fallen in love with but wanted to wait until it was all legal?
Could ^Skinny love" be reference to an under-age virgin who would be of age in a year and whom the singer had fallen in love with but wanted to wait until it was all legal?
This would tie in with the first chorus of "I told you to be patient......"
This would tie in with the first chorus of "I told you to be patient......"
"In the morning" could be a metaphor for her coming of age when their love will "be a different kind"
"In the morning" could be a metaphor for her coming of age when their love will "be a different kind"
Him "Holding all the tickets" could mean he would feel like he had won the lottery. And her "Holding all the fines" could refer to guilt and uncertainty after the event.
The next line ".....what happened here" in my opinion is the turning point of the song when the singer finds out that his love hasn't waited for him but turned elsewhere.
This would explain the second chorus telling her "Now all your love is wasted" and asking "Who the hell was I?"
"I'm breaking at the britches" refers to his pent up sexual desire after being kept dangling "at the end of all your lines"
The last three lines of the song can be taken quite literally.
Like I said, just my own interpretation and probably way off the mark. Comments please.
Love itttt! With regard to the salt thing, I read it as when you pour salt on ice, it melts it. The bad patch where they were cold to one another was probably the ice, and "pour a little salt, we were never here" is him wanting to melt it and make it disappear.
Love itttt! With regard to the salt thing, I read it as when you pour salt on ice, it melts it. The bad patch where they were cold to one another was probably the ice, and "pour a little salt, we were never here" is him wanting to melt it and make it disappear.
Wonderfully interpreted, absolutely wonderfully.
This is by far the most perspicuous and/or well-articulated interpretation of any song I've read on this site to date. Bon Iver was only recently revealed to me and this song, appearing to be one of his bigger hits, if not the biggest, is incredible. I've listened to it quite a few times and have yet to tire of each element therein. Nevertheless, this song is not the point, but your thorough dissection. Well done, Sir or perhaps Madam, very well done. Unquestionably, I could never have done so well myself.
Wonderfully interpreted, absolutely wonderfully.
This is by far the most perspicuous and/or well-articulated interpretation of any song I've read on this site to date. Bon Iver was only recently revealed to me and this song, appearing to be one of his bigger hits, if not the biggest, is incredible. I've listened to it quite a few times and have yet to tire of each element therein. Nevertheless, this song is not the point, but your thorough dissection. Well done, Sir or perhaps Madam, very well done. Unquestionably, I could never have done so well myself.
I am thoroughly impressed!
Excellent analysis. I agree "skinny love" refers to the relationship itself, that it's thin, tenuous, superficial, etc.. The last line is about a "wound" to the relationship that reveals just how superficial it was because only a "veneer," a thin external layer, had to be shattered to let flow the "blood", life, substance of the relationship. And it was a wound so small that a little salt could fix it. All of this captures the idea that insubstantial relationships can be damaged by trivial problems, disagreements, etc..
Excellent analysis. I agree "skinny love" refers to the relationship itself, that it's thin, tenuous, superficial, etc.. The last line is about a "wound" to the relationship that reveals just how superficial it was because only a "veneer," a thin external layer, had to be shattered to let flow the "blood", life, substance of the relationship. And it was a wound so small that a little salt could fix it. All of this captures the idea that insubstantial relationships can be damaged by trivial problems, disagreements, etc..
And just to add another layer to the salt metaphor--in the good ole days, salt was an important preservative, so in addition to healing the wound, it would also help to preserve the relationship to atleast "last the year."
Yeah i was gonna say the same thing as shinpads. about snow melting ice and snow. considering the fact that he wrote this all cooped up in a cabin the winter that would kinda make sense. but all the things about the wounds and also, about stuff not growing back makes a lot of sense.
Yeah i was gonna say the same thing as shinpads. about snow melting ice and snow. considering the fact that he wrote this all cooped up in a cabin the winter that would kinda make sense. but all the things about the wounds and also, about stuff not growing back makes a lot of sense.
She got in her car, and left crying as she drove home. Her heart was broken, for it was not her intentions to screw up...she can't think straight and was naive and gullible thinking it truly would be a couple of beers...This morning she woke up, setting out to keep making things right...she told "interritus", and I quote "in the avalanche I lost the one I truly love....not to be confused w/ 'lust'....but, if his heart is the same, we will cross paths again - as I'll keep searching to make it right" to which he responded (today at...
She got in her car, and left crying as she drove home. Her heart was broken, for it was not her intentions to screw up...she can't think straight and was naive and gullible thinking it truly would be a couple of beers...This morning she woke up, setting out to keep making things right...she told "interritus", and I quote "in the avalanche I lost the one I truly love....not to be confused w/ 'lust'....but, if his heart is the same, we will cross paths again - as I'll keep searching to make it right" to which he responded (today at 1:18pm) "I can hear the resolve in your words" and she said "Yes b/c until this person I never knew what love was...that's how I could differentiate the two (love/lust). As 'corny' as it sounds; when our eyes locked I was lost for words, when I became lost in his words it was love; devine intimacy". She has it in her heart to make it right, and will do nothing but keep trying. She realizes she cannot drink, unless it is with him...she realized it was no excuse, and she realized that she's an idiot and in order to respect herself, she has to respect him first and foremost; she will...then she will prove her love is true...
I agree with TayMay07 and found a wikipedia article that talked about how it was a ritual to pour salt on the ground of conquered cities to curse the land. I also thought the salt could refer to the phrase "with a grain of salt" and how there was doubt about the relationship lasting even from the beginning.
I agree with TayMay07 and found a wikipedia article that talked about how it was a ritual to pour salt on the ground of conquered cities to curse the land. I also thought the salt could refer to the phrase "with a grain of salt" and how there was doubt about the relationship lasting even from the beginning.
for more: rainischange.wordpress.com/2012/04/03/ill-be-holding-all-the-tickets-and-youll-be-owning-all-the-fines-bon-iver/
for more: rainischange.wordpress.com/2012/04/03/ill-be-holding-all-the-tickets-and-youll-be-owning-all-the-fines-bon-iver/
I get your perspective and I would not have thought the song was like tat thanks.
I get your perspective and I would not have thought the song was like tat thanks.
perfect
perfect
I love how the most rated comment on this song is a misconception of what love is. Actual love does not go sour, elated feelings & commitment might.
I love how the most rated comment on this song is a misconception of what love is. Actual love does not go sour, elated feelings & commitment might.