songs in the key of pissing me off
Most days at work, we listen to WERS, the Emerson College radio station. I like the station just fine, especially compared to the nonstop commercialfest, DJ-blathering, same-songs-every-20-minutes tripe to be found on most frequencies. Every once in a while, however, even the "independent minds" at Emerson will latch onto a song and play into the ground. And sometimes, that song will drive me up the wall, across the ceiling, and back again. The latest tune to do that to me is a painful little blister called "skinny love" by Bon Iver. I'm going to go through it line by line, so we can all suffer. You can thank me later. Of course, if you want the full flavor, you'll have to listen to it yourself, but I don't recommend that. Not without heroin.
Skinny Love
by Bon Iver
Come on skinny love just last the year
>>>>Sure, it's a little early to be picking on the song. But, really, "skinny" is the word you pick to describe your love? If you're going to pick a mundane physical characteristic, why not pick something even slightly more evocative, like, "hairy love," or "freckly love?" Unless "skinny" refers to the quality of love between you and not the body of your lover, which would be more interesting.
Pour a little salt we were never here
>>>>Errr..pouring salt doesn't really evoke erasure to me. And why encourage someone to "last the year" and in the next breath tell them they'll leave no trace? (Lasting through what, btw? Staying in the relationship? Making it through grad school? Keeping that same piece of gum on the bedpost every night?)
My, my, my, my, my, my, my, my
Staring at the sink of blood and crushed veneer
>>>>Ew. Ok, violent imagery. It gets an ew. It explains nothing, however and adds nothing to the story. If anyhting, it's even less comprehensible. Whose blood? Who uglied up the kitchen and more importantly WHY?
I tell my love to wreck it all
>>>>Not so much for lasting the year anymore, are we? Also, this is the third instance of the singer telling someone what to do. But not the last. No, no, no.
Cut out all the ropes and let me fall
>>>>Tear.
My, my, my, my, my, my, my, my
Right in the moment this order's tall
>>>>Dude, you're going to add like another dozen orders to that tall one. Would you like a side order of onion rings while we're at it?
I told you to be patient
I told you to be fine
I told you to be balanced
I told you to be kind
>>>>Here we go. This is actually the biggest reason the song yorks. It's the chorus and he sings it in this kind of soulful/angry tone, like he's so disappointed in me. How paternal. I'd like to know where the dude gets off, and what chick (or dude) would want to help him in that goal, after this sermon. YOU'RE NOT THE BOSS OF ME, BON IVER.
In the morning I'll be with you
But it will be a different "kind"
>>>>Uh, deep. What?
I'll be holding all the tickets
And you'll be owning all the fines
>>>>BON IVER MADE ME PARK IN SOMERVILLE ON STREET CLEANING DAY AND ALSO TOOK OUT THE DA VINCI CODE USING MY LIBRARY CARD BUT I THINK HE STILL WANTS TO BE MY BOYFRIEND EVEN AFTER I CRUSHED HIS VENEER.
Come on skinny love what happened here
>>>>Wouldn't we like to know.
Suckle on the hope in lite brassiere
>>>>Ahahaha, ok, I'll get right on that. Seriously, though, my lite brassiere is filled with hope and boy is it ever delicious to suckle. It's a good thing I'm not wearing my chunky-style brassiere today because that's filled with blinding rage.
My, my, my, my, my, my, my, my
Sullen load is full; so slow on the split
>>>>so many words, such little meaning, so little relationship to any previous image or metaphor. I'm so impressed I can hardly stand it. I hope Bon will tell me how to conduct myself because I don't know how to handle all this awe that's building up inside me.
I told you to be patient
I told you to be fine
I told you to be balanced
I told you to be kind
>>>>Thank you, dominant hero!
Now all your love is wasted?
What? I thought we were doing so well.
Then who the hell was I?
>>>>...
Now I'm breaking at the britches
>>>>NO BON NOT YOUR BEST BRITCHES WHAT WILL YOU WEAR TO THE HARVEST DANCE
And at the end of all your lines
>>>>Ohhh, meta.
Who will love you?
Who will fight?
Who will fall far behind?
>>>>I don't know, but I'm sure you'll figure it out and tell me how to act accordingly.
Skinny Love
by Bon Iver
Come on skinny love just last the year
>>>>Sure, it's a little early to be picking on the song. But, really, "skinny" is the word you pick to describe your love? If you're going to pick a mundane physical characteristic, why not pick something even slightly more evocative, like, "hairy love," or "freckly love?" Unless "skinny" refers to the quality of love between you and not the body of your lover, which would be more interesting.
Pour a little salt we were never here
>>>>Errr..pouring salt doesn't really evoke erasure to me. And why encourage someone to "last the year" and in the next breath tell them they'll leave no trace? (Lasting through what, btw? Staying in the relationship? Making it through grad school? Keeping that same piece of gum on the bedpost every night?)
My, my, my, my, my, my, my, my
Staring at the sink of blood and crushed veneer
>>>>Ew. Ok, violent imagery. It gets an ew. It explains nothing, however and adds nothing to the story. If anyhting, it's even less comprehensible. Whose blood? Who uglied up the kitchen and more importantly WHY?
I tell my love to wreck it all
>>>>Not so much for lasting the year anymore, are we? Also, this is the third instance of the singer telling someone what to do. But not the last. No, no, no.
Cut out all the ropes and let me fall
>>>>Tear.
My, my, my, my, my, my, my, my
Right in the moment this order's tall
>>>>Dude, you're going to add like another dozen orders to that tall one. Would you like a side order of onion rings while we're at it?
I told you to be patient
I told you to be fine
I told you to be balanced
I told you to be kind
>>>>Here we go. This is actually the biggest reason the song yorks. It's the chorus and he sings it in this kind of soulful/angry tone, like he's so disappointed in me. How paternal. I'd like to know where the dude gets off, and what chick (or dude) would want to help him in that goal, after this sermon. YOU'RE NOT THE BOSS OF ME, BON IVER.
In the morning I'll be with you
But it will be a different "kind"
>>>>Uh, deep. What?
I'll be holding all the tickets
And you'll be owning all the fines
>>>>BON IVER MADE ME PARK IN SOMERVILLE ON STREET CLEANING DAY AND ALSO TOOK OUT THE DA VINCI CODE USING MY LIBRARY CARD BUT I THINK HE STILL WANTS TO BE MY BOYFRIEND EVEN AFTER I CRUSHED HIS VENEER.
Come on skinny love what happened here
>>>>Wouldn't we like to know.
Suckle on the hope in lite brassiere
>>>>Ahahaha, ok, I'll get right on that. Seriously, though, my lite brassiere is filled with hope and boy is it ever delicious to suckle. It's a good thing I'm not wearing my chunky-style brassiere today because that's filled with blinding rage.
My, my, my, my, my, my, my, my
Sullen load is full; so slow on the split
>>>>so many words, such little meaning, so little relationship to any previous image or metaphor. I'm so impressed I can hardly stand it. I hope Bon will tell me how to conduct myself because I don't know how to handle all this awe that's building up inside me.
I told you to be patient
I told you to be fine
I told you to be balanced
I told you to be kind
>>>>Thank you, dominant hero!
Now all your love is wasted?
What? I thought we were doing so well.
Then who the hell was I?
>>>>...
Now I'm breaking at the britches
>>>>NO BON NOT YOUR BEST BRITCHES WHAT WILL YOU WEAR TO THE HARVEST DANCE
And at the end of all your lines
>>>>Ohhh, meta.
Who will love you?
Who will fight?
Who will fall far behind?
>>>>I don't know, but I'm sure you'll figure it out and tell me how to act accordingly.