33 “GOD” by Bon Iver Lyrics Meaning – Unraveling the Divine in the Melancholy
Lyrics
Is the company stalling?
We had what we wanted: your eyes
(When we leave this room it’s gone)
With no word from the former
I’d be happy as hell if you stayed for tea
(I know so well that this is all there is)
This is how we grow now, woman
A child ignored
These will just be places to me now
The foreman is down
(When we leave this room it’s gone)
We’re rising the stairs
(I find God)
(And religion, too)
Staying at the Ace Hotel, if the calm would allow
Then I would just be floating to you now
It would make me pass to let it pass on
I’m climbing the dash, that skin
(Here in this room, this narrow room)
(Where life began when we were young last night)
Well we walked up on that bolt in the street
After you tied me in in the driveway of the apartment of his bede
Sent your sister home in a cab
Said I would’ve walked across any thousand lands
(No, not really if you can’t)
I didn’t need you that night
Not gonna need you anytime
Was gonna take it as it goes
I could go forward in the light
Well I better fold my clothes
(I’ve been looking through your mind)
(All my goodness)
(I’ve been looking through your mind)
(I’ve been looking through your mind)
(All my goodness to show)
(Why are you so far from saving me?)
(Why are you so far from saving me?)
Bon Iver, the moniker of singer-songwriter Justin Vernon, has once again transcended the boundaries of music with his delicately crafted track ’33 “GOD”’, a number that has intrigued fans and critics alike. The single from the album ’22, A Million’ defies simple categorization, weaving together elements of indie-folk, electronic blips, and soul-searching lyricism into a patchwork of raw emotion.
But beyond its undeniable sonic beauty, ‘33 “GOD”’ is a parable that merits a deep dive into its lyrical intricacies. Vernon’s music has always prompted listeners to look for the profound amidst the deceptively simple, and this track is no exception. It’s a meditative journey through the abstract hallways of faith, existence, and personal evolution.
A Divine Number: The Mystique of 33
Before delving into the lyrics, the song’s title itself is a signal to listeners that they’re entering into a space filled with symbolic meaning. The number 33 is significant in various religious and spiritual contexts; most notably, it’s the age at which Jesus was purported to have been crucified and ascended. The title sets a tone of spirituality and transformation—a recurring theme in Vernon’s repertoire.
Moreover, ’33 “GOD”’ could be seen as an intersection where the temporal meets the eternal. The numerology behind ’33’ coupled with the weighty implication of ‘GOD’ primes the listener’s expectations for a song that offers an introspection on the divine-infused moments of mundane life.
Striking Chords and Searching Souls: The Duality of Sound and Spirit
Sonically, ’33 “GOD”’ stands as an embodiment of contrast and duality. The song opens with a piano that feels both somber and uplifting, an ode to the complex nature of personal faith. Vernon’s choice to blend distorted samples and glitches with more organic instrumentation can be interpreted as the merging of human imperfection with divine ideals.
As listeners, we’re invited on a sonic pilgrimage that not only toys with our auditory senses but also prods at our inner beliefs. This complex layering mirrors life’s unpredictable rhythm and ultimately poses an enigmatic question: In what ways do we seek and find solace in symbols of the divine?
The Allure of Ambiguity: Embracing the Hidden Meanings
Vernon’s lyrical prowess lies in his ability to conceal profundity within the folds of ambiguity. ’33 “GOD”’ is an abstract mosaic of images and thoughts. Lines like ‘We had what we wanted: your eyes’ juxtaposed with ‘This is how we grow now, woman / A child ignored’ suggest a narrative of longing, growth, and perhaps loss. They paint a portrait not only of worldly relationships but of the universal experience of seeking something more—whether it’s from a deity, a loved one, or life itself.
The recurring theme of departure (‘When we leave this room it’s gone’) introduces the concept of transience, invoking the existential dilemma of permanence versus ephemerality. It hints at the ephemeral nature of sacred moments and questions what remains when the physical fades away.
Lyrically Haunting: The Lines That Stay With You
Certain phrases in ’33 “GOD”’ manage to reverberate long after the song ends. The line ‘Staying at the Ace Hotel, if the calm would allow’ evokes a sense of refuge and respite amidst chaos. However, Vernon’s seeming wish to ‘just be floating to you now’ acknowledges a separation and a desire to transcend earthly struggles. It’s a moment of human vulnerability, of wanting to be lifted from the corporeal to the spiritual.
Yet, perhaps the most haunting is Vernon’s admission, ‘I didn’t need you that night / Not gonna need you anytime.’ Here lies the crux of the song’s existential query: Is the subject Vernon’s departure from a lover, from the divine, or perhaps a declaration of self-reliance amid life’s trials?
A Call to Interpretation: Where Listeners Find Their Own Meaning
Finally, any examination of ’33 “GOD”’ would be remiss without acknowledging the personal relationship each listener develops with the song. As much as it’s a tale of Justin Vernon’s own spiritual and personal echolocation, ’33 “GOD”’ is also a blank canvas for others’ experiences. It’s a testament to Bon Iver’s ability to create music that resonates with the universal human experience, offering a spectrum of interpretations as varied as its audience.
The lyrics ‘Why are you so far from saving me?’ echo a yearning that’s almost universally understood, a question aimed at a higher power or perhaps at our own personal gods. It serves as a reminder that while art may pose questions, it often leaves the answers to be scrawled by the hands of those who interact with it.
