Flume – Bon Iver


I am my mother’s only one

It’s enough

I wear my garment so it shows

Now you know

Only love is all maroon

Gluey feathers on a flume

Sky is womb and she’s the moon

I am my mother on the wall

With us all

I move in water, shore to shore

Nothing’s more

Only love is all maroon

Lapping lakes like leery loons

Leaving rope burns, reddish ruse

Only love is all maroon

Gluey feathers on a flume

Sky is womb and she’s the moon

Exploring the Poetic Imagery of “Flume”

Bon Iver’s “Flume” envelops listeners in a tapestry of vivid, enigmatic imagery and raw emotion. The song opens with a sense of solitude and vulnerability, as the narrator reflects on personal identity and familial ties. The line “I am my mother’s only one” suggests a singular, intimate bond, while the mention of garments and exposure hints at honesty and openness. Throughout, natural symbols—such as feathers, lakes, and the moon—evoke a dreamlike state, blending themes of love, longing, and self-discovery. The repeated phrase “only love is all maroon” conveys both beauty and melancholy, painting love as something rich but tinged with sadness. Each verse unfolds like a memory or a fleeting thought, leaving much to the listener’s interpretation and inviting deep reflection on the complexities of connection and selfhood.

Song Credits

  • Songwriter: Justin Vernon
  • Release Year: 2007
  • Label: Jagjaguwar

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