You ride in the park and you’re peeking
Piss pools in your seat
She’s standing inside, but you surely repeat
Oh, God, don’t leave me here
I will freeze till the end
Love is love’s reprieve
Winter is coming and you’re stacking
All your summer sheets
Now when the wind blows you cover your teeth
And our tool shed where you trade in your blues
Love is love’s sad news
That was Wisconsin that was yesterday
Now I have nothing that I can keep
‘Cause every place I go I take another place with me
Love is love’s mystique
You’re up on the bar and you’re shaking
With every grimy word
Who will you love
What’s love when you’ve hurt
Wherever is your scene the snow kissed the curb
Love is love’s return
That was Wisconsin that was yesterday
Now I have nothing that I can keep
‘Cause every place I go I take another place with me
Love is love’s critique
Exploring Longing and Loss in “Wisconsin”
Bon Iver’s “Wisconsin” is a haunting meditation on memory, place, and the bittersweet echoes of love. The lyrics paint vivid scenes of winter’s onset, the shifting of seasons paralleling emotional transitions. Through lines like “Now when the wind blows you cover your teeth,” the song evokes the vulnerability and shelter-seeking that comes with heartache. The recurring phrase, “Love is love’s…”—reprieve, sad news, mystique, critique—serves as a poetic refrain, hinting at love’s complexities and contradictions. The song suggests that while we carry pieces of the past with us, these fragments are both burdens and comforts, shaping our journey forward. Bon Iver’s signature blend of introspection and atmospheric imagery invites listeners to reflect on their own experiences of loss and transformation.
Song Credits
- Artist: Bon Iver
- Songwriters: Justin Vernon