Well, I met you at the blood bank
We were looking at the bags
Wondering if any of the colors
Matched any of the names we knew on the tags
You said, “See look at it: that’s yours
Stacked on top with your brother’s.
See how they resemble one another’s
Even in their plastic little covers.”
And I said, “I know it well.
That secret that you know that you don’t know how to tell
It fucks with your honor and it teases your head
But you know that it’s good, girl
‘Cause it’s running you with red.”
Then the snow started falling
We were stuck out in your car
You were rubbing both my hands
Chewing on a candy bar
You said, “Ain’t this just like the present
To be showing up like this?
As the moon waned to crescent
We started to kiss
And I said, “I know it well.
That secret that we know that we don’t know how to tell
I’m in love with your honor, I’m in love with your cheeks
What’s that noise up the stairs, babe?
Is that Christmas morning creaks?”
And I know it well, I know it well
And I know it well, I know it well
And I know it well, I know it well
And I know it well, I know it well
Reflecting on Intimacy and Vulnerability
“Blood Bank” by Bon Iver is a poignant exploration of intimacy, memory, and the quiet spaces between people. The lyrics transport listeners to a wintry scene, where two individuals connect in the most unexpected of places—a blood bank. The imagery of examining blood bags and the subtle parallels drawn between physical and emotional closeness set the tone for the song’s introspective journey. Justin Vernon weaves a narrative where shared secrets and silent understandings form the foundation of a deep, unspoken bond. The tenderness of simple gestures, like warming hands and sharing a candy bar, underscores the song’s theme of finding warmth and connection even amidst cold uncertainty. As the story unfolds, fleeting moments—snowfall, a first kiss, the sound of creaking stairs—become symbols of the profound impact small acts can have in shaping our experiences of love and longing.
Song Credits
- Songwriter: Justin Vernon
- Release Year: 2009
- Label: Jagjaguwar