Holyfields,

BON IVER "i,i" ANALYSIS - PART THREE

Perhaps centers on the boxer Evander Holyfield, who’s ear was infamously bitten by Mike Tyson, while touching on global warming ending the world and wanting to be something, anything. Holy Fields could also refer to the earths land. The whole song is an improvised moment with barely any editing. Again, massively underrated, feels so foreign yet cozy.

"Danger been stepping in
I'm happy as I ever been
Couldn't tell ya what
the cadence is
It's folded in the evidences
(Evander’s Dances)"

There is danger tiptoeing near, just enough to be a little concerned, almost referring to the early stages of the end of the world, where everyone is living in the constant mundane, oblivious to it. Evander lost part of his ear, potentially corrupting his ability to differ the cadence of sound. Due to fighting so much, he lost the ability to hear the music that keeps him alive.

"So you wanna leave a mark?
You're honing in on Meadow Park?
I heard you guys are very safe
Caught up with the featherweights"

Both literally and figuratively, he wants to leave a mark on the world, referring to his fighting and wider goals. He is quoting different things he hears throughout his regular life ouwith the fighting arena, sentenced to normality. He thinks of these people as very “safe” with life, while he wants something more. He wishes to join the heavyweights.

"The dawn is rising, the land ain't rising
No, no, no, flash hope, pass the throw"

Suns getting brighter, waters getting higher. With these stark realisations, he dissuades himself from the burst of hope and returns to his life.

"Coming in very late
Just above our pay grades
You ask me not to pull alarms
We have to act our ages"

The future of the earth is a concept too large to grasp, it’s not his business to be bigger than what he is. Being the hero is seen as “childish" or fairytale, his coworkers/friends perhaps remind him to grow up and stop worrying, to just get on with it.

"The dawn is rising, but the land ain't rising
No, no, no, catch up
You wanna go the fast way?"

We are beyond the beginning of the end now, we’re firmly within it. He reminds himself of this fact, even humouring the idea of accelerating it.

"Bonded weights don't favor them
If it's all that you don't do, it's lacerate
Better let them pass away"

The dissonance in the delivery of these lines lends to the atmosphere they evoke, almost disturbing. Bluntly, if nothing is done, we will all die, he again thinks that perhaps this is what we deserve.

"Stay, go?
Better that you find a new way
Before my eyes
Couldn't learn it any other way
By the way"

We cannot just stay and do nothing, nor can we flee, we must find something new to change. In front of his eyes, this realisation was too late. His final remark is bleak, there was no other way for us to take notice other than when it no longer mattered.