“Skinny Love,” a hauntingly beautiful melody, is arguably the most recognized song from the indie-folk band Bon Iver. Led by singer-songwriter Justin Vernon, the band unveiled this poignant track in 2007, a precursor to their acclaimed 2008 album, For Emma, Forever Ago. Every song on Emma, including “Skinny Love,” was born from Vernon’s secluded experience in a Wisconsin cabin during a personally turbulent time. This isolation became the crucible for “Skinny Love,” a song drenched in raw emotion.
But What Is The Song Skinny Love About? What are the layers of meaning within its lyrics, and why is this love described as “skinny”? Let’s delve into the heart of this evocative song to uncover its truths.
Decoding the Meaning Behind the Lyrics
At its core, “Skinny Love” is an intimate portrayal of desperation in a failing relationship. The song is a heartfelt plea from one lover to another, a desperate attempt to salvage something that the narrator already senses is unsustainable.
Come on, skinny love, just last the year, the opening line poignantly begs.
In a 2011 Pitchfork interview, Vernon addressed speculation about whether the song was directly about his past relationship with Christy Smith. While acknowledging her importance, he clarified the song’s broader context: “To say that ‘Skinny Love’ is about Christy would not be entirely accurate… it’s about that time in a relationship that I was going through; you’re in a relationship because you need help, but that’s not necessarily why you should be in a relationship. And that’s skinny. It doesn’t have weight. Skinny love doesn’t have a chance because it’s not nourished.”
This reveals the essence of “skinny love”: a love born out of neediness, lacking the substance and nourishment to thrive. It’s a love that is inherently fragile and destined to wither.
Exploring the Nuances: Lyrics and Vocals
The sorrowful depth of “Skinny Love” is amplified by Vernon’s evocative lyricism and his signature falsetto vocals. Let’s dissect some key lyrical moments:
Pour a little salt, we were never here.
The image of pouring salt is rich with symbolism. Salt, while having healing and preservative qualities, is also known for its destructive nature when used to “salt the earth,” rendering soil infertile. This duality could be a metaphor for “skinny love” itself – an attempt at healing or preservation that ultimately leads to barrenness and ruin in the relationship.
And I told you to be patient
And I told you to be fine
And I told you to be balanced
And I told you to be kind
This iconic chorus lays bare the crumbling foundation of the relationship. The repetition of “told” in the past tense highlights a disconnect and a failure to achieve these desired qualities. The narrator’s past directives underscore the present reality: patience, fineness, balance, and kindness are all absent. The relationship has deviated from these ideals.
And now all your love is wasted
And then who the hell was I?
And I’m breaking at the britches
And at the end of all your lines
These lines express a profound sense of loss and self-questioning. The feeling of wasted love, coupled with the existential “who the hell was I?”, points to the identity crisis that can accompany the disintegration of a significant relationship. “Breaking at the britches” is a striking, albeit slightly obscure, phrase suggesting a point of breaking or vulnerability, adding to the overall sense of fragility.
Adding another layer to the song’s depth, the album title For Emma, Forever Ago itself is symbolic. Vernon clarified in 2009 that “Emma isn’t a person… Emma is a place that you get stuck in. Emma’s a pain that you can’t erase.” This suggests “Emma” represents a state of emotional stagnation and inescapable pain, a fitting backdrop for the themes explored in “Skinny Love.”
The Enduring Popularity: Birdy’s Cover and Beyond
The impact of “Skinny Love” extends beyond Bon Iver’s original rendition. British singer Birdy’s cover, released as her debut single in 2011, achieved international acclaim and introduced the song to a wider audience. Birdy’s version resonated deeply, further cementing the song’s place in contemporary pop culture and demonstrating its universal appeal.
While the “skinny love” that inspired the song may have been fleeting and unsustainable, the song “Skinny Love” itself has proven to be anything but. Its raw honesty and emotional vulnerability continue to resonate with listeners, making it a timeless exploration of love’s more fragile and heartbreaking forms.
