Skinny Love

The song 'Skinny Love' by Bon Iver is a hauntingly beautiful ballad that delves into the complexities of a fragile and deteriorating relationship. The term 'skinny love' itself suggests a relationship that is starved, lacking the sustenance needed to survive. The opening line, 'Come on skinny love just last the year,' sets a tone of desperation, a plea for the relationship to hold on a little longer despite its frailty.

The lyrics are rich with metaphor and imagery, painting a picture of a love that is on the brink of collapse. Phrases like 'pour a little salt we were never here' and 'staring at the sink of blood and crushed veneer' evoke a sense of trying to erase the pain or cover up the damage that has been done. The song's narrator seems to be grappling with the realization that the love they have may not be salvageable, as indicated by the lines 'I tell 'my love' to wreck it all' and 'cut out all the ropes and let me fall.'

The chorus reflects on the advice given to be patient, fine, balanced, and kind, which now seems ironic in the face of love's failure. The narrator's introspection culminates in questioning their own identity and role within the relationship's demise. The closing lines, 'Who will love you? Who will fight? Who will fall far behind?' leave the listener with a sense of unresolved tension and the poignant understanding that when love fades, the loss is not just of the relationship but of the parts of ourselves that we invest in it.