Lyrics & Translation
Delve into the complex soundscape of Bon Iver's "666 ʇ" and explore themes of spirituality, doubt, and self-discovery. This experimental track from *22, A Million* offers a unique opportunity to unpack abstract lyrics and appreciate Bon Iver's innovative musical style.
[English]
Sixes hang in the doorWhat kind of shit to ignore
I've cut the cloth
(Ooh, hard line circle)
How to know who to write?
How to know who can cull up all the questions?
(We know that I'm right, 'cause)
To clean out a night
I fell in love
I heard about it
(Bit by bit, bit by bit)
I heard about it
(Bit by bit, bit by-)
I heard about it, no
(Bit by bit, bit by bit)
And so it's not in your clasp
Then what's the function or the task?
Well, I'd stun and I'd stammer
Help me reach the hammer
(For then what will I ask?)
That's a pair of them docks
Mooring out two separate lochs
Ain't that some kind of quandry? (-waundry)
Take me into your palms
What is left when unhungry?
I learned about it
(Bit by bit, bit by bit)
I learned about it
(Bit by bit, bit by bit)
I've learned about it, no
(Bit by bit, bit by bit)
I'm still standing in
Still standing in the need of prayer
The need of prayer
No, I don't know the path
Or what kind of pith I've amassed
Long lines of questions
Lessons, lessons, lessons
But what do you lose to concede?
And yes, it's hard to believe
When 'em sold for your sleeves
Just come off of your kneel
Please, please, please
I can admit to conceal
No, that's not how that's supposed to feel
Oh, no (it's not for broader appeal)
Fuck the fashion of it, dear
I've laughed about it
(Bit by bit, bit by-)
I've laughed about it
(Bit by bit, bit by-)
I've laughed about it, no
(Bit by bit, bit by bit)
Key Vocabulary
| Vocabulary | Meanings |
|---|---|
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ignore /ɪɡˈnɔːr/ A2 |
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cloth /klɒθ/ A1 |
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cull /kʌl/ B2 |
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clean /kliːn/ A1 |
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clasp /klæsp/ B1 |
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stun /stʌn/ B1 |
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stammer /ˈstæmər/ B2 |
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hammer /ˈhæmər/ A1 |
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mooring /ˈmʊərɪŋ/ B2 |
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quandry /ˈkwɒndri/ C1 |
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palm /pɑːm/ A2 |
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unhungry /ʌnˈhʌŋgri/ C1 |
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pith /pɪθ/ B2 |
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concede /kənˈsiːd/ B2 |
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conceal /kənˈsiːl/ B1 |
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fashion /ˈfæʃən/ A2 |
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What does “ignore” mean in the song "666 ʇ"?
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Key Grammar Structures
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I've cut the cloth
➔ Present Perfect
➔ The verb "'ve" (have) + past participle "cut" shows an action that has relevance to the present.
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How to know who can cull up all the questions?
➔ Infinitive clause with "how to"
➔ The phrase "how to" + base verb ("know") introduces a question about the method or way of doing something.
-
I fell in love
➔ Simple Past
➔ "fell" is the past form of "fall", indicating a completed action in the past.
-
Take me into your palms
➔ Imperative mood
➔ "Take" is a command directed at the listener, with the object "me".
-
What is left when unhungry?
➔ Zero conditional (when + present simple)
➔ "when" introduces a condition that is always true; the verb "is" stays in present simple.
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I'm still standing in the need of prayer
➔ Present continuous with a prepositional phrase
➔ "I'm still standing" uses "am" + present participle "standing" to show an ongoing state; "in the need of prayer" is a prepositional phrase acting as complement.
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No, I don't know the path
➔ Simple present negative with auxiliary "do"
➔ "don't" is the contracted form of "do not"; it negates the verb "know" in the present simple.
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But what do you lose to concede?
➔ Question with auxiliary "do" + infinitive phrase
➔ "do" is used to form a question; "lose" is the main verb, and "to concede" is an infinitive acting as the purpose of the loss.
