666 ʇ – English Lyrics

• By: Bon Iver
• Album: 22, A Million

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 door

What 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
ignore /ɪɡˈnɔːr/ A2	verb - to refuse to notice or pay attention to something
cloth /klɒθ/ A1	noun - woven or felted fabric made from wool, cotton, or similar fibers
cull /kʌl/ B2	verb - to select or collect something from a larger group
clean /kliːn/ A1	verb - to make something free from dirt, pollution, etc. adjective - free from dirt, pollution, etc.
clasp /klæsp/ B1	noun - a device for holding things together, especially straps or parts of clothing verb - to hold or grasp something tightly
stun /stʌn/ B1	verb - to shock or impress someone so much that they are unable to move or speak
stammer /ˈstæmər/ B2	verb - to speak with difficulty, repeating or prolonging sounds
hammer /ˈhæmər/ A1	noun - a tool with a heavy metal head mounted at right angles to a handle, used for jobs like knocking in nails
mooring /ˈmʊərɪŋ/ B2	noun - a place where a boat or ship is fastened to a shore or a buoy
quandry /ˈkwɒndri/ C1	noun - a state of uncertainty or confusion
palm /pɑːm/ A2	noun - the inner surface of the hand from the wrist to the fingers
unhungry /ʌnˈhʌŋgri/ C1	adjective - not feeling hungry
pith /pɪθ/ B2	noun - the essential or central part of something
concede /kənˈsiːd/ B2	verb - to admit or agree that something is true after first denying or resisting it
conceal /kənˈsiːl/ B1	verb - to prevent something from being known or seen
fashion /ˈfæʃən/ A2	noun - a popular or latest style of clothing, hair, etc.

Key Grammar Structures

• I've cut the cloth

  ➔ Present Perfect

  ➔ The verb "'ve" (have) + past participle "cut" shows an action that has relevance to the present.

• 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.

• 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.

• 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.

• 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.