Salem – English Lyrics

• By: Bon Iver

Lyrics & Translation

Embark on a journey of introspection and emotional depth with Bon Iver's "Salem." This song, rich with poetic and evocative English lyrics, offers a unique opportunity to engage with sophisticated vocabulary and nuanced expressions of melancholy and resilience. Its intricate soundscape and heartfelt delivery make it a special piece for appreciating the artistic possibilities of the English language through music.

[English]

Salem burns the leaves

Then she returns to cure and see

Heavy fate

After years of waitin'

'Cause abnormalities

Surely are everywhere you see

So what I think we need

Is elasticity

Empowerment and ease

So I won't lead no lie

With our hearts the only matter why

How long it's lasted

I've not received reciprocity

To speak supportively

Big guy, there's no automatic peace

But I bet you'd keep

All these in-betweens that bar my youth

Though no anorberic dream

Far as I know

I tried too hard to see

What I thought it'd be

Asking constantly

How's it gonna be?

So I'm gonna weep a while

You don't even know how hard

I've learned a lesson

Don't ask me

I've torn the banner from the line

Key Vocabulary

Vocabulary	Meanings
burn /bɜːrn/ A1	verb - to be damaged or destroyed by fire
return /rɪˈtɜːrn/ A1	verb - to come or go back to a place
heavy /ˈhɛvi/ A1	adjective - of great weight; difficult to bear
fate /feɪt/ A2	noun - the development of events outside human control
abnormality /æbˌnɔːrˈmæləti/ B2	noun - the state of being not normal
elasticity /ɪˌlæˈstɪsəti/ C1	noun - the ability to stretch and return to the original shape
empowerment /ɛmˈpaʊərmənt/ B2	noun - the process of becoming stronger and more confident
reciprocity /rɪˌsɪˈprɒsɪti/ C1	noun - the practice of exchanging things with others for mutual benefit
supportive /səˈpɔːrtɪv/ B1	adjective - providing encouragement or emotional help
automatic /ˌɔːtəˈmætɪk/ B1	adjective - done without conscious thought
in-between /ˌɪn bɪˈtwiːn/ B1	noun - an intermediate state or position
anorberic /ˌænɔːrˈbɛrɪk/ C2	adjective - relating to an anorexic or dreamlike state (contextual, not standard)
weep /wiːp/ A2	verb - to cry, especially sorrowfully
lesson /ˈlɛsən/ A1	noun - something learned through experience
banner /ˈbænər/ A2	noun - a large piece of cloth with a symbol or message

Key Grammar Structures

• Salem burns the leaves

  ➔ Present simple tense with third person singular

  ➔ Used to describe a habitual action or general truth

• Then she returns to cure and see

  ➔ Simple present tense with 'she returns'

  ➔ Expresses a habitual or repeated action

• Heavy fate

  ➔ Noun phrase, adjective + noun

  ➔ Uses an adjective to describe a noun

• 'Cause abnormalities

  ➔ Contraction of 'because', causal clause

  ➔ Uses an informal contraction to express reason

• Is elasticity

  ➔ Predicate noun, linking verb 'is'

  ➔ Use of the verb 'is' to identify or describe a subject

• I've torn the banner from the line

  ➔ Present perfect tense, with past participle 'torn'

  ➔ Expresses an action that was completed at an unspecified time before now

• I've learned a lesson

  ➔ Present perfect tense with 'have learned'

  ➔ Describes an experience or a lesson acquired up to now