Michicant

Album: Bon Iver (2011)
Play Video

Songfacts®:

  • This reflective tune finds Bon Iver frontman Justin Vernon contemplating young love and a loss of innocence. "I was unafraid, I was a boy, I was a tender age," he croons in his trademark falsetto.
  • Bon Iver consists of 10 songs, each of them named after or describing a place. Vernon has said in interviews that not all of the places are geographical locations so much as sentiments or states of being. We cannot find any place named Michicant in the Songfacts gazetteer so maybe it's a play on words of 'Michigan' as in 'Michican't'?
  • Vernon explained the song's meaning to Qmagazine: "It's about the things you can't do any more. So if you do you'll be sent to West Michigan for ever." (In other words - Hell).

Comments

Be the first to comment...

Editor's Picks

Victoria Williams

Victoria WilliamsSongwriter Interviews

Despite appearances on Carson, Leno and a Pennebaker film, Williams remains a hidden treasure.

Dave Pirner of Soul Asylum

Dave Pirner of Soul AsylumSongwriter Interviews

Dave explains how the video appropriated the meaning of "Runaway Train," and what he thought of getting parodied by Weird Al.

John Doe of X

John Doe of XSongwriter Interviews

With his X-wife Exene, John fronts the band X and writes their songs.

David Clayton-Thomas of Blood, Sweat & Tears

David Clayton-Thomas of Blood, Sweat & TearsSongwriter Interviews

The longtime BS&T frontman tells the "Spinning Wheel" story, including the line he got from Joni Mitchell.

Loreena McKennitt

Loreena McKennittSongwriter Interviews

The Celtic music maker Loreena McKennitt on finding musical inspiration, the "New Age" label, and working on the movie Tinker Bell.

Jesus Christ Superstar: Ted Neeley Tells the Inside Story

Jesus Christ Superstar: Ted Neeley Tells the Inside StorySong Writing

The in-depth discussion about the making of Jesus Christ Superstar with Ted Neeley, who played Jesus in the 1973 film.