Beth/Rest Lyrics

[Verse 1]
Errant heat to the star
And the rain let in
And the hawser rolls, the vessel's whole
And Christ, it's thin

[Chorus 1]
Well, I'd know that you'd offer
Would reveal it, though it's soft and flat
Won't repeat it, cull and coffers that
For the soffit, hang this homeward
Pry it open with your love
Sending lost and alone standing offers

[Verse 2]
It is steep, it is stone
Such [recovery
/a cavalry]
From the daily press, the deepest nest
In keeper's keep

[Verse 3]
All the news at the door
Such a revelry
Well, it's hocked inside
Of everything you said to me
[Chorus 2]
It was found what we orphaned
Didn't mention it would serve us picked
Said your love is known, I'm standing up on it
Aren't we married?
I ain't living in the dark no more
It's not a promise, I'm just gonna call it


[Verse 4]
Heavy mitted love, our love is a star
Sure some hazardry
For the light before and after
Most indefinitely

[Bridge]
(Ooh)
(Ooh)
([Danger has been stole away?])
([?])

[Outro]
This is Axiom
(Ah)

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About

Genius Annotation

In an interview with NPR, Vernon said about Beth/Rest:

You know, I might’ve messed up not expecting them to latch onto it. I think that it makes sense that people are latching onto it. People are latching onto that one because it seems like a statement, or it might seem like I’m trying to pull the wool over somebody’s eyes, or they’re just plain not into keyboard sounds like that. And I don’t feel defensive about it. For me, I didn’t think about it that much when I made that song. When I made it, I was like, ‘I love this song. I really needed to write this song. And I need it to be last on this record.’ And I need to close out the record with this song and what it’s saying and how it relates to “Perth,” musically and lyrically…Well, “Perth” is this awakening or this birth. And to relate it to some of the conversation we’ve been having, it’s sort of that moment when you have decided to wake up and take control. And “Beth/Rest” is the death, but it’s a good death. It’s good winter. But it’s a rest; it’s not this final thing. “Beth” seems like this really cool name for a place you just go to be in paradise forever…

Q&A

Find answers to frequently asked questions about the song and explore its deeper meaning

What did Bon Iver say about "Beth/Rest"?
Genius Answer

From an interview with Pitchfork:

Pitchfork: Did you ever worry that “Beth/Rest”, which is very sincere, would be mislabeled as ironic or was it more like, “Fuck it, I love the way this sounds”?

The latter– and by being overly proud of that fact, I could totally inch myself into a corner of being insecure about it. But I literally just don’t give a shit. I love that song. I cried while working on that song. I know what that means, where that comes from, and why you cry for music. It isn’t for ironic reasons. It’s for either sad or joyful reasons. And that song is joyous to me. I don’t think it’s going to end up being the biggest statement of my career because I have so much more to learn and grow. But I love it as the last song on this record. It feels so good.

Credits
Produced By
Written By
Mastering Engineer
Mixing Engineer
Electric Guitar
Korg synthesizer
Pedal Steel Guitar
Additional Engineering
Recorded At
April Base Studios
Release Date
June 17, 2011
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