Bon Iver’s achingly intimate “If Only I Could Wait” (featuring Danielle Haim) blends melancholic folk and ethereal production to explore the fragility of love and the emotional exhaustion that can follow its initial euphoria.
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Stream: “If Only I Could Wait” – Bon Iver ft. Danielle Haim
Bon Iver’s latest musical offering “If Only I Could Wait” heralds a fresh chapter in the project’s evolution, while still adhering to the emotional depth and sonic landscape that fans have come to expect from Justin Vernon.
This track, the second single from his upcoming fifth studio album SABLE, fABLE (set to release on April 11th via Jagjaguwar), is a haunting duet between Vernon and Danielle Haim of the band HAIM.
The song is a fragile exploration of love, vulnerability, and the weight of emotional endurance, qualities that Vernon has long been able to draw out with his unique sound.
From the moment “If Only I Could Wait” begins, the atmosphere shifts. An unsettling, off-kilter rhythm anchors the song, providing a foundation for the ethereal swirls of sound that define it. The static-like percussion, faint but pervasive, adds a layer of tension that underpins the track. It’s the kind of subtle complexity that Vernon is known for, using small sonic choices to shape mood and narrative. This, paired with the lush strings and intricate guitar arrangements, immediately pulls listeners into the swirling, dizzying feeling of both love and fear of losing it.
The track’s most striking feature is undoubtedly the chemistry between Vernon and Haim. Their voices intertwine seamlessly, as though they are two parts of the same broken whole. The verses are beautifully individual, with Vernon’s soulful crooning conveying a sense of exhaustion and longing, while Haim’s voice is smooth and ethereal, yet brimming with its own kind of weight. There’s a stark contrast between the characters they portray in their respective lines – Vernon’s reflective, weary tone is met with Haim’s more delicate, almost fragile delivery. But when they unite in the chorus, there’s a powerful harmony that signifies something bigger than both their voices alone. It’s as if they are embodying the tension of the song’s central theme: the challenge of holding onto love when the energy to fight for it seems to be slipping away.
The song’s lyrics reflect this emotional tug-of-war.
The repetitive refrain, “But what a taste, aw, babe,” feels like a tender recollection of the euphoric early days of love, where everything feels limitless. However, as the song unfolds, the lyrics grow more introspective, hinting at the weariness that can set in when one is no longer able to be the idealized version of themselves.
“How long can the two of us hang on to each other?” Vernon asks a question that resonates deeply with anyone who has experienced the fragile nature of relationships, where passion can fade, and the effort required to keep things alive can feel overwhelming.
If only I could wait
But before me is a ways out
Can I live inside this state?
Where the summers are charades now
Can I incur the weight?
Am I really this afraid now?
Ah, ahh, for what’s at stake
Oh, babe, I’ll take the pain
The song’s production is equally evocative. Produced by Vernon and Jim-E Stack, SABLE, fABLE has a rich, textured sound that mixes organic instrumentation with electronic elements. The collaboration between Vernon’s deep, introspective folk roots and Stack’s modern production sensibilities brings an exciting new dimension to Bon Iver’s sound. The shimmering strings and shimmering synths are delicate but full of energy, creating a sense of both beauty and fragility. The distortions on the drum loop, along with the nuanced layers of samples, give the track an almost surreal quality, blurring the line between dream and reality.
If only you could wait
I ain’t up at your pace yet
I take the steps to stage
And they hit me with the rays now
But if I could only pray
In the blaze of a northern bar
I’d bend another straight
We’ll decay in other ways now
“If Only I Could Wait” taps into the emotional fragility that has always been a cornerstone of Bon Iver’s work. Vernon’s writing is direct yet poetic, capturing the paradox of new love – its electrifying highs paired with the inevitable lows. The simplicity of the lyrics is paired with the depth of the emotional resonance they carry, making it feel like a reflection of something deeply personal. The way Vernon and Haim sing the final lines – “In every way, not for the freight / I’ll best alone in high ways” – captures a rawness that’s difficult to articulate but deeply familiar. It’s an ambiguous resolution, as though the characters are acknowledging that sometimes, the only way to continue is to go separate ways, even if that feels painful and uncertain.
If only you could wait
(I, I know that it’s hard)
Or is it folded either way now?
(To keep holding)
The common leads away
(Keep holding strong)
But is it only years away now?
(Keep holding on)
I have come to learn replace
(I, I know that it’s best)
And I resemble other traits of the lord
(To keep going)
I have rendered other fates
(These memories hold)
And I’ve been prowling on the brakes now
(These memories fade)
The track stands out not only because of its unique blending of voices, but also due to its evocative production and the emotional weight it carries. It is, in many ways, a continuation of what Vernon does best: Taking a simple, human experience and translating it into something deeply affecting through the medium of music. And yet, it’s clear that SABLE, fABLE is aiming for something even more expansive. The track feels like an intimate vignette, a fleeting moment in time that speaks volumes about the complexities of love, desire, and the weariness that can follow the initial rush of passion. There’s a sense of closure here, but also a realization that the journey isn’t over, even if the destination is uncertain.
Bon Iver’s “If Only I Could Wait” is the kind of track that defies immediate analysis.
Its layers are so intricately woven that each listen reveals something new – whether it’s the subtlety of the production, the emotional depth of the vocals, or the sheer beauty of the lyrics. It’s a song that grows with time, just like the love it explores. In this duet with Danielle Haim, Bon Iver’s latest track offers both a tantalizing glimpse of SABLE, fABLE and a stunning reminder of the enduring power of Vernon’s music: A sound that, in its complexity, always manages to feel aching, deeply human.
With “If Only I Could Wait,” Bon Iver proves once again that the intersection of beauty and sorrow is where his art thrives. It’s an exquisite, melancholic ride that leaves you both breathless and reflective, making it impossible to wait for the full release of SABLE, fABLE on April 11th.
Ah, ahh, but what a taste
Oh, babe, in every way
Not for the freight
I’ll best alone
In high ways
Mm-hmm-mm
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:: stream/purchase If Only I Could Wait here ::
:: stream/purchase SABLE, fABLE here ::
:: connect with Bon Iver here ::
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“If Only I Could Wait” – Bon Iver ft. Danielle Haim
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© Graham Tolbert
© Graham Tolbert
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