Jezebel
Iron & Wine Lyrics
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She was born to be the woman I would know
And hold like the breeze
Half as tight as both eyes closed
And who's seen Jezebel?
She went walking where the cedars line the road
Her blouse on the ground
Where the dogs were hungry, roaming
Saying, "wait, we swear
We'll love you more and wholly
Jezebel, it's we that you are for
Only"
Who's seen Jezebel?
She was born to be the woman we could blame
Make me a beast half as brave
I'd be the same
Who's seen Jezebel?
She was gone before I ever got to say
"lay here my love
You're the only shape I'll pray to, Jezebel"
Who's seen Jezebel?
Will the mountain last as long as I can wait
Wait like the dawn
How it aches to meet the day
Who's seen Jezebel?
She was certainly the spark for all I've done
The window was wide
She could see the dogs come running
Saying, "wait, we swear
We'll love you more and wholly
Jezebel, it's we that you are for
Only"
The song "Jezebel" by Iron & Wine tells a story about a woman named Jezebel who is both desired and reviled by the men around her. The singer asks who has seen her and describes her as a woman who was "born to be the woman we could blame." He is both attracted to and disgusted by her, comparing his desire for her to holding a breeze half as tight as both eyes closed. Jezebel is depicted as a woman who is pursued by men who promise to love her more, but their love is possessive and conditional. The singer's love for Jezebel is different, as he sees her as a shape to pray to and someone who has inspired all he has done.
The lyrics of "Jezebel" can be interpreted in a few different ways. On one hand, it can be seen as a commentary on the ways in which women are objectified and blamed for the desires of men. The singer refers to Jezebel as a woman who was "born to be the woman we could blame," implying that her allure and danger are a result of her own nature rather than the projections of the men who desire her. At the same time, the singer is complicit in this objectification, referring to Jezebel as an object of desire rather than a person.
On another level, "Jezebel" can be read as a meditation on the nature of love and desire. The singer is torn between his feelings for Jezebel and his knowledge that she is dangerous and potentially destructive. His love for her is spiritual and pure, but it is also tinged with a sense of longing and unfulfillment. He compares his desire for Jezebel to holding a breeze half as tight as both eyes closed, effectively describing the impossibility of truly possessing her.
Overall, "Jezebel" is a haunting and multi-layered song that explores themes of desire, love, and objectification. It is a commentary on the ways in which women are often reduced to objects of male desire, but it is also a meditation on the human experience of longing and unrequited love.
Line by Line Meaning
Who's seen Jezebel?
Asking if anybody has seen the woman named Jezebel
She was born to be the woman I would know
Jezebel was meant to be the woman the singer would love and hold
And hold like the breeze
The singer wants to hold Jezebel gently, like the breeze
Half as tight as both eyes closed
The singer wants to hold Jezebel somewhat tightly, but not too tight, like closing both eyes halfway
She went walking where the cedars line the road
Jezebel went for a walk along the road where the cedars grow
Her blouse on the ground
Jezebel's blouse was on the ground, perhaps implying she had taken it off or lost it
Where the dogs were hungry, roaming
Jezebel was in a place where hungry dogs were wandering around
Saying, "wait, we swear
The dogs speak (figuratively) and try to persuade Jezebel to stay
We'll love you more and wholly
The dogs say they will love Jezebel completely if she stays
Jezebel, it's we that you are for
The dogs believe that Jezebel belongs with them
Only"
The dogs think that Jezebel only belongs with them
She was born to be the woman we could blame
Jezebel was meant to the woman whom the people could blame for their problems
Make me a beast half as brave
The singer wishes he could be a beast with half of Jezebel's bravery
I'd be the same
The singer would still be himself even if he were a beast half as brave as Jezebel
She was gone before I ever got to say
Jezebel left before the singer could express his feelings to her
"lay here my love
The singer wishes he could have asked Jezebel to lie down with him and be his lover
You're the only shape I'll pray to, Jezebel"
Jezebel is the only one the singer will pray to, as if she were a god or divine figure
Will the mountain last as long as I can wait
The singer wonders if the mountain will endure for as long as he is willing to wait for Jezebel
Wait like the dawn
The singer is waiting for Jezebel like he would wait for the dawn to break
How it aches to meet the day
The singer feels pain and longing to finally be with Jezebel
She was certainly the spark for all I've done
Jezebel was the inspiration for everything the singer has accomplished
The window was wide
There was a wide window through which Jezebel could see
She could see the dogs come running
Jezebel could see the dogs rushing towards her
Saying, "wait, we swear
The dogs once again try to convince Jezebel to stay
We'll love you more and wholly
The dogs promise to love Jezebel completely if she stays
Jezebel, it's we that you are for
The dogs believe that Jezebel belongs with them
Only"
The dogs think that Jezebel only belongs with them
Lyrics © Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: SAMUEL ERVIN BEAM
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@Frantz0five
Who's seen jezebel?
She was born to be the woman i would know
And hold like the breeze
Half as tight as both our eyes closed
Who's seen jezebel?
She went walking where the cedars line the road
Her blouse on the ground
Where the dogs were hungry, roaming
Saying, "wait, we swear
We'll love you more and wholly
Jezebel, it's we, we that you are for
Only"
Who's seen jezebel?
She was born to be the woman we could blame
Make me a beast half as brave
I'd be the same
Who's seen jezebel?
She was gone before i ever got to say
"lay here my love
You're the only shape i'll pray to, jezebel"
Who's seen jezebel?
Will the mountain last as long as i can wait
Wait like the dawn
How it aches to meet the day
Who's seen jezebel?
She was certainly the spark for all i've done
The window was wide
She could see the dogs come running
Saying, "wait, we swear
We'll love you more and wholly
Jezebel, it's we, we that you are for
Only"
@diegotorresal7652
¿Quién es visto Jezabel?
Ella nació para ser la mujer que se sabe
Y mantenga como una brisa firme como la mitad de los dos ojos cerrados
¿Quién es visto Jezabel?
Se fue caminando cuando la línea de los cedros de la carretera
Su blusa en el suelo, donde los perros tenían hambre, la itinerancia
Diciendo, "Espera
Juramos que más te va a encantar
Y en su totalidad, Jezabel
Es que nosotros, que nos son tan sólo "
¿Quién es visto Jezabel?
Ella nació para ser la mujer que podríamos culpar
Hazme una bestia mitad de valiente y ser el mismo
¿Quién es visto Jezabel?
Ella se había ido antes de que yo nunca llegué a decir
"Coloque aquí, mi amor, eres la única forma Ruego a, Jezabel"
¿Quién es visto Jezabel?
¿La última de montaña, siempre que puedo esperar?
Espere como el amanecer, cómo duele el día para atender
¿Quién es visto Jezabel?
Fue sin duda la chispa para todos los que he hecho
La ventana era amplia, puede ver los perros vienen corriendo "
Diciendo, "Espera
Juramos que más te va a encantar
Y en su totalidad, Jezabel
Es que nosotros, que nos son tan sólo
@stasive
I can't listen to this song without crying. It takes me back to such a beautiful part of my life.
@craigslistdave2086
I hope you find the beauty again
@adrianalipomi9111
Me too. I used to rock my daughter to sleep to this song.
@JohnnyRehm
Me too
@poluxi
I feel you
@manthanjadhav4132
@stasive and what was that part?
@TheGreatEbayer
This song sounds like a time and place I can't ever get back to.
@kelvert1
Yes, yes it does.
@EdgarGarcia-qw2tz
I'm so happy I'm not the only one!!!
@Vyck97
exactly