Radio War
Iron %26 Wine Lyrics
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Of the far distant spring
Or a bed full of hens
Or the ghost of a friend?
All the while that she wept
She had a gun by her bed
And a letter he wrote
And the train track will take
All the wounded ones home
And I'll be alone
Fare thee well, Sarah Jones
Now we lie on the floor
While the radio war
Finds its way through the air
Of the dead market square
And the beast, never seen
Licks its red talons clean
Sarah curses the cold
"No more snow, no more snow, no more snow"
The first stanza of "Radio War" by Iron & Wine is a collection of images that seem to represent the distorted consciousness of someone in deep grief or some form of emotional pain. The question of the wine she drank may suggest escapism as a coping mechanism. The reference to the bed full of hens and the ghost of a friend that haunts her suggest that the person may be grappling with aspects of life and death. The second stanza then opens with a somber revelation of the gun by her bed and a letter that her lover left before dying. Perhaps it is the memory of the tragedy that haunts her and perpetuates her psychological turmoil, and the image of the dry, sunken boat amplifies the feeling of loneliness that she might experience.
The third stanza then takes an abrupt turn as the radio war disrupts the peace, blending reality and fantasy. The radio war may represent the feelings of chaos and confusion surrounding the singer in the song. The bizarre image of the beast that is never seen licking its talons, and the curse to the snow all add to the sense of the surreal.
Line by Line Meaning
Did the wine make her dream
Wondering if alcohol influenced her dream
Of the far distant spring
Dreaming of a place far away or different from reality
Or a bed full of hens
Possibly dreaming about a place of comfort, home, or childhood memories
Or the ghost of a friend?
Wondering if a deceased friend appeared in her dream or if it was just another strange occurrence
All the while that she wept
While she was crying or emotional
She had a gun by her bed
Possibly feeling unsafe or paranoid
And a letter he wrote
Possibly remembering or rereading a message he left her previously
From a dry foundered boat
Possibly referring to a sinking ship or shipwreck
And the train track will take
Believing that time will heal and things will get better
All the wounded ones home
Eventually, the hurt or brokenhearted individuals will find peace
And I'll be alone
Feeling isolated or helpless
Fare thee well, Sarah Jones
Saying goodbye to someone named Sarah Jones
Now we lie on the floor
Perhaps giving up and feeling defeated
While the radio war
Maybe symbolic of a conflict or battle
Finds its way through the air
Implying the war or problems continue regardless of everything else
Of the dead market square
Poetically describing an abandoned or lifeless place
And the beast, never seen
A mysterious or unknown creature that's only hinted at
Licks its red talons clean
Possibly referring to the concept of evil or an ominous presence
Sarah curses the cold
Sarah is angry or upset about something related to the weather
"No more snow, no more snow, no more snow"
Sarah's frustrated and wants a change from her current state of being
Contributed by Stella C. Suggest a correction in the comments below.