Beam was raised outside Columbia, South Carolina, United States where his father worked in land management and his mother was a schoolteacher. He graduated from Virginia Commonwealth University with a bachelor's degree and the Florida State University Film School with an MFA degree. Until the first Iron & Wine album, Beam's main source of income was as a professor of film and cinematography at the University of Miami and Miami International University of Art & Design. He had been writing songs for over seven years before a friend lent him a four-track recorder. His friends handed out copies of demos that he had made, and the owner of Sub Pop Records personally contacted Beam and proposed a deal.
Beam released his first album, The Creek Drank the Cradle, on the Sub Pop label in 2002; Beam wrote, performed, recorded, and produced every track on the album by himself at a studio in his home. The album features acoustic guitars, banjo, and slide guitar; its music has been compared, variously, to that of Nick Drake, Simon and Garfunkel, Neil Young, Elliott Smith, and Ralph Stanley.
In 2003 The Sea & The Rhythm was released, an EP collecting other home-recorded tracks along the same lines as those on the debut. Beam's second album, Our Endless Numbered Days (2004), was recorded in a professional studio with a significant increase in fidelity. The focus still lies on acoustic material, but the inclusion of other band members gives rise to a very different sound.
Beam released an EP titled Woman King in February 2005, and the EP In the Reins, a collaboration with Calexico was released in September 2005. This joint work mostly features new full-band versions of previously recorded Iron and Wine rarities.
One of his most famous songs is a cover, which was featured on a commercial for M&Mâs candies and in the 2004 film âGarden Stateâ (and on its popular soundtrack), of "Such Great Heights" by The Postal Service.
"Kiss Each Other Clean" is the fourth studio album by Iron & Wine, released January 25, 2011. The album's title is taken from the lyrics of track 10, "Your Fake Name Is Good Enough for Me". The album marks a further change in style â in an interview with SPIN magazine, Beam said âItâs more of a focused pop record. It sounds like the music people heard in their parentâs car growing up⌠that early-to-mid-â70s FM, radio-friendly music."
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Bitter Truth
Iron & Wine Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
When we were moving through the door
You called 'em mine, I called 'em yours
You make me get so angry
And I'd stay there on my own
We both make peace but all alone
Some call it talking blues (talking blues)
Some call it getting even in a song
I can't read it, didn't mean it
As you would rage how I was wrong
Life is too short, and you'd stay too long
Let's be honest, we were strongest till I let you drag me down
I was sorry then, I'm not now
Some get a golden heart
Some get a riverside
Some get a house that lets the years go by
That life is ending, you seem contented
While the graveside flowers die
I call 'em yours, you call 'em mine
Nothing makes silence like experience
There's a message in my eyes
You'd better love yourself, 'cause I tried
Some call it talking blues (talking blues)
Some call it bitter truth
Some call it getting even in a song
The opening lines in Iron & Wine's Bitter Truth describe the distance between two people, like missing puzzle pieces walking between them. The lyrics suggest a disconnect between two individuals who once moved together through a door, but now find themselves on opposite sides. The singer and the other person exchange blame for the missing pieces, revealing a blurring of the lines between "mine" and "yours." The singer also admits to feeling angry, but unable to express their emotions properly, leading to a lonely peace. The chorus emphasizes the point that the song is meant to be a form of release, referred to as talking blues, bitter truth, or getting even in a song.
The second verse describes a sense of regret and unfulfilled expectations. The singer mentions a past argument where they were misunderstood and accused of being in the wrong. They acknowledge their mistake but point out that life is too short to stay in unhappy situations, and while the other person seemed content to stay, the singer was not. The final lines of the verse are a commentary on the differing outcomes people face in life. Some will get a golden heart or a picturesque riverside, while others will get a house that lets years go by unnoticed. The bridge of the song talks about how silence can be deafening and how experiences offer messages for other people to see. The song concludes with a final message of self-love, stating that the singer tried to love the other person, but in the end, they must love themselves.
Line by Line Meaning
Our missing pieces walk between us
There are parts of ourselves that we feel are missing, that we can't find or share with each other.
When we were moving through the door
At some point we were open and hopeful, maybe beginning a journey or relationship.
You called 'em mine, I called 'em yours
We were trying to divide things up and make it clear who owns what, even our faults and flaws.
You make me get so angry
You have a way of pushing my buttons and stirring up my emotions.
And I'd stay there on my own
I would be left with my thoughts and feelings, trying to sort things out on my own.
We both make peace but all alone
At the end of the day, we might find some inner peace or resolution, but it's a lonely process.
Some call it talking blues (talking blues)
There are different ways to describe the kind of song or message being shared.
Some call it bitter truth
Sometimes it feels like the truth is harsh or hard to swallow, like a bitter medicine.
Some call it getting even in a song
Sometimes we use music to express feelings of anger or revenge, to even the score in some way.
I can't read it, didn't mean it
Maybe I misunderstood something, or didn't realize how my actions or words were impacting you.
As you would rage how I was wrong
You would get very upset and lash out, because you felt I was in the wrong.
Life is too short, and you'd stay too long
We might not have had enough time to make things right, but we also might have clung to a situation that wasn't healthy or fulfilling for too long.
Let's be honest, we were strongest till I let you drag me down
Our relationship or partnership had a lot of potential and strength, but maybe I got too caught up in your negative energy or influence, and let it hold me back or bring me down.
I was sorry then, I'm not now
At some point I regretted something or felt guilty, but now I realize that it wasn't entirely my fault or responsibility, and I don't want to dwell on it anymore.
Some get a golden heart
Some people seem to have a natural kindness or generosity that shines through in everything they do or say.
Some get a riverside
Some people are lucky enough to have a peaceful and beautiful view, a place to escape from the world and recharge.
Some get a house that lets the years go by
Some people find a home or place to live that feels comfortable and safe, where time seems to slow down and things can just be easy and free.
That life is ending, you seem contented
Even though our time together is coming to a close, you seem to have accepted it and found some kind of peace or happiness in the moment.
While the graveside flowers die
Even the beauty and life of nature can be fleeting and temporary, a reminder of our own mortality and the cycles of life and death.
Nothing makes silence like experience
Sometimes we go through so much pain, loss, or change that we don't have anything left to say or express, and silence becomes a more honest and powerful language.
There's a message in my eyes
Even if we can't find the words or the courage to speak our truth, sometimes our eyes or our gaze can convey a lot of meaning and emotion.
You'd better love yourself, 'cause I tried
Sometimes we can't fix or save other people or relationships, and we need to focus on taking care of ourselves and finding our own happiness and peace.
Some call it talking blues (talking blues)
The song ends with a reminder that even though there are different interpretations or labels for this kind of message or music, it is still potent and meaningful.
Lyrics Š Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: SAMUEL ERVIN BEAM
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Ruri Alaika
Our missing pieces walk between us
When we were moving through the door
You called 'em mine, I called 'em yours
You make me get so angry
And I'd stay there on my own
We both make peace but all alone
Some call it talking blues (talking blues)
Some call it bitter truth
Some call it getting even in a song
I can't read it, didn't mean it
As you would rage how I was wrong
Life is too short, and you'd stay too long
Let's be honest, we were strongest till I let you drag me down
I was sorry then, I'm not now
Some get a golden heart
Some get a riverside
Some get a house that lets the years go by
That life is ending, you seem contented
While the graveside flowers die
I call 'em yours, you call 'em mine
Nothing makes silence like experience
There's a message in my eyes
You'd better love yourself, 'cause I tried
Some call it talking blues (talking blues)
Some call it bitter truth
Some call it getting even in a song
Mad Hole
I've been listening to this song for 2 years now. My partner moved out after 20 years. This song describes Our relationship perfectly. It feels like it was written just for us. There is no anger in his words. It's sung has a matter of fact and acknowledgement.
JaiRaj Harisong
Sam Beam is a true poet--perhaps the only one writing songs today, and certainly the best. Masterful turns of phrase, imagery, and emotional exploration.
JungleTom
You'd like Fleet Foxes/ Robin Pecknold. Image painting lyrics, gorgeous poetry etc.
Chahit Bansal
Gregory Alan Isokov, Mike (passenger)
Lindsay Towns
I really love the color direction in this, just superb.
Elijah Brown
Wow, this video turned out so great! Thanks for having me there! It was really fun to film!
Zach McCoy
Ayyyy you are famous bro, lol.
Zad Rasera
Why is this the lowest viewed MV from Beast Epic? This is definitely the best song in the album.
Bug sounds
Agreed
Steve
This man's music is inspiring ideas in my farm in NC. Love this man's writing and music.