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&M’s candies and in the 2004 film “Garden State” (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 – in an interview with SPIN magazine, Beam said “It’s more of a focused pop record. It sounds like the music people heard in their parent’s car growing up… that early-to-mid-’70s FM, radio-friendly music."
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Everyone
Iron & Wine Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I'm ashamed of the dream
Half way home
I'm going nowhere
Flooded just before he spoke
But it came to me
Half way home
All I can tell you is how we spent the time
And it remains strange in somebody's eyes
Makin' the day and the dust gets down
Me and the boys with the window shop
And the music
Half way home
I'm going nowhere
Everyone's summer of '95
It's their favorite song
Half way home
I'm going nowhere
Me and the boys did all kinds of
And I kissed her too
Half way home
I'm going nowhere
And we all went down
Half way home
I'm going nowhere
All I can tell you is how we spent the time
And it remains strange in somebody's eyes
Back on my feet
In the car ???s black seat
Me and the boys and the billions ring
Come back here
Half way home
I'm going nowhere
I'm in the back
But I like it
Half way home
I'm going nowhere
The lyrics to Iron & Wine's "Everyone" are somewhat cryptic and open to interpretation. The singer is reminiscing about a time spent with "the boys," possibly during the summer of '95. They seem to be aimlessly wandering, possibly looking for something to do. There is a sense of yearning and dissatisfaction with their current situation, as the singer admits they are "going nowhere."
The first stanza, "Me and the boys wanna build your drum / I'm ashamed of the dream / Half way home / I'm going nowhere," suggests a desire to create something meaningful, yet there is shame associated with this dream, perhaps due to the fear of failure or societal expectations.
The second stanza, "Flooded just before he spoke / But it came to me / Half way home / I'm going nowhere," is more enigmatic. It is unclear who "he" is or what was said, but the singer seems to have had a moment of clarity or inspiration while feeling overwhelmed.
The chorus, "All I can tell you is how we spent the time / And it remains strange in somebody's eyes / Makin' the day and the dust gets down / Me and the boys with the window shop / And the music / Half way home / I'm going nowhere," again emphasizes the aimlessness of the group's activities. They are simply passing the time, yet even that seems to be viewed as strange by others.
The final stanza, "Back on my feet / In the car ???s black seat / Me and the boys and the billions ring / Come back here / Half way home / I'm going nowhere / I'm in the back / But I like it / Half way home / I'm going nowhere," further reinforces the feeling of being stuck and directionless. The singer is in the back seat, but seems content with their situation.
Overall, the lyrics to "Everyone" convey a sense of nostalgia and longing for a simpler time, yet also a feeling of restlessness and dissatisfaction with the present.
Line by Line Meaning
Me and the boys wanna build your drum
We, as a group, want to create something for you and contribute to your art in a meaningful way.
I'm ashamed of the dream
I feel embarrassed or unworthy of the dreams and aspirations I have.
Half way home
I'm in a state of limbo or uncertainty in my life.
I'm going nowhere
I feel stuck or directionless in my current situation.
Flooded just before he spoke
Emotions or thoughts overwhelmed him before he was able to express himself.
But it came to me
Despite feeling overwhelmed, he was able to find clarity and understanding.
All I can tell you is how we spent the time
The only thing I have to offer is how we passed the time together, as that is what I remember most.
And it remains strange in somebody's eyes
Other people may find our experiences or memories to be odd or unusual.
Makin' the day and the dust gets down
We pass the time and create something, but it is not without difficulty or messiness.
Me and the boys with the window shop
We are casually looking at items on display, perhaps without any intention to buy.
And the music
There is sound or music present in this moment.
Everyone's summer of '95
A specific year, 1995, holds special significance or memories for many people.
It's their favorite song
This particular piece of music holds sentimental value to them.
Me and the boys did all kinds of
As a group, we participated in a multitude of activities or experiences, perhaps meaningfully or aimlessly.
And I kissed her too
One of these experiences involved a romantic interaction.
And we all went down
We collectively experienced a low or difficult moment.
Back on my feet
I have recovered from a challenging moment or event.
In the car ???s black seat
In a specific location, perhaps driving or riding in a car with a recognizable interior.
Me and the boys and the billions ring
I am together with my group once again, perhaps with a ring or circular object present.
Come back here
There is a desire to return to a previous moment or place.
I'm in the back
I am situated in a specific location or position, perhaps in a vehicle or group setting.
But I like it
Despite feeling uncertain, I am content with my current situation or surroundings.
Lyrics © Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: SAMUEL BEAM
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Kimberley Montierth
Finally an artist coming out with new music and not changing their style, have loved Iron and Wine for years and still get goosebumps from his voice :)
Oather Flowers
It's an old song, but a new video because of the release of the unreleased songs like Minor Piano Keys, etc. Sam actually loves changing it up lol
Michael Z-C
18/09/2021: Iron and Wine took up rent in my chest in the winter of 2010, and I've been a flightless bird ever since
Michael Z-C
04/01/2023: I must choose but I like it here. Daria last night, it's getting older, and colder
Zad Rasera
I didn't know that this song had a music video until now
fockin great
Thank you to david dastmalchian for introducing me to all these great songs and musicians...
Brandon Del Gatto
Just discoverd the music video, this one of my favorite iron and wine songs!
Gus Ziliotto
love it!
Brendan Timmons
great work, sam and crew.
DumbOwl
YES! This is wonderful!