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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Mothers of the Rodeo
Iron & Wine Lyrics
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Like anyone who's watched a lover go
And their blood thrown down
Torn and tossed around
Baby, say you'll stay with me
We'll build a bridge across it carefully
Just let them lie, don't throw
At least our river goes
Do, do, do, do . . .
Mothers of the boys in grey
Palms and kisses that were blown away
Like this cask and drum
Music born from blood
Baby, say you'll stay with me
I've lost my money and my family
Well I've got friends beside
We drink by riverside
Do, do, do, do . . .
Satan and the Holy Ghost
Like any mother of the rodeo
From the flaws they've found
Much like no one else
I'll be waiting faithfully
Until baby says she'll stay with me
Let their bible burn
Around this river's turn
Do, do, do, do . . .
The lyrics of "Mothers of the Rodeo" by Iron & Wine are profound and carry with them a sense of melancholy. The song reveals the complexities of relationships and captures the feeling of utter helplessness when a lover leaves. The first verse refers to the aftermath of a lover's departure, using the imagery of blood being thrown down and tossed around, which is symbolic of the emotional turmoil that ensues after a breakup. The singer seeks reassurance from his lover, asking her to stay with him so they can build a bridge across their differences carefully. He also tells her not to throw away their memories, as their experiences created a unique river that they can cherish.
In the second verse, the singer talks about the mothers of the boys in grey, who possibly died in war. The imagery conveyed here is poignant and powerful. The mothers had blown kisses and waved palms to their sons, only to be met with death. The song also talks about the music born of blood and cask and drum, which is a reference to the military and how it is infused into the singer's life. Despite losing his family and money, he still has friends with whom he drinks by the riverside.
The final verse talks about Satan and the Holy Ghost, which is not meant to be taken literally. Rather, they are a metaphorical reference to the flaws that people find in each other. The singer waits for his lover faithfully, hoping that she will return to him. He wants her to burn the Bible around the river's turn, which could be seen as a rebellion against societal norms and expectations. Overall, the song is about love, loss, and hope, and how it is possible to find solace in the face of adversity.
Line by Line Meaning
Mothers of the rodeo
Refers to the mothers of cowboys, who have watched their sons leave for the rodeo and possibly never come back.
Like anyone who's watched a lover go
Compares the mothers' emotions to those left behind by a departing lover.
And their blood thrown down
Refers to the blood, sweat, and tears that the cowboys have shed during the rodeo competitions.
Torn and tossed around
Describes the physical challenges and dangers faced by cowboys during rodeo competitions.
Baby, say you'll stay with me
Represents the longing and desperation for a loved one's presence and support.
We'll build a bridge across it carefully
Suggests cautiously resolving the problems that have arisen in the relationship.
Just let them lie, don't throw
Advises to avoid stirring up past conflicts and continue on without further harm.
At least our river goes
Indicates the continuity and stability of their relationship amidst the chaos and change around them.
Mothers of the boys in grey
Refers to the mothers of soldiers, who have watched their sons go off to war.
Palms and kisses that were blown away
Suggests the sorrowful sending off of soldiers by their loved ones, who may never return.
Like this cask and drum
Compares the sound of war to a cask and drum.
Music born from blood
Describes the soundtrack of war as a product of violence and death.
I've lost my money and my family
Reveals the singer's personal struggles and losses.
Well I've got friends beside
Shows gratitude and appreciation for the supportive people in the singer's life.
We drink by riverside
Suggests the comfort and solace found in simple pleasures shared with friends.
Satan and the Holy Ghost
Refers to good and evil forces at play in the world.
Like any mother of the rodeo
Compares the experiences of a parent of a cowboy to those of someone dealing with adversity.
From the flaws they've found
Alludes to the valuable lessons and experiences gained through hardship.
Much like no one else
Suggests the uniqueness of each person's struggles.
I'll be waiting faithfully
Reveals the singer's loyalty and commitment to the relationship despite challenges.
Until baby says she'll stay with me
Indicates the necessity of commitment from the other person in order for the relationship to progress.
Let their bible burn
Challenges the traditional beliefs and values that may have caused conflict in the relationship.
Around this river's turn
Emphasizes time and change as a guiding force in resolving issues in the relationship.
Contributed by Caden I. Suggest a correction in the comments below.