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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My Lady
Iron & Wine Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
And there's none but some falling rain
This like a spoken word
She is more than her thousand names
No hands are half as gentle
Or firm as they like to be
Thank God you see me the way you do
It is good in my lady's house
And the shape that her body makes
Love is a fragile word
In the air on the length we lay
No hands are half as gentle
Or firm as they like to be
Thank God you see me the way you do
Strange as you are to me
The lyrics of Iron & Wine's song "My Lady's House" are poetic and introspective, creating a contemplative mood that reflects the inner thoughts and feelings of the singer. The opening lines set the tone for the rest of the song, with the contrast between the warm light in the lady's house and the falling rain outside, implying both comfort and melancholy.
The line "She is more than her thousand names" suggests that the lady is complex and multi-dimensional, with many different facets to her personality. As the song progresses, the focus shifts to the tactile and sensual aspects of the singer's relationship with his lady friend, with the repeated refrain "No hands are half as gentle / Or firm as they like to be" emphasizing the physicality of their connection.
The singer's gratitude towards the lady is also highlighted by the line "Thank God you see me the way you do / Strange as you are to me," which suggests that he feels accepted and understood by her despite any differences in their personalities or perspectives. The lyrics overall convey a sense of intimacy and appreciation for the small moments of warmth and connection that can be found in life.
Line by Line Meaning
There is light in my lady's house
My lady's house is filled with warmth and love.
And there's none but some falling rain
The only thing that can disturb the tranquility in my lady's house is some falling rain.
This like a spoken word
The atmosphere in my lady's house is so peaceful it's like a whispered message.
She is more than her thousand names
My lady is a complex individual with a depth that can't be captured by mere labels.
No hands are half as gentle
My lady has the softest and most delicate touch.
Or firm as they like to be
When needed, my lady's hands can also be strong and determined.
Thank God you see me the way you do
I'm grateful that you appreciate me for who I am, quirks and all.
Strange as you are to me
Even though we are different, you still manage to understand and accept me.
It is good in my lady's house
Being in my lady's house is like being in a safe haven, filled with goodness and positivity.
And the shape that her body makes
Even the way my lady's body takes up space is beautiful and comforting to me.
Love is a fragile word
Although love is often used, it's actually a delicate concept that needs to be handled with care.
In the air on the length we lay
As we lay together, we can feel the love and vulnerability between us hanging in the air.
Lyrics © Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: SAMUEL ERVIN BEAM
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@Frantz0five
There is light in my lady's house
And there's none but some falling rain
This like a spoken word
She is more than her thousand names
No hands are half as gentle
Or firm as they like to be
Thank God you see me the way you do
Strange as you are to me
It is good in my lady's house
And the shape that her body makes
Love is a fragile word
In the air on the length we lay
No hands are half as gentle
Or firm as they like to be
Thank God you see me the way you do
Strange as you are to me
@beemagnet5795
I love her so much, man
@yvonnesolis2113
This song is amazing. Nothing more.
@CP-gk5ud
This song is gorgeous
@cervenypes123
I danced at my wedding to this
@darktoast808
I'd imagine this to be a perfect wedding song. I hope it's always a great memory for you both!
@thatoneeyedkid
favorite
@Whitemoon379
This Makes my heart cry 😭
@stevenpudleiner6361
This whole album is a piece of my heart restored from when it broke as my mother passed on to her Perfect Form In The Summerlands of Gaea. I feel my mother talking to my with very lyric reminding me that SHE is MY Lilith, My Mother, I hear her speaking in the background and funny thing is she was a background singer. I dont know how you capture it but you do. Much Love and Blessed Be from North West Vancouver,BC Canada
@lulutaylor9362
❤
@kittymcgee411
🖤❤💜💙💚💛