In a live performance for Seattle radio station KEXP, Beam said this about “Naked As We Came”:
"I cannot tell you how much teasing I got when I turned the title of that tune in. I turned it in and I was like “I wrote this new song, check it out,” and they were like, “‘Naked As We Came’? Really? That’s what you’re gonna call it?”"
Naked as We Came
Iron & Wine Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I'll keep stealing, breathing her
Birds are leaving over autumn's ending
One of us will die inside these arms
Eyes wide open
Naked as we came
One will spread our
She says, "If I leave before you, darling
Don't you waste me in the ground"
I lay smiling like our sleeping children
One of us will die inside these arms
Eyes wide open
Naked as we came
One will spread our
Ashes 'round the yard
Iron & Wine's "Naked As We Came" is a melancholy and haunting song that is up for interpretation. The first verse starts with a woman waking up her partner and stating that there is no point in pretending anymore. She mentions that she will keep stealing and breeding her partner's love, but the birds are leaving as autumn ends. These lyrics could suggest a realization that the relationship is ending, and one of them will die inside the arms of the other, both of them naked and vulnerable. The last line foreshadows the end of the song, where one of them will spread their ashes around the yard, signifying death.
The second verse complements the first verse, where the woman instructs her partner not to waste her in the ground if she leaves before him. This line is intriguing because it could indicate that she wants her ashes to be spread as well, but not to waste her in the ground, meaning that there could be a religious or spiritual belief behind it. The rest of the verse speaks about how the partner is smiling at their sleeping children, just like they will be in each other's arms when they die.
Overall the song has a melancholic and self-reflective tone, where the main themes are time, love, and death. The unaccompanied guitar chords serve to enhance the rawness and intensity of the emotions portrayed.
Line by Line Meaning
She says, "Wake up, it's no use pretending"
The woman urges her partner to face reality and not live in denial.
I'll keep stealing, breathing her
The singer is so in love with the woman that he feels like he is taking something from her every time he breathes her in.
Birds are leaving over autumn's ending
The passing of autumn and the leaving of the birds symbolize the approach of the end of life.
One of us will die inside these arms
The singer acknowledges that death is inevitable and that one of them will pass away while being held in the arms of the other.
Eyes wide open, naked as we came
The image of being naked and vulnerable represents the truth and honesty of their relationship, with nothing hidden or concealed from each other.
One will spread our ashes around the yard
The idea of scattering their ashes around the yard shows a desire to remain close to each other even in death.
She says, "If I leave before you, darling / Don't you waste me in the ground"
The woman expresses her desire to be remembered and not forgotten, asking her partner to scatter her ashes instead of burying her in the ground.
I lay smiling like our sleeping children
The artist is content and peaceful, much like the sleeping children that they have created together.
Lyrics © Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: Samuel Ervin Beam
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@alaalpha9940
She says "wake up, it's no use pretending"
I'll keep stealing, breathing her.
Birds are leaving over autumn's ending
One of us will die inside these arms
Eyes wide open, naked as we came
One will spread our ashes 'round the yard
She says "If I leave before you, darling
Don't you waste me in the ground"
I lay smiling like our sleeping children
One of us will die inside these arms
Eyes wide open, naked as we came
One will spread our ashes round the yard
@painfool11
These guys couldn't get any better. I wrote this because of them
the cameras can't catch crazy
why am I watching this show?
crushing the truth of humanity
this show is what some call a low-blow
even if it's just one shot
one person
lying on the surface of all things seen
to get a cable owners assertion
I won't pay for your show!!
I would rather steal it
you stole my money
now you can too feel it
Messing around with rebels
is the quickest way to helplessness
they have no emotions
and you have even less...
My memory runs deep
my feelings, like money to a jew
got in a fight with the sky
it was the wrong shade of blue...
I have been around way too long
to be fooled by you
seen too many situations
where I was the winner, not you
lifes' been interesting
some would say miserably
I will stake my claim
and lay down my ego
keep it in check you know
rolling around this town
with some of the craziest thoughts around
the curse of an artist
constantly struggling with them self
a perfectionist with an impossible goal
I said impossible...
but the journey gets you close
to becoming what the struggle is about
kinda liking this
changed my mind
not heading south
@alecintours
I've been playing Iron & Wine to my daughter since she was born, now she's 11 months old I find that "endless numbered days" is an instant tantrum stopper. Thanks Mr Beam.
@patrickbyrne5070
Oh shit. She’s a teenager. Congratulations I hope you’re both well and happy. Thank you for a wonderful thought.
@alecintours
@@patrickbyrne5070 I have absolutely no idea where those 15 years went. My daughter's grown up to be a a beautiful, kind, wonderful person, I couldn't be prouder.
@girosiongco3565
@@alecintours i hope u still playing iron and wine to her
@jet-official
@@alecintours youve done a great job, so happy for you
@makotroid108
16 years late here, used to do the same for my son. He's 20 now, lol..
@TheWildheartmuse
Found this while dealing with a loved one's fatal illness...........so beautiful. I carry it with me.......thank you.
@danieleptein9950
Im sorry Lesli thats awful. Hopefully this song gave you some comfort.
@Siberius-
Shit quality version unfortunately. Click on a different upload of this song and the sound is normal.
@louieo.blevinsmusic4197
I’m sorry to hear that. I know all too well what that’s like. I suggest you listen to Jason Isbell’s “If We Were Vampires.”