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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Postcard
Iron & Wine Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
And dirty dreams of pious men
Who wake in fear but sleep again
With what they've done
With what they've done
With all they've done
Some prophet died but wrote it down
And all the ladies sing it loud
Hallelujah
Hallelujah
Hallelujah
The meadow birds have found
The bones of righteous men
Like ragged clothes
Like precious stones
And fell like evil in the end
And eight of them
Those evil men, those perfect men
Some knuckle broken heart disease
Which pulled a preacher off his knees
A callous whisper through the trees
Blows patience boy
More patience boy
More patience boy
And watch her children by the flame
The ones you gave your father's name
Whose evil and his love remained
Inside you boy
Inside you boy
Inside you boy
The meadow birds have found
The bones of righteous men
Like ragged clothes
Like precious stones
And fell like evil in the end
And eight of them
Those evil men, those perfect men
We'll sing a song we've never heard
Formed out of small forsaken words
And all the while that this occurs
We'll love you all
We'll love you all
We'll love you all
And for the beauty that we've lost
The measured time for love it costs
Despite our feelings for the cross
We love you all
We love you all
We love you all
The lyrics of Iron & Wine's song "Postcard" are cryptic, yet portray a powerful message. The postcard mentioned in the first line is a symbol of memories and events that the singer wants to share with the listener. However, the rest of the lyrics are more philosophical and metaphorical. The "dirty dreams of pious men" is a reference to the hypocrisy of religious individuals who claim to follow a virtuous path, yet secretly indulge in immoral activities. The line "the bones of righteous men" suggest that death is the great equalizer - everyone, despite their apparent righteousness, eventually ends up the same. The repetition of Hallelujah highlights the theme of religion and a belief in a higher power.
The section that mentions "knuckle broken heart disease" refers to a broken heart, likely caused by the actions of the "evil men" who are "perfect men" in the eyes of society. The line "patience boy" is a reminder to stay calm and wait for the right moment, for "watch her children by the flame" suggest that the singer is responsible for someone else's well-being. The final verse, "We'll sing a song we've never heard," is powerful and encapsulates the theme of the song - life is a journey, and we never know what's going to happen. The message of the song is that despite the hardships and challenges we face, we should love everyone, and cherish the memories we create.
Line by Line Meaning
This postcard tells you where we've been
The postcard is a symbol of our travels and experiences; it informs you of where we've been.
And dirty dreams of pious men
The pious men we encounter have impure thoughts and intentions, despite their outward appearance of righteousness.
Who wake in fear but sleep again
These pious men struggle with their conscience and fear the consequences of their actions, but ultimately they continue to indulge in their dirty dreams.
With what they've done
Their guilt and regret for their actions weigh heavily on them.
The meadow birds have found
Nature has discovered the remains of those who were once considered righteous or perfect, further emphasizing the fleeting and temporary nature of human life and morality.
The bones of righteous men
The remains of those who were once upright and morally righteous.
Like ragged clothes
Their remains, like tattered garments, have been discarded and forgotten by the world.
Like precious stones
However, they still hold value and significance, as their lives and legacies have had an impact on the world.
And fell like evil in the end
Despite their righteousness, these individuals still fell victim to the same fate as everyone else, proving the impossible task of achieving true perfection.
And eight of them
Even those who are seemingly perfect are still subject to the same earthly laws and rules as everyone else.
Some knuckle broken heart disease
The singer uses metaphorical language to describe the heartbreak and pain that is inflicted upon others by those who are meant to represent and promote morality.
Which pulled a preacher off his knees
The heartbreak and pain caused by these individuals can even corrupt those who are meant to be the leaders and guides of the community.
A callous whisper through the trees
The callous and uncaring actions of these individuals, like a whisper carried by the wind, can have far-reaching and devastating consequences.
Blows patience boy
The singer implores the listener to remain patient in the face of these injustices and hardships.
And watch her children by the flame
The singer observes the next generation, who are still innocent and uncorrupted by the evils of the world.
The ones you gave your father's name
The artist reminds the listener of the responsibility they bear as a parent to guide and protect their children.
Whose evil and his love remained
Despite the evil that exists in the world, there is still love and goodness present, especially in the young and innocent.
Inside you boy
The listener is encouraged to find that goodness within themselves and to nurture it within their own children.
We'll sing a song we've never heard
In the face of all these trials and tribulations, the singer remains hopeful and expresses the desire for something new and positive to emerge.
Formed out of small forsaken words
This new hope and positivity can emerge from something small and seemingly insignificant, but still powerful in its own right.
And all the while that this occurs
Even as we face uncertainty and adversity, there is still beauty and positivity in the world.
We'll love you all
The artist expresses their love and kindness for all, despite the hardships and struggles they face.
And for the beauty that we've lost
Despite the hardships and struggles we face, we still mourn for the beauty and positivity that we once had.
The measured time for love it costs
The artist reminds us that love and kindness take time and effort to cultivate.
Despite our feelings for the cross
Even those who may not believe in organized religion or have negative feelings towards religious institutions can still cultivate love and kindness.
We love you all
The singer reiterates their love and kindness for everyone, regardless of their personal beliefs or experiences.
Lyrics © Warner/Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: SAMUEL BEAM
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Daniel Avila
[Verse 1]
This postcard tells you where we've been
And dirty dreams of pious men
Who wake in fear but sleep again
With what they've done, with what they've done, with all they've done
Some prophet died but wrote it down
Our serpent bell is on the ground
And all the ladies singing loud
"Hallelujah," "hallelujah," "hallelujah"
[Chorus]
The meadow birds have found the bones of righteous men
Like ragged clothes, like precious stones
And fell like evil in the end, in aid of them
Those evil men, those perfect men
[Verse 2]
Some knuckle broken on disease
Which pulled a preacher off his knees
A callous whisper through the trees
Blows "patience boy," "more patience boy," "more patience boy"
And watch her children by the flame
The ones you gave your father's name
Whose evil and his love remained
Inside you boy, inside you boy, inside you boy
[Chorus]
The meadow birds have found the bones of righteous men
Like ragged clothes, like precious stones
And fell like evil in the end, in aid of them
Those evil men, those perfect men
[Verse 3]
We'll sing a song we've never heard
Formed out of small forsaken words
And all the while that this occurs
We’ll love you all, we’ll love you all, we’ll love you all
And for the beauty that we've lost
The measured time for love it cost
Despite our feelings for the cross
We love you all, we love you all, we love you all
Парашют Андерсена
Thank You, Sam!
These songs are wonderful!
Gaby Van Sant
Geweldige cd, prachtig gewoon,het gevoel in zijn gitaarspel...subliem, hopelijk komen en nog vele!
Zad Rasera
I think you picked the best song to end the album.