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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Slow Black River
Iron & Wine Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
But time's not lost
This time we walk together beside the slow black river
Water-walking over mud
You whisper something
Something good in my ear
So I stop so I can hear:
"Darling, I'm the one to blame
I threw your watch and chain
To where I don't know
Inside the tall grass meadow
You'll forget, forget in time
Remember this:
Your hand in mine forever
Beside the slow black river"
Lost my watch, watch and chain, to her today
But time it has no meaning
When her and me are walking
Darling, I'm the one to blame
I love you still
And timeless now forever
Together by the river
The lyrics of Iron & Wine's song Slow Black River suggest a melancholic yet romantic narrative of a relationship that seems to have faced some challenges. The loss of the watch and chain in the first stanza may symbolize the loss of time or the fleeting nature of time that the couple may feel. However, the next line "but time's not lost" provides hope that the relationship may not be over despite its challenges.
The second stanza may suggest the couple's attempt to move forward together, walking alongside a slow black river. As they traverse the muddy waters of life together, one of them whispers something good in the other's ear, hinting towards reconciliation. The confession in the next stanza that one of them threw away the other's watch and chain adds an element of regret, which is counterbalanced by their declaration of love and the promise of togetherness forever.
The slow tempo and mellow music of the song complement the introspective tone of the lyrics, evoking a sense of calm and reflection. The use of natural imagery such as the river and the tall grass meadow adds depth to the song's meaning, hinting towards the idea of the inevitability of life's changes, which the couple seems to have embraced. Overall, the song's lyrics paint a poignant picture of a relationship that's weathered some storms but emerged stronger, with the promise of love and togetherness prevailing.
Line by Line Meaning
Lost my watch, watch and chain
I lost my valuable possessions.
But time's not lost
Even though I lost my watch, time still moves forward.
This time we walk together beside the slow black river
We are strolling along the river, enjoying each other's company.
Water-walking over mud
We are walking on the muddy ground, but it feels like we're walking on water due to our love for each other.
You whisper something
You tell me something in a hushed tone.
Something good in my ear
What you say puts me at ease and makes me happy.
So I stop so I can hear:
I pause to make sure I don't miss what you're saying.
"Darling, I'm the one to blame
You confess to being responsible for losing my watch and chain.
I threw your watch and chain
You threw my valued belongings away.
To where I don't know
You don't remember where you threw it.
Inside the tall grass meadow
You seem to think it's in the tall grass fields.
You'll forget, forget in time
Over time, you will forget where you threw my watch and chain.
Remember this:
However, you want me to remember one thing.
Your hand in mine forever
Our hands will be forever linked.
Beside the slow black river"
We will remain together by the river.
Lost my watch, watch and chain, to her today
My possessions were lost to her due to her carelessness.
But time it has no meaning
However, time is irrelevant now that I have found love.
When her and me are walking
Spending time together is more important than checking the time.
Darling, I'm the one to blame
You cannot accept losing me and feel responsible for the hardship caused.
I love you still
However, you still love me unconditionally.
And timeless now forever
Our love is eternal and will exist outside the boundaries of time.
Together by the river
We will remain by the river for the rest of our lives, happy and in love.
Lyrics © Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: SAMUEL ERVIN BEAM
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Addy Ayel
Lost my watch, watch and chain
But time's not lost
This time we walk together beside the slow black river
Water-walking over mud
You whisper something
Something good in my ear
So I stop so I can hear:
"Darling, I'm the one to blame
I threw your watch and chain
To where I don't know
Inside the tall grass meadow
You'll forget, forget in time
Remember this:
Your hand in mine forever
Beside the slow black river"
Lost my watch, watch and chain, to her today
But time it has no meaning
When her and me are walking
Darling, I'm the one to blame
I love you still
And timeless now forever
Together by the river
😍😍😍
Writhing Mass of Worms
This song makes me feel calm and safe in a way I can’t explain
Like looking up at a sky of stars and basking in your tiny existence dispite infinite odds
Lim Chao Feng
You are the most generous artist ever! Thanks for sharing! Love your music!
Cody Wirth
This is such an amazing song.
Oather Flowers
So nostalgic of Sam's "Old Sound"
Love this old stuff. Love the new stuff. Love (almost) all he stuff.
Benjamin K
I want more old stuff....
mysticalmania
You are one of the most original artists I’ve heard! Absolutely love your music. I feel it in my gut! Thanks for sharing!
Addy Ayel
Lost my watch, watch and chain
But time's not lost
This time we walk together beside the slow black river
Water-walking over mud
You whisper something
Something good in my ear
So I stop so I can hear:
"Darling, I'm the one to blame
I threw your watch and chain
To where I don't know
Inside the tall grass meadow
You'll forget, forget in time
Remember this:
Your hand in mine forever
Beside the slow black river"
Lost my watch, watch and chain, to her today
But time it has no meaning
When her and me are walking
Darling, I'm the one to blame
I love you still
And timeless now forever
Together by the river
😍😍😍
Ceren Çelik
i love this song it makes me feels so comfy
Valneida Viana
Amo essas pessoas que transformam poesias em canções. É como um sonho bom, como viajar e sentir o vento no rosto, é como sorrir quando se está pensando em algo bom, naturalmente, sem alarde. LOV U Sam Beam, Iron & Wine!!!
Brena Monteiro
+Valneida Viana melhor cantor