This Solemn Day
Iron & Wine Lyrics


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Touch me while we both have hands
We won't keep them very long
Watch the window curtain blowing in the breeze
Keep your blessed memories
It's not what we talk about
When the table gossip turns
Someday you might find a circle of my friends
And they'll cry when you walk in
The grass is high on grandpa's farm
But he's not there to cut it down
Grey cat walking through the yard
Stops short and turns around as if he heard a sound
And we'll forget this solemn day
We'll be always young again




But I'll remember him, the one who's left us now
And hold you close as you'll allow

Overall Meaning

The lyrics of Iron and Wine's "This Solemn Day" carry a sense of bittersweet nostalgia, as the song melancholically remembers moments of the past while acknowledging the fleeting nature of time. The opening verse, "Touch me while we both have hands, we won't keep them very long," sets the tone for the song's meditations on mortality and impermanence. The line "the grass is high on grandpa's farm, but he's not there to cut it down" further highlights the theme of loss, as the absence of the grandfather from the farm is a reminder of his passing.


Throughout the song, there is an offhand reference to the "table gossip" and the possibility of the singer's friends crying when the listener walks in, perhaps indicating a past disagreement or separation. However, this conflict is juxtaposed with the desire to forget the "solemn day" and hold onto the moments of happiness and youth. The final verse, "And we'll forget this solemn day, we'll be always young again, but I'll remember him, the one who's left us now and hold you close as you'll allow," elevates the song to a deeply personal level, as the singer grapples with the pain of loss while valuing the connections they have in the present.


Overall, "This Solemn Day" is a poignant meditation on the passage of time and the importance of cherishing the present moment in the face of mortality and loss.


Line by Line Meaning

Touch me while we both have hands
Let's make the most of the time we have together while we are both healthy and able to touch and feel each other's presence.


We won't keep them very long
Our physical bodies are impermanent and will eventually fail us, so we should cherish our time together while we can.


Watch the window curtain blowing in the breeze
Take in the beauty of the simple things around us, like the sight of a curtain gently moving with the breeze.


Keep your blessed memories
Hold onto the happy and special memories we share together as a source of comfort in tough times.


It's not what we talk about when the table gossip turns
Our love is not based on shallow, trivial topics discussed during gossip sessions with others, but goes much deeper than that.


Someday you might find a circle of my friends
One day, you may meet the people who are closest to me, who can offer you a glimpse into my life beyond what you see now.


And they'll cry when you walk in
My friends will be touched by your presence and the love we share, and they will be overwhelmed with emotions and may shed tears of joy.


The grass is high on grandpa's farm
The scenery and natural surroundings around us are constantly changing, and this particular image refers to the growth of the grass on grandpa's farm.


But he's not there to cut it down
Unfortunately, grandpa is no longer with us and unable to tend to the farm on which the grass grows, further emphasizing the transience of life.


Grey cat walking through the yard
A neutral and benign image of a grey cat wandering through the yard, perhaps symbolizing the fleeting nature of existence and the tendency of life to simply carry on.


Stops short and turns around as if he heard a sound
The sudden change in direction of the cat hints at an acute awareness of its surroundings, which could be interpreted as a metaphor for being present and mindful in our own lives.


And we'll forget this solemn day
Eventually, the memories of this particular moment in time will fade into the past and lose their present significance.


We'll be always young again
Despite the inevitability of aging and the changes it brings, our love for each other will transcend time and make us feel youthful and alive again.


But I'll remember him, the one who's left us now
Despite moving forward with our lives, we will still carry the memory of those we have lost with us and keep them close in our hearts.


And hold you close as you'll allow
I will always cherish our physical proximity and closeness, but will respect your boundaries and comfort levels around physical touch.




Contributed by Eva R. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
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Most interesting comments from YouTube:

@bobgarcia9925

Touch me while we both have hands
We won't keep them very long
Watch the window curtain blowin' in the breeze
But keep your blessed memories

It's not what we talk about
When the table gossip turns
Someday you might find a circle of my friends
And they'll cry when you walk in

The grass is high on grandpa's farm
And he's not there to cut it down
Grey cat walkin' through the yard stops short
And turns around as if he heard a sound

We'll forget this solemn day
We'll be always young again
But I'll remember him the one who's left us now
And hold you close as you'll allow

This Solemn Day
Samuel Beam



@MatteoBusa

The grass is high on grandpa's farm
But he's not there to cut it down
Grey cat walking through the yard
Stops short and turns around as if he heard a sound
And we'll forget this solemn day
We'll be always young again
But I'll remember him, the one who's left us now
And hold you close as you'll allow


My God, those Lyrics...



All comments from YouTube:

@jules-yi8rn

Times can change and people can come and go in our lives, but Sam's voice just feels like 'home'.....and that's a pleasant feeling nowadays.

@losteyesight

This is AMAZING! I'm literally glad to be alive long enough to hear this, but also very sad to realize how many fans have passed away and will never hear this.

@1...MusicVideo

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@jaimachado9234

Iron and Wine salvou e continua salvando a minha vida. Sam Beam, vocΓͺ Γ© gigante.

@sera_sarzad

NICE. More Iron & Wine. He's honestly one of my favorite artists ever.

@1...MusicVideo

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@jermainemickell9753

Iron and wine early songs was amazing. Every though I wasn't a fan of his older work. I hope he can get back making song like each coming night or archive 1. Song that being peace and amazing story telling

@Pilafcg

One of the best lyricist i know, and the way he blends it with this simple music just destroys me

@sazidh.shipan9219

Another class of Iron and Wine!
Made my day.<3

@sazidh.shipan9219

Listening from Bangladesh!

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