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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Thomas County Law
Iron & Wine Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Every traffic light is red when it tells the truth
The church bell isn't kidding when it cries for you
Nobody looks away when the sun goes down
Thomas County Road takes you where it will
Someone's singing on the far side of other hills
There's nowhere safe to bury all the time I've killed
Nobody looks away when the sun goes down
You can't see beyond the trees, they're too tall and wide
And I never seem to see around my brother's wife
Nobody looks away when the sun goes down
There are castles for kings, there are birds without wings
I could whine 'bout it all, but I won't
Thomas County Law's got a crooked tooth
There ain't a mother with a heart less than black and blue
When they hold 'em to the light, you can see right through
Every dreamer falls asleep in their dancing shoes
I may say I don't belong here, but I know I do
Nobody looks away when the sun goes down
Nobody looks away when the sun goes down
Iron & Wine's song Thomas County Law is a haunting ballad that explores the intricacies of a small, close-knit community that seemingly operates outside of the law. The first verse introduces us to the eponymous Thomas County Law, characterized by its crooked tooth, where every traffic light is red when it tells the truth. The church bell, too, is not just a tolling bell but seems to be crying out for its people. The refrain that no one looks away when the sun goes down implies that there is an unspoken sort of unity in this community, where everyone is aware of the underbelly of their town.
The second verse delves deeper into the town's complex social dynamics. The Thomas County Road leads to destinations that it wills; someone is always singing on the far side of the hills. But the singer of the song questions the safety of burying all the time they have killed; they are aware that even in the midst of the town's collective tumultuousness, they are not free from their own personal demons. There are a couple of ways to cross the Thomas County Line, but the trees are too tall and wide to see beyond them. The singer never seems to see around their brother's wife, implying a familial tension. The fourth verse is more abstract, comparing the state of the world to castles for kings, birds without wings, and everything in between. The final refrain circles back to the first one, emphasizing yet again the universality of their shared experiences.
Line by Line Meaning
Thomas County Law's got a crooked tooth
The law enforcement in this county is flawed and corrupt in some way.
Every traffic light is red when it tells the truth
Things always seem to go wrong in this county and it's difficult to find honesty amidst the chaos.
The church bell isn't kidding when it cries for you
Death and loss are frequent occurrences in this community and the church is often there to mourn with the people.
Nobody looks away when the sun goes down
The dark and difficult things in life are not ignored or denied in this county.
Thomas County Road takes you where it will
The roads in this county can be unpredictable and take you to unexpected places.
Someone's singing on the far side of other hills
Seemingly distant and separate from this county, there are people experiencing joy and hope elsewhere.
There's nowhere safe to bury all the time I've killed
The regret and guilt of past actions cannot simply be buried and forgotten in this community.
There's a couple ways to cross Thomas County Line
There are options for leaving this county, but it's not always clear which path is best.
You can't see beyond the trees, they're too tall and wide
The future is unclear and obscured, making it difficult to plan ahead.
And I never seem to see around my brother's wife
There are relationship struggles within this family that cannot be easily resolved.
There are castles for kings, there are birds without wings
There is great wealth and privilege in this world, as well as those who are left without basic necessities.
I could whine 'bout it all, but I won't
Despite the difficulties faced in this county, the artist chooses not to complain and instead carries on with life.
There ain't a mother with a heart less than black and blue
Mothers in this community have experienced pain and trauma in some way.
When they hold 'em to the light, you can see right through
The truth is difficult to hide and can be seen clearly despite attempts to conceal it.
Every dreamer falls asleep in their dancing shoes
Even when things seem uncertain and difficult, there is still hope and joy to be found in dreaming and creativity.
I may say I don't belong here, but I know I do
Despite the challenges, the artist knows that they are a part of this community and cannot simply walk away from it.
Nobody looks away when the sun goes down
The difficult realities of life in this county are not ignored, even when the darkness of night has fallen.
Lyrics © Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: SAMUEL ERVIN BEAM
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Akash Chowdhury
Thomas County Law's got a crooked tooth
Every traffic light is red when it tells the truth
The church bell isn't kidding when it cries for you
Nobody looks away when the sun goes down
Thomas County Road takes you where it will
Someone's singing on the far side of other hills
There's nowhere safe to bury all the time I've killed
Nobody looks away when the sun goes down
There's a couple ways to cross Thomas County Line
You can't see beyond the trees, they're too tall and wide
And I never seem to see around my brother's wife
Nobody looks away when the sun goes down
There are castles for kings, there are birds without wings
I could whine 'bout it all, but I won't
Thomas County Law's got a crooked tooth
There ain't a mother with a heart less than black and blue
When they hold 'em to the light, you can see right through
Every dreamer falls asleep in their dancing shoes
I may say I don't belong here, but I know I do
Nobody looks away when the sun goes down
Nobody looks away when the sun goes down
Lalramengmawia Khenglawt
Thomas County Law's got a crooked tooth
Every traffic light is red when it tells the truth
The church bell isn't kidding when it cries for you
Nobody looks away when the sun goes down
Thomas County Road takes you where it will
Someone's singing on the far side of other hills
There's nowhere safe to bury all the time I've killed
Nobody looks away when the sun goes down
There's a couple ways to cross Thomas County Line
You can't see beyond the trees, they're too tall and wide
And I never seem to see around my brother's wife
Nobody looks away when the sun goes down
There are castles for kings, there are birds without wings
I could whine 'bout it all, but I won't
Thomas County Law's got a crooked tooth
There ain't a mother with a heart less than black and blue
When they hold 'em to the light, you can see right through
Every dreamer falls asleep in their dancing shoes
I may say I don't belong here, but I know I do
Nobody looks away when the sun goes down
Nobody looks away when the sun goes down
William Baxley
I am currently deployed and I thank this man from the bottom of myself for this amazing music. I have been listening for over ten years and have never been dissapointed, only humbled and satisfied.
“Music has always been a matter of Energy to me, a question of Fuel. Sentimental people call it Inspiration, but what they really mean is Fuel. I have always needed Fuel. I am a serious consumer. On some nights I still believe that a car with the gas needle on empty can run about fifty more miles if you have the right music very loud on the radio.”
-Hunter S. Thompson
Jamie640
Firstly, thank you for your service.
I’m same, his music has calmed me after a long day, & then rejuvenated for the next.
Stay safe everyone.
Shane's Squirrel Shack
I like he's going for his older sounds again. Really refreshing.
Daniel Cottontail
Fever Dream type of song. I love it too!! Our Endless Numbered Days type of Song
Cralls Fickle
I didn't get nervous or sad or disappointed or whatever negative feelings some did with his changing style for a few reasons.
1. I liked it.
2. His old songs are always still available
3. (The relevant part) Bands always have an album where they return 'to their roots'
Perhaps we're getting that 'roots' album
Indie Shuffle
Best way to start the day <3
Max B
Nobody looks away when the sun goes down. I LOVE that line, makes me think of a perfect world, where there is innocence everywhere, love everywhere and no question of a sin or evil. Thank you Sam
Wild Daisies
Happy birthday today, Sam Beam !!! Your music is a gift to US !! :) Thank you.
Manoj Raju
I love this band, old school, rustic, full of soul...
FruitoftheTree
For years sub pop has been a beacon for all. Personally, as one who's submitted to a subdued life I'm grateful to pull sub pop vid releases.