Iron & Wine and Calexico have been steady bellwethers of the burgeoning alt-folk scene for years. Both bands have released a grip of albums and EPs, and both have enjoyed consistent praise in music publications and on college campuses. Their collaboration was in the stars, no matter what the critics say, and both bands have delivered on the promise of their earlier work with their remarkably solid EP, In the Reins (2005).
Dead Man's Will
Iron & Wine and Calexico Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Give this stone to my brother
'Cause we found it playing in the barnyard many years ago
Give this bone to my father
He'll remember hunting in the hills when I was 10 years old
May my love reach you all
Now that I come to fall
Please say it's not too late, now that I'm dead and gone
Give this string to my mother
It pulled the baby teeth she keeps inside the drawer
Give this ring to my lover
I was scared and stupid not to ask for her hand long before
May my love reach you all
I'd lost it in myself and buried it too long
Now that I come to fall
Please say it's not too late, now that I'm dead and gone
The lyrics to Iron & Wine and Calexico's song Dead Man's Will tell the story of a dying man's final wishes. He instructs his loved ones to give various items to members of his family as a way of preserving memories and passing on important parts of his life. The man asks that a stone from the barnyard be given to his brother, as it reminds him of their childhood innocence and playfulness. He also requests that a bone be given to his father, a symbol of the hunting trips they used to take together. The man's love for his family and friends is evident, as he asks that his love be given to all of them, having lost it in himself and buried it too long.
The man's final requests also show his regrets, as he asks that a string be given to his mother, a memory of her pulling his baby teeth. He also asks that a ring be given to his lover, acknowledging his hesitation to ask for her hand in marriage. These items serve as a reminder of missed opportunities and moments in his life that he may have taken for granted. The song ends on a plea for forgiveness and reconciliation, with the man hoping that his love will reach all those he cares for before it's too late.
Overall, Dead Man's Will is a touching reflection on the importance of family and the need to cherish moments that may seem small or insignificant at the time. The man's final requests serve as a reminder to value the relationships in our lives and to not take them for granted, as we never know when it may be too late.
Line by Line Meaning
One, two, three
Counting down to the start of the song
Give this stone to my brother
Passing on a cherished possession to a loved one
'Cause we found it playing in the barnyard many years ago
Recalling a fond memory associated with the object being passed on
Give this bone to my father
Passing on a meaningful object to a family member
He'll remember hunting in the hills when I was 10 years old
Sharing a memory and the significance of the object being passed on
May my love reach you all
Expressing a desire for the love to live on after death
I'd lost it in myself and buried it too long
Admitting to having lost touch with one's own capacity for love and caring
Now that I come to fall
Acknowledging that death is imminent
Please say it's not too late, now that I'm dead and gone
Asking for assurance that love can still be felt and expressed even in death
Give this string to my mother
Passing on an object with sentimental value to another loved one
It pulled the baby teeth she keeps inside the drawer
Reminiscing about a childhood experience associated with the object being passed on
Give this ring to my lover
Passing on a symbol of commitment and love to a significant other
I was scared and stupid not to ask for her hand long before
Expressing regret for not having taken action to commit to the relationship earlier
Lyrics © Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: SAMUEL ERVIN BEAM
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@cindyljoan
"Dead Man's Will"
Give this stone to my brother
Because we found it playing in the barnyard
Many years ago
Give this bone to my father
He'll remember hunting in the hills
When I was ten years old
May my love reach you all
I lost it in myself and buried too long
Now that I come to fall
Please say it's not too late
Now that I'm dead and gone
Give this string to my mother
It pulled the baby teeth
She keeps inside the drawer
Give this ring to my lover
I was scared and stupid not to ask
For her hand long before
May my love reach you all
I lost it in myself and buried too long
Now that I come to fall
Please say it's not too late
Now that I'm dead and gone
@KryptonIstheFuture
i miss friday night lights. one of the best shows of all time
@neilsmith6952
I could listen to this forever
@rsadams1640
i get chills everytime i play this song. sam beam is friggin amazing. just saw him at hampton beach nh last month. simply one of the best artists we have today
@JVictoria412
You know, I am writing a story. A story about a group of people, strangers, who are lost in a place with very harsh climate, and keep failing to find a path which would lead home. As I listen to this song, I imagine the colon of all these people going, tired, devastated, surrended. I imagine that all the loved ones from this song are loved ones of these people, as they have thoughts about their families in the last hours of their lives.
And I feel. I listen to this song and I really feel. Thank you, Sam.
@chestnut45
So beautiful... I can't believe that 13 people actually disliked this
@Strifezilla
i remember listening to this song during the long bus rides home late after study in school when it was dark at 6pm Beautiful song
@mike34976
@ihrtincubus friday night lights introduced me to this beautiful piece of work
@nat.attack
Chills. Every time.
@wesleyminett6524
one of my funeral songs.....says so much so well
@ritamrtnz
"now that I'm come to fall, please say it's not too late now that I'm dead and gone" No, it's not big brother..your love did reach us all!