12-Flightless Bird American Mouth
irone & wine Lyrics
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Diving too deep for coins
All of your straight light eyes
Wide on my plastic toys
Then when the cops closed the fair
I cut my long baby hair
Stole me a dog eared map
Have I found you?
Flightless bird, jealous, weeping
Or lost you?
American mouth
Big bill looming
Now I'm a fat house cat
Cursing my sore blunt tongue
Watching the warm poison rats
Curl through the wide fence cracks
Pissing on magazine photos
Those fishing lures thrown in the cold and clean
Blood of Christ mountain stream
Have I found you?
Flightless bird, brown hair bleeding
Or lost you?
American mouth
Big bill, stuck going down
The opening verse of Iron & Wine’s Flightless Bird American Mouth creates a striking visual image of a young boy diving into deep water for coins, with the listener’s focus shifting to the girl with "straight light eyes" whom he is trying to impress. The next verse is more of a reflection, with the singer left with a sense of longing and asking if he has found what he was looking for, or if he has lost it altogether. The metaphor of flightlessness is prevalent throughout the song, with "Flightless bird" representing the girl on whom the singer has set his sights, and "American mouth" symbolizing the process of communication between them.
The chorus, with its repeated question of whether he has found her or lost her, has a poignant quality to it. The idea of a “big bill looming” reflects the difficulties and responsibilities of being an adult, with the singer left unsure if he has the capability to handle them. The final verse of the song finds the singer looking inward, using the metaphor of a fat house cat to describe his own sense of impotence. The image of the “warm poison rats” is a stark reminder of the danger that lurks in even the most seemingly peaceful surroundings, while the “blood of Christ mountain stream” offers a moment of spiritual contemplation.
Line by Line Meaning
I was a quick wet boy
I was energetic and impulsive
Diving too deep for coins
Pushing boundaries and taking risks for material possessions
All of your straight light eyes
All of your pure gaze
Wide on my plastic toys
Excited by superficial things
Then when the cops closed the fair
After the fun ended and reality set in
I cut my long baby hair
I made a significant, possibly rebellious change in my appearance
Stole me a dog eared map
I took an old, worn-out map
And called for you everywhere
I searched for you everywhere
Have I found you?
Am I truly connected with you?
Flightless bird, jealous, weeping
Are you feeling vulnerable and envious?
Or lost you?
Have we lost our connection?
American mouth
My culturally-influenced way of speaking
Big bill looming
Impending debt or financial trouble
Now I'm a fat house cat
I've become lazy and content
Cursing my sore blunt tongue
Regretting past words spoken
Watching the warm poison rats
Observing destructive behavior
Curl through the wide fence cracks
Enter without caution
Pissing on magazine photos
Disrespecting superficial beauty standards
Those fishing lures thrown in the cold and clean
Things no longer valued or appreciated
Blood of Christ mountain stream
A spiritual or religious allusion to a pure and cleansing force
Flightless bird, brown hair bleeding
Still vulnerable and struggling
Big bill, stuck going down
Burdened by financial struggles and limited options
Lyrics © Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: SAMUEL ERVIN BEAM
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@SalTheFisherman
"Good night wrong number"
"Good night old man"
"Hey! I'm not-"
"Old yet, I know"
-
"My heart can't be in 2020 when I'm in 1970"
"Take care of those flowers George"
@lazanietta
I was a quick, wet boy
Diving too deep for coins
All of your street light eyes
Wide on my plastic toys
Then when the cops closed the fair
I cut my long, baby hair
Stole me a dog-eared map
And called for you everywhere
Have I found you?
Flightless bird, jealous, weeping
Or lost you, American mouth
Big pill looming
Now I'm a fat house cat
Nursing my sore, blunt tongue
Watching the warm, poisoned rats
Curl through the wide fence cracks
Pissing on magazine photos
Those fishing lures
Thrown in the cold and clean
Blood of Christ mountain stream
Have I found you?
Flightless bird, grounded, bleeding
Or lost you, American mouth
Big pill stuck going down
@timothyjoseph3867
People say Twilight isn't good, but for me it's the nostalgia attached to it, and the music that makes it so memorable.
@canderamirez4823
I’m late but you’re so right ❤️
@lilyparham4814
yup yup yup
@lilyparham4814
@@canderamirez4823 me too, very much, but still very relatable
@marinasplanet255
Agreed. I rewatch the movies, and I can see why people find it cliche and cringey but the nostalgia makes it amazing.
@BellaKnowssBestt929
Your so right, I watched the whole twilight series about 4 to 5 years ago then never watched it again until about 2 months ago and that nostalgia hit me like a heavy rock to the back of the head
@Canvas20012
"No measure of time with you will be long enough, but let's start with forever."
@joy-iw3mh
MY HEART-
@madisonfishkin8820
NO NO NO IM GONNA CRY
@ninaole5688
Those words ring so beautifully