12-Flightless Bird American Mouth
irone & wine Lyrics


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I was a quick wet boy
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
And called for you everywhere

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

Overall Meaning

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
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@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



All comments from YouTube:

@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

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@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

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