I first got a taste of this song hearing the twins Alex and Jo from Serbia sing it here. I wrote about them when they did a magnificent version of Christina Perri’s Born in Time. This song was originally recorded by Iron & Wine for their 2007 The Shepherd’s Dog album. It finds Iron & Wine’s Sam Beam singing of being trapped by an empty relationship. This was a key track used in the 2008 film Twilight, part of the Twilight Saga. I haven’t seen Twilight, but it’s known for its nostalgia, and it does have an impressive soundtrack.
Uncut magazine asked Sam Beam how the song came to be used in the movie. He replied:
“The story that I heard is that the album (The Shepherd’s Dog) had just come out and Kristen Stewart was listening to it on her headphones when the filmmakers were blocking the prom scene. As the song Flightless Bird, American Mouth was working in her head, she suggested they use it to block the scene. So they did, intending on switching it later to something that other people might really want to hear. But you know how it is, you hear it too many times and it sticks – so that’s what happened.”
[Verse 1]
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
[Chorus]
Have I found you? Flightless bird
Jealous, weeping
Or lost you? American mouth
Big pill looming
Some of the lyrics may not make a lot of sense to me, but the soul and the emotion is there, and the melody is excellent. This is a beautiful song. It can mean anything for anybody.
“Sam” Ervin Beam (born July 26, 1974), better known by his stage name Iron & Wine, is an American singer-songwriter. Beam, his wife Kim, and their five daughters live in Durham, North Carolina. He was raised in the Bible belt as a Christian, but is now an agnostic: “That was a confusing time for me, but I don’t miss being misled. I’m not an atheist. There’s an undeniable unseen world that some people call God and think they know more about than other people. I try not to get hung up on the names.”
Reference:
1. Iron Wine – Wikipedia
“The more I live, the more I learn. The more I learn, the more I realize, the less I know.”- Michel Legrand
Observation Blogger 
This sound retains a spellbinding quality after years of avoidance. My partner and I split up in 2012. I’m talking high school sweethearts, together always and forever kind of romance. She and I just grew worlds apart after living together several years even though we were on a s8miliar trajectory – as artists and writers. But the love faded. This sound was unavoidable back then and if just sit and stew in the melody and cry and cry and cry.
But! What a gorgeous track by a brilliant artist 🙂
Great article. And I’m thrilled to encounter your work.
Thank you for being so candid and opening up with your heartfelt words about your relationship with your partner. How you so eloquently connect it with this song adds so much depth to this post and what this song means to people. Thanks so much for writing.
What are you going to come up with next Matt, that I’m going to love?! Iron and Wine are fantastic, love the sound. My favourite song is from their 2013 album called Ghost on Ghost, ‘Desert Babbler’. If I figure out how to upload it from You Tube I’ll send you the link. It’s there right now! If you get a chance, tell me what you think. Did you enjoy the latest Theodora Goss poem? Great as usual!
Hi Sharon, I just listened to Desert Babbler and was floored by it. I’ll be listening to it again and again. His voice is so smooth and the music so loungy and reminiscent of the 70 easy listening music scene, but the quality here is on another level. So, thanks so much for the recommendation!
I read Theodora’s latest poem about Hungarian Women and was captivated as always. It reminded me so much of many older Colombian women I have known and seen abouts, whom still follow superstitious rituals. Like what Theodora said, ‘I am convinced that they are witches, every one of them’. lol Although it’s really no laughing matter.
That made me laugh Matt, old Colombian women, witch-like!!! Very serious thing indeed. Tell you something Matt, the first time I heard ‘Desert Babbler’ it stopped me in my tracks. I asked my friend’s daughter who was that singing and she told me. Yes, very 70s easy listening. Good, music, so glad you enjoyed it. Nice!
It’s great a song Sharon and I feel blessed you shared it with me. Enormous sound and you can’t feel anything but be taken away by it. I’m much indebted.
Just like you got me on to Theodora Goss! Never heard of her before until I read one of her poems on your blog! How cool is that! So it should be me thanking you! Have a great evening.
It is cool that we can share in her magnificent poetry. I wish I could remember how I first became aware of her blog. I didn’t know Theodora was an acclaimed writer until you mentioned her wikipage. Anyhow’s, it’s a privilege to read her exquisite poetry and yours too!
Thank you Matthew, so good of you to say. Yes, we are very lucky to enjoy her poetry free of charge! Looks like that old saying ‘the best things in life are free’ is true here.
That’s true Sharon. But I would pay to have a book of her best poems. I’ll see if there are any on Amazon.
Morning Matt. Yes, she has got a book or two on Amazon, I remember seeing some stuff a while back. I will probably treat myself around birthday time in a few months! She’s certainly worth it. Cheers!
I agree, it would be a great investment for your birthday. Are you a Leo? Haha
Sharon, I have to tell you about this song I just heard from a UK group in your neck of the woods. This song ‘Elastic’ from the group Chief Springs is so good to my ears. I hope you don’t mind me sharing it with you:
Hi Matt, lovely tune! I enjoyed it. I’ve never heard of the group before. Maybe it’s just me but I can imagine this kind of sound as a soundtrack to a movie! Thank you for sharing that with me. I’m actually a Virgo, the September one. Hope all is well with you in Colombia and that you are having a great weekend.
Eclectic Music Lover (Jeff) posted about them yesterday and I was blown away by it. I’m glad you liked it. The original post is here:
Virgo. ok I know nothing about that star sign I’m afraid. I’m a Capricorn.
Things have been better, but onwards and upwards as they say. You too have a great weekend in London!
Virgo women are complicated Matthew! I have a couple of posts here, I’ll dig them out and send you the links! (for when you have time to read). I really hope you are OK! Oh, Dad was a Capricorn so I have an inside scoop on your lovely star sign. Off to bed now, catch you again.
I look forward to reading the links. I imagine you are well versed on Capricorns then lol. Byes.