Today’s featured track The Desert Babbler was recommended to me in my last post on Iron & Wine – Flightless Bird, American Mouth. Samuel Ervin Beam (born July 26, 1974), better known by his stage name Iron & Wine, is an American singer-songwriter.
Despite the thorny lyrics, the vocals and gorgeous melodies exude a warm and spacious sound. It’s said this album was a shift from the stark acoustic style of Iron & Wine’s earlier work which Sam felt contained an “anxious tension” he wanted to move away from. The Desert Babbler has a lush and soulful, jazz-tinged polish. I found myself getting carried away and humming along to the women’s catchy yet soothing background harmonies.
The following was extracted from the Wikipedia article below:
The Desert Babbler comes from his fifth full-length studio album released in 2013. The album’s title is taken from the lyrics of “Grace for Saints and Ramblers” and the cover (see image inset) is taken from photographer Barbara Crane’s series “Private Views.” The album debuted at No. 26 on Billboard 200.
He has released six studio albums, several EPs and singles, as well as a few download-only releases, which include a live album (a recording of his 2005 Bonnaroo performance). He occasionally tours with a full band. The name Iron & Wine is taken from a dietary supplement named “Beef, Iron & Wine” that he found in a general store while shooting a film.
[Verse 1]
It’s New Year’s Eve
California’s gonna kill you soon
The Barstow boys
Buckeyes in the shadow of the moon
Black houses in the hills and roadside hearts
Dying for a place to fall apart
Who knew that you could learn to live without?
Mother Mary’s lyin’ in your mouth now
[Chorus 1]
Back home, the kitchen’s warm with Christmas wine
And every girl has got an axe to grind
You live to look for heaven, but you’re far
From the hard light tonight
[Verse 2]
So quietly we’ve lost another year
The desert put a babbler in your ear
Mean fireweed and I miss you again
Barstow boys are spit into the wind now
[Chorus 2]
Back home, the hammer always has to fall
Crosses barely hanging on the wall
Someday I know you’ll never leave me
But we’re far from the hard light tonight
References:
1. Iron & Wine – Wikipedia
2. Ghost on Ghost – 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 
Samuel Ervin Beam (Iron & Wine) is all new to me. This song has a great sound and is another interesting example how lyrics and melody/sound can be in complete contrast to each other. Beam seems to be pretty prolific. Since “Ghost on Ghost”, he has released five additional albums, the most recent being “Light Verse” from April 2024.
Samuel’s music is new to me as well. I really like the sound here too. The disassociation between the lyrics and sound as you point out is immense. I hope one day to catch up on more of his output.