Iron and Wine leaves some eloquent graffiti
The pearly gates
Had some eloquent graffiti
Like “We’ll meet again”
And “Fuck the man”
And “Tell my mother not to worry”
Sometimes I hear a song and want to post it on here but can’t because it’s not being used as a promo song. Sometimes those songs become absolute favourites, and I can never share them on here. Usually I just have to forget it and move on. Every now and again though, things change, and I’m able to post it. The Trapeze Swinger by Iron and Wine is one of those songs.
I actually suspect that anyone who already likes Iron and Wine will know the song already. It was first released all the way back in 2004 as part of the soundtrack for the film In Good Company. Which, now that I think about, is a criminally underrated little film as it is. It’s not the greatest thing in the world, but it’s a pleasant little comedy drama made better than the script allows by superb performances from Dennis Quaid, Scarlett Johansson and Topher Grace.
Anyway, The Trapeze Swinger played out over the end credits, and had me almost immediately scrambling for Kazaa or eMule or whatever it was the kids were using back then to pirate their music. One thing that didn’t occur to me at first was just how long the song is. Clocking in at over nine and a half minutes, it may be the longest thing I’ve ever posted on here, but it hardly even feels half of that.
Each verse is a beautifully illustrated vignette of the story, the end of which leads immediately into the next with such simple little segues as “but”, “so” or “and”. This keeps it all flowing on and on, Sam Beam’s mournful vocals never really letting up for the entire length. Yet it never feels drawn out, or too long. He tells a story, at the pace he wishes to, and it’s all the better for it.
This is a masterclass in lyrics that I won’t even scratch the surface of here. Every line cries out to be repeated and analysed, struggling to give up their actual meanings even then. I’ve known this song for five years now and still manage to find new elements hidden within. A word that can be taken another way, a new metaphor for something lost. Few songs can claim to be able to pull that off.
Around the Well, a collection of rare and previously unreleased songs, will be released on May 19 via Sub Pop Records.
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