Iron & Wine Album

One more drink tonight as your gray stallion rests
Where he lays in the reins
For all of the speed and the strength he gave

One more kiss tonight from some tall stable girl
She’s like grace from the earth
When you’re all tuckered out and tame

One more tired thing the gray moon on the rise
When your want from the day
Makes you to curse in your sleep at night

One more gift to bring we may well find you laid
Like your steed in his reins
Tangled too tight and too long to fight

There's a prison on Route 41
Home to my father, first cousin, and son
And I visit on every weekend
Not with my body but with prayers that I send

I've a reason for my absentee
And no lack of love for my dear family
But my savior is not Christ the Lord
But one named Virginia whom I live my life for

And if I don't mind to her
I'd rot in that prison for sure
Yeah, she'd toss me aside
And I'd surely wait to die

By decree, law, or the land
So unlike my uncle, grandpa, and great aunt
Whom I'd most likely see every day
If not for the righteous grand Virginia's way

There's a prison on Route 41
Home to my mother, stepbrother, and son
And I’'d tear down that jail by myself
If not for Virginia who made me somebody else

And I owe it to her
I’d rot in that prison for sure
Yeah, she'd toss me aside
And show me the way to die

By the precepts of her purity
So unlike the habits of my whole family
Whom I only see down on my knees
In prayer by Virginia whom I live for to please

Louise only got from me innocent poetry
Although she played to not listen
But still I can hear myself speak as if no one else
Ever could offer the same

Some say she knowingly tastes like a recipe
All those so foolish and willing
I said, "Babe, I can picture you bend as if wanting to
Bow as the curtain goes down"

Cuddle some men, they'll remember you bitterly
Fuck 'em, they'll come back for more
I asked my Louise, would she leave and so, cripple me
Then came a knock at the door

I came for my woman, he came with a razor blade
Bound like us all for the ocean
I hope that she's happy, I'm blamed for the death
Of a man who would take her from me

Some say they saw in me innocent poetry
Some say they'll never be certain
But still it's been written, a history of lovers
In giving, and taking, and ink

Cuddle some men, they'll remember you fittingly
Cut 'em, they'll come back for more
I asked my Louise, would she leave and so, cripple me
Then came the knock at the door

Louise came to rescue me, missing the irony
Blood made her heart change its beating
I hope that she's happy, I'm blamed for the death
Of a man she found better than me

Dust gets red, and red dust plays
On the wind near Daniel's place
Danny's sick and smaller boy
Rhythm lingers on and on
On and on, on and on

Dust gets dead the sun gone down
Danny's boy lies in the ground
Guitar on the dead boy's chest
Devil's granting a last request
Play on and on, on and on

Beyond the ridge to the left, you asked me what I want
Between the trees and cicadas singing around the pond
"I spent an hour with you, should I want anything else"

One grinning wink like the neon on a liquor store
We were sixteen, maybe less, maybe a little more
I walked home smiling, I finally had a story to tell

And though an autumn time lullaby
Sang our newborn love to sleep
My brother told me he saw you there
In the woods one Christmas Eve, waiting

I met my wife at a party, when I drank too much
My son is married and tells me we don't talk enough
Call it predictable, yesterday my dream was of you

Beyond the ridge to the west, the sun had left the sky
Between the trees and the pond, you put your hand in mine
Said, "Time has bridled us both, but I remember you too"

And though an autumn time lullaby
Sang our newborn love to sleep
I dreamt I traveled and found you there
In the woods one Christmas Eve, waiting

How do you bust the clouds?
Grass on your back been hanging in the air
I wanna scope you out
I wanna touch your mouth when you're up there

When are you coming back?
Bird on a branch will come back home to sing
When are you coming back?
Bringing it back and singing what you bring

How do you bust the clouds?
Head on the ground and feeling what you've seen
I wanna scope you out
I wanna be your eyes and show you me

When are you coming back?
When are you gonna burn that broken bed?
When are you coming back?
I wanna see you drifting overhead

Give this stone to my brother
Cause we found it playing in the barnyard
Many years ago

Give this bone to my father
He'll remember hunting in the hills
When I was 10 years old

May my love reach you all
I locked in myself and buried too long
Now that I come to fall
Please say it's not too late
Now that I'm dead and gone

Give this string to my mother
It pulled the baby teeth
She keeps inside the drawer

Give this ring to my lover
I was scared and stupid not to ask
For her hand long before

May my love reach you all
I locked in myself and buried too long
Now that I come to fall
Please say it's not too late
Now that I'm dead and gone