Music Review:

Flightless bird, American mouth

This was my assighment when I was in the university in 2012.

I love this song. Hope you enjoy it!

“Flightless bird, American mouth” is in Iron & Wine’ album, The Shepherd’s Dog, which is released in September 2007. Samuel Beam, born on July 26^th, 1974, is better known by his stage name, Iron & Wine. He is a singer and songwriter, featuring his acoustic guitars and slide guitars. The Shepherd’s Dog is his third album and also voted one of the ten best of 2007.He released four albums and a lot of EP. His songs were used in some advertisement and movies; take “Flightless bird, American mouth” for example, it was used in Twilight and appeared in the film soundtrack.

Some songs are too perfect to say any words; in addition, as listening to them you feel your skin crawled. Iron & Wine’s Flightless bird, American mouth is definitely the one of best song in the world. You would fall in love with it desperately.

When you press the play button, a clear and soft voice with guitar comes out at once. The guitar is some simple chords and tambourine crinkles to make the melody sound a higher level and more rhythmic. The quiet guitar makes the voice stand out. In the second part violin turns into the main melody and guitar is the rhythm. The melody is soft and poetic, making you feel relaxed and comfortable as if there is nothing but peace left in your mind. The melody becomes louder and undulating in the next verse. The voice becomes more powerful but still gentle. The last chorus is only his voice and piano. Beam’s voice is like a dream, like in wonderland; meanwhile, it still ardent and splendid. His voice sounds gentle and romantic such as your lover’s whispers nearby your ears. The most impressive thing is the last part in this song. There is only a melody playing and Beam’s humming for about one and half minute. The melodious piano and continuous whisper harmonize with each other. The beautiful melody and abstract lyrics make you just throw all out but close your eyes to immerse in this song.

The lyrics are puzzled and complicated to get it; however, it can match everyone in different ways. You definitely can relate to it in one way or another no matter if you admit it or not.

He sings /Have I found you? Flightless bird. jealous, weeping. or lost you? American mouth. Big pill looming./

As you were young, holding a dream (you) you found everyone around you just saw it as a joke (flightless bird).

All they could give you is laughter and indifference (jealous).

When you found there was no longer fair here, you decided to look for your dream no matter what would happen and who would say something bad about you. However, inside your mind you still felt helpless and doubtful about yourself (weeping. Or lost you?).

All you had was your dream and uncertain future (big pill looming).

In next chorus, he sings /Have I found you? Flightless bird. grounded, bleeding. or lost you? American mouth. Big pill stuck going down./

As you were too exhausted to take care about your dream, you began to doubt yourself and your dream (Have I found you? Flightless bird).

All you had was angst. You just hid yourself and pretended nothing happened(grounded, bleeding).

Just saw someone fake lying and lying. Just despised them indifferently (Or lost you?).

You didn’t insist exaggerated promise or dream anymore (big pill stuck going down).

The last one and half minute is incredibly amazing. Beam keeps humming and piano brings it to the climax. There is wordless melody. The climax is not chorus but melody. The piano gets more luxurious and vigorous. The melody makes the lyrics go into a more optimistic ending.

You can’t miss this masterpiece, Flightless bird, American mouth.

Here is the live version which is amazing as well. Check it out!