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Iron & Wine – Cold Town Lyrics 18 years ago
This has a Springsteen feel to it. The meaning is obvious, nothing too subtle about it. Just a good story.

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Iron & Wine – Beneath the Balcony Lyrics 18 years ago
The Balcony could represent Heaven or God. The term "soft-handed boys" may mean the people in reference haven't experienced hard labor. The first two verses are about the hero (who's begging for coins) and how people overlook his great deeds because of the distraction of the people who have so many possesions (soft-handed boys).

The holy mother is the one who is begging for change in the sense of the state of things.
The kid behind the garbage can could be a drug addict (Junky, maybe?)

To me this song is about people's indifference to things that truly matter, how forgiveness is wearing thin and society is begging for change, yet we choose not to see.

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