God, there is gold hidden deep in the ground
God, there's a hangman that wants to come around

How we rise when we're born
Like the ravens in the corn
On their wings, on our knees
Crawling careless from the sea

God give us love in the time that we have
God give us love in the time that we have

God, there are guns growing out of our bones
God, every road takes us farther from home

All these men that you made
How we wither in the shade
Of your trees, on your wings
We are carried to the sea

God, give us love in the time that we have
God, give us love in the time that we have


Lyrics submitted by femmesofrussia

On Your Wings Lyrics as written by Samuel Ervin Beam

Lyrics © Warner Chappell Music, Inc.

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On Your Wings song meanings
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11 Comments

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  • +1
    General Comment

    I like how the guitar sounds like a ticking clock

    Jzorrillon December 15, 2006   Link
  • +1
    General Comment

    beautiful song, great album...

    "every road takes us farther from home"

    so true and so touching

    from_comalaon August 17, 2007   Link
  • 0
    General Comment

    This song is beautiful, just beautiful.

    danseon November 23, 2004   Link
  • 0
    General Comment

    I think that this song is pretty self-explanatory. I think that it's a prayer/explanation for the state of humanity and the way that we go through life.

    neonskylineon March 10, 2005   Link
  • 0
    General Comment

    A good first song for an album that seems to have a lot to say about the briefness and sweetness and urgency of life. "God, give us love in the time that we have."

    chrisferon June 23, 2005   Link
  • 0
    General Comment

    Sam Beam is the freaking best songwriter for the first decade of the new century. I love this song and I love this album. I hope he stays underground and doesn't blow up. He makes music the way he wants to make music and it pays off in so many artistic ways.

    OpinionHeadon August 06, 2005   Link
  • 0
    General Comment

    yeah, i hope he stays underground too...i love this song, i think its so beautiful.

    specialK37on July 03, 2006   Link
  • 0
    General Comment

    underground? this music is soul-deep. the world deserves a listen.

    the otherwiseon September 28, 2006   Link
  • 0
    General Comment

    For one reason or another i think that this prayer for the termination of human selfdestraction is on e of my not so favorite songs of iron & wine,but it's sound mesmerises me as well

    veruskaon October 09, 2006   Link
  • 0
    My Interpretation

    As in "Free until they cut me down", the sea represents death.

    treanton July 27, 2010   Link

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