It's New Years Eve, California's gonna kill you soon
The Barstow boys, buckeyes in the shadow of the moon
Black houses in the hills and road side hearts
Dying for a place to fall apart

Who knew what you could learn to live without?
Mother Mary's laying in your mouth now
Back home the kitchen's warm with Christmas wine
And every girl has got an axe to grind

You left a look for Heaven, but you're far
From the hard light tonight

So quietly we're lost another year
The desert put a babbler in your ear
Mean fireweed and I miss you again
Barstow boys are spit into the wind now

Back home the hammer always has to fall
Crosses barely hanging on the wall
Someday I know you'll never leave me
But we're far from the hard light tonight


Lyrics submitted by mike, edited by cataphone, coolcrowe, 372jdno, Stockholm, woodskitty, mebeforee

The Desert Babbler Lyrics as written by Samuel Ervin Beam

Lyrics © Warner Chappell Music, Inc.

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The Desert Babbler song meanings
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3 Comments

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  • +2
    Translation

    It's New Year's Eve And California's gonna kill you soon The Barstow boys Bug eyes in the shadow of the moon

    Black houses in the hills and roadside haunts Dying for a place to fall apart Who knew what you could learn to live without Mother Mary's lying in your mouth, now

    Back home the kitchen's warm with Christmas wine And every girl has got an axe to grind You live to look for hell, man But you're far from the hard light tonight

    So quietly we lost another year The desert put a babbler in your ear He will find a way to not miss you again Barstow boys all spit into the wind

    Back home the hammer always has to fall Cross is barely hanging on the wall Some day I know you'll never leave me But we're far from the hard light tonight

    Read more: Iron & Wine - The Desert Babbler Lyrics | MetroLyrics

    woodskittyon September 18, 2014   Link
  • +1
    My Interpretation

    I get the feeling has something to do with returning to a home that's grown far more religious than you, or vice versa. Wish I knew what the Barstow Boys were, I feel like it's key to the meaning.

    Jalamookoofooon October 04, 2013   Link
  • +1
    My Opinion

    Why even post it if the lyrics are so far off?

    woodskittyon September 17, 2014   Link

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