Pagan Angel And A Borrowed Car

Iron & Wine's song "Pagan Angel And A Borrowed Car" is a hauntingly poetic exploration of love, loss, and the passage of time. The lyrics are rich with metaphors and imagery that evoke a sense of melancholy and reflection. The opening lines, "Love was a promise made of smoke / In a frozen copse of trees," suggest the ephemeral and fragile nature of love, likening it to smoke that dissipates in the cold. This sets the tone for a narrative that delves into the complexities and impermanence of human relationships.

The recurring imagery of planes and pagan angels in the sky introduces a sense of otherworldliness and detachment. These elements symbolize the distance and disconnection between the characters, as well as the intrusion of external forces into their lives. The mention of a "borrowed car" and a "stolen coat" further emphasizes themes of transience and borrowed time, hinting at the characters' struggles to find stability and meaning in their lives.

The song also touches on themes of rebellion and defiance, as seen in the lines, "With his gun the pagan angel rose to say / 'My love is one made to break every bended knee.'" This suggests a rejection of traditional notions of love and devotion, instead embracing a more chaotic and unpredictable form of affection. The imagery of a "snake within the wilted garden wall" and the reference to a "wilted garden" evoke the biblical story of the Garden of Eden, adding layers of symbolism related to temptation, sin, and the fall from grace.

Overall, "Pagan Angel And A Borrowed Car" is a deeply introspective and evocative song that captures the bittersweet nature of love and the inevitable passage of time. Its rich imagery and metaphors invite listeners to reflect on their own experiences of love, loss, and the search for meaning in a transient world.