Passing Afternoon

Iron & Wine's 'Passing Afternoon' is a poignant reflection on the fleeting nature of life and the passage of time. The song's lyrics are rich with imagery and metaphors that evoke the changing seasons, each representing different stages of life and the emotions that accompany them. The opening lines, 'There are times that walk from you like some passing afternoon,' set the tone for the song, suggesting that moments in life can slip away as quickly and quietly as an afternoon fades into evening.

The song's verses are filled with vivid descriptions of everyday life and the natural world, such as 'Summer warmed the open window of her honeymoon' and 'Autumn blew the quilt right off the perfect bed she made.' These lines highlight the beauty and impermanence of life's moments, emphasizing that even the most cherished memories are subject to the passage of time. The recurring mention of bougainvillea blooms and seeds serves as a metaphor for growth, change, and the cyclical nature of life.

Throughout the song, there is a sense of nostalgia and longing, as the narrator reflects on past relationships and moments that have drifted away. The line 'But my hands remember hers, rolling around the shaded ferns' captures the bittersweet nature of memory, where physical sensations and emotions linger long after the moments have passed. The closing lines, 'A baby sleeps in all our bones, so scared to be alone,' suggest a universal fear of loneliness and a longing for connection, underscoring the song's themes of love, loss, and the passage of time.