The Creek Drank the Cradle

Iron & Wine’s debut album features the sound most often associated with the Sub Pop signee; scratchy lo-fi guitar or banjo layered gently over hushed but poignant lyricism. Released in late 2002, The Creek Drank the Cradle takes its name from its sixth track, “Upward Over the Mountain”:

Mother forget me, now that the creek drank the cradle you sang to.

The sense of loss and sadness embedded in that titular line is instilled throughout the album as Sam Beam addresses the toll the passage of time takes, as well as themes of loss and change.