"Please, remember me..."

Easily my favorite Austin City Limits moment to date is Iron and Wine's closing performance of "The Trapeze Swinger", which originally aired on November 15, 2008.  For me, this version easily trumps both the album and soundtrack releases (listen to a full cut of the album version here).  The singular, steady beat and instrumentation on the album seems to take away from the emotional intensity of the lyrics that he captures in the live setting. 

Before watching, find someone you love and hold them like you know you should have but haven't recently.

Ok - maintain that position and push play.

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The solitary acoustic guitar; the harmonizing with sister Sarah Beam; the accelerated and slowed pace; the phrases that seem to pause and linger - his voice trailing off without the guitar like without the love he sings about; the depth and density of the songwriting which require at least an entire post of their own, all make this a moment not soon forgotten. 

Thanks Sam.