"I went running through the screen doors of discretion..."

[minoanmiss]

I have never been to Iowa but this song is embedded in me. Last night I dreamt of singing along to an acapella group, while crying. I was surprised to wake up with a dry face.

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Iowa
Lyrics and Music, Dar Williams

I've never had a way with women
But the hills of Iowa make me wish that I could
And I've never found a way to say I love you
But if the chance came by oh I, I would
But way back where I come from, we never mean to bother
We don't like to make our passions other people's concern
And we walk in the world of safe people
And at night we walk into our houses and burn

[Chorus]
Iowa, oh ooh oh
Iowa, oh oh oh oh
I, I, Iowa
Iowa, oh ooh oh
Iowa, oh oh oh oh
I, I, Iowa

[Verse 2]
How I long to fall just a little bit
To dance out of the lines and stray from the light
But I fear that to fall in love with you
Is to fall from a great and gruesome height
So you know I asked a friend about it on a bad day
Her husband had just left her
She sat down on a chair he'd left behind, she said:
"What is love? Where did it get me?
Whoever thought of love is no friend of mine"

Iowa, oh ooh oh
Iowa, oh oh oh oh
I, I, Iowa
Iowa, oh ooh oh
Iowa, oh oh oh oh
I, I, Iowa

[Verse 3]
Once I had everything, I gave it up
For the shoulder of your driveway and the words I've never felt
And so for you, I came this far across the tracks
Ten miles above the limit and with no seatbelt, and I'd do it again
For tonight I went running through the screen doors of discretion
For I woke up from a nightmare that I could not stand to see
You were a-wandering out on the hills of Iowa
And you were not thinking of me

[Chorus]
Iowa, oh ooh oh
Iowa, oh oh oh oh
I, I, Iowa
Iowa, oh ooh oh
Iowa, oh oh oh oh
I, I, Iowa
Iowa, oh ooh oh
Iowa, oh oh oh oh
I, I, Iowa
Iowa, oh ooh oh
Iowa, oh oh oh oh
I, I, Iowa
Iowa, oh ooh oh
Iowa, oh oh oh oh
I, I, Iowa
Iowa, oh ooh oh
Iowa, oh oh oh oh
I, I, Iowa

Comments

[lunabee34]

What a beautiful song. Wow.

[pameladean]

One of my favorite songs of all time.

P.

[purlewe]

Dar. Iowa. Two amazing things together

[vex_verlain]

I grew up listening to Dar because of my mother, and "Iowa" was one of her favorite tracks from the Mortal City (1996) album. We're both from and still live in Iowa, so the perspective hits a bit differently—but obviously no more deeply.

...Alright, I've sat here thinking about it for more than five minutes, and have concluded that it's difficult to pick a favorite lyric from a song that's so deeply embedded in one's soul, so I'm going to stop trying.

(I'll always be grateful that I was able to see Dar live during the Honesty Room 20th Anniversary Tour in 2014. Rebel and I drove to Iowa City; it was my first time visiting the lovely Englert Theatre.)

[oracne]

I love this song, but hadn't listened to it in several years. Thank you.