Song DNA
Misophonia Triggers
A nine-and-a-half-minute folk meditation on impermanence, loss, and the passage of time through the intertwined narratives of a narrator and a woman across seasons.
Hear it the way it was made
The right gear changes everything.
Moods: contemplative, emotional, introspective, melancholy, nostalgic
Traditions: acoustic, folk, indie folk
How this song sits on each sensory axis
A dynamic range of 4/10 is within the normal pop-mix band. There is variation between verse and chorus, but it's the kind of variation most listeners encounter routinely.
Sudden changes: none. Transitions are musically signaled — nothing will surprise you if you're only half-listening.
Texture: smooth.
Predictability is high — the song telegraphs what it will do next. A sensory-sensitive listener can usually guess where it's going without close attention.
Vocal style: soft vocals.
Where this sits in Iron & Wine's catalog
We have 17 songs from Iron & Wine in the library. Of those, 12 are rated Safe, 5 Moderate, and 0 Intense. This song's dynamic range of 4/10 sits above the artist average of 3.9, making it the #10 most dynamic track of theirs in our library.
Other tracks from Our Endless Numbered Days
We have 6 songs from this album. Overall, the album leans safe in sensory profile.
- Naked As We Came — moderate DR 5
- Free Until They Cut Me Down — safe DR 4
- Cinder and Smoke — safe DR 4
- Sodom, South Georgia — safe DR 3
- Sunset Soon Forgotten — safe DR 3
2007 context
Released in 2007. We have 311 songs from that year in our library, averaging a dynamic range of 6.3/10. This track is quieter / less dynamic than the year average. Explore more from the 2000s.
Explore by mood and tradition
Why this rating
We rate this song Safe because its dynamic range stays within our low-variance band, there are no unsignaled changes, and the texture and vocal style are both in the low-fatigue range. Our methodology uses an AND rule for Safe — a song has to clear every dimension to earn the rating.
Rating last reviewed: 2026-04-14. Reviewed by the Music I Want editorial team against the documented methodology.
Think this rating is wrong? Email the editor — every message is read and ratings get revised.
Frequently asked about "Passing Afternoon"
Quick answers pulled from the song's sensory analysis.
What is the sensory intensity of "Passing Afternoon" by Iron & Wine?
"Passing Afternoon" by Iron & Wine rates as Low-Intensity. Dynamic range 4/10, no sudden changes, smooth texture. Our Low-Intensity rating means no single dimension triggers the higher-intensity thresholds.
How loud is "Passing Afternoon" — what is its dynamic range?
"Passing Afternoon" has a dynamic range of 4/10. Within normal pop-mix variation. Movement between verse and chorus but nothing dramatic.
Does "Passing Afternoon" have sudden or surprising changes?
No. "Passing Afternoon" has no sudden unsignaled changes. Every transition is musically telegraphed.
What is "Passing Afternoon" best for?
In our library "Passing Afternoon" is recommended for: deep listening, emotional release, focus, meditation, relaxation. These tags are assigned only where the song's sensory profile genuinely supports the use case.
When was "Passing Afternoon" released?
"Passing Afternoon" is from 2007, on the album "Our Endless Numbered Days". It appears in our 2000s catalog.
What is the emotional mood of "Passing Afternoon"?
We tag "Passing Afternoon" as contemplative, emotional, introspective, melancholy, nostalgic. Moods are tonal descriptors based on how the song reads emotionally — separate from the sensory intensity axes.
What is the vocal style of "Passing Afternoon"?
The vocal style is soft vocals.
Should I listen to "Passing Afternoon"?
If you want gentle, low-arousal music, "Passing Afternoon" is a solid pick — Low-Intensity across every sensory dimension.
Songs with the same DNA
smooth texture, similar intensity — across any genre or era.
What this song means to people
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