Lovesong of the Buzzard album art

Lovesong of the Buzzard

Iron & Wine
The Shepherd's Dog (2007)
Moderate 85 BPM
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Song DNA

Dynamic Range5/10
Sudden Changesmild
Texturelayered
Predictabilitymedium
Vocal Stylesoft vocals
Notes: Gentle acoustic folk with subtle backward-looped manipulations adding layered texture without overwhelming intensity. Predictable rhythms support introspective listening, though experimental production elements introduce mild surprises.

Misophonia Triggers

Mouth Soundsnone
Percussive Clicksnone
Breathing Soundsmild
Repetitive Micro-soundsnone

A folk song exploring themes of death and familial bonds through poetic metaphors like the buzzard's lovesong, featuring Sam Beam's whispery vocals and acoustic instrumentation.

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Moods: contemplative, introspective, melancholy

Traditions: folk

How this song sits on each sensory axis

A dynamic range of 5/10 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: mild. There are one or two transitions worth knowing about, though they're musically resolved rather than surprise-driven.

Texture is layered — a full arrangement with clear separation between parts.

Predictability is medium — conventional structure overall, with one or two moments that deviate from what you'd expect.

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 5/10 sits above the artist average of 3.9, making it the #3 most dynamic track of theirs in our library.

Other tracks from The Shepherd's Dog

We have 4 songs from this album. Overall, the album leans moderate in sensory profile.

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

Moods
contemplative · 3297introspective · 5721melancholy · 5399
Traditions
folk · 878

Why this rating

We rate this song Moderate because it falls between our Safe and Intense thresholds on at least one dimension. Moderate is the default for most well-produced music that has real arc but no surprise elements. Full rubric: methodology.

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.

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Safer alternatives with a similar feel

These songs share similar moods but with a gentler sensory profile.

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