Thesis- "Sodom South Georgia" by Iron and Wine

In "Sodom South Georgia", Samuel Beam of Iron and Wine uses rural local color, frequent similes, and macabre imagery in order to recreate the scene in which he discovered his father's death in a depressing yet comforting manner.

   

Lyrics:

"papa died smiling, wide as the ring of a bell
gone all star white, small as a wish in a well
and sodom, south georgia woke like a tree full of bees
buried in christmas bows and a blanket of weeds

papa died sunday and i understood
all dead white boys say god is good
white tongues hang out, god is good

papa died while my girl lady edith was born
both heads fell like eyes on a crack in the door
and sodom, south georgia slept on an acre of bones
slept through christmas, slept like a bucket of snow

papa died sunday and i understood
all dead white boys say god is good
white tongues hang out, god is good"