If you get a chance go see him live and you'll hear a lot more variation in his music, especially if he has a band back up.

I like Iron and Wine, but how many times can he make this song?  More variation in his music would be good.

The Chicago jury approves (at least this particular jurist).

You're a moralist. People have been swearing for as long as there's been civilisation (the word f*ck goes back at least to Old English). It's life, and if you went into any working-class pub you'd hear 'naughty words' as a regular part of conversation. Perhaps in 'polite' middle-class circles you wouldn't, but that's their problem. Humans need to swear and curse, and that's as much a part of civilisation as passing the port to the left or antimacassars or telling polite lies ("oh, I do love your outfit, darling!") or class snobbery. It's free expression.

The number of songs on RP with 'naughty words' can be counted on the fingers of one hand, going by my experience. Instead of getting on your hobbyhorse and taking time to write green ink moralistic rants, just hit the mute key and wait for the next song. It's simple enough, and a lot quicker and better for the blood pressure. And the idea that you can have popular music without swearing is quite funny - it's like rock 'n' roll without sex and drugs.

It genuinely disturbs me that you equate public defecation (a genuine health hazard) with naughty words.

Uptight people give dirty words way too much power.

If words do mean something, then it is legitimate for people to object to coarse language. Our culture has assigned a coarse meaning to certain words. You can disagree, but that doesn't change the meaning, any more than wanting to call an "apple" a "banana" reassigns the meaning in the minds of listeners, or wanting to make a swear word out of the word "petunia" will catch on with other people.

If words don't mean anything (as in "why do we care about coarse language — they're just words"), then why casually use ones people deem coarse, when other words will do just as well and words don't mean anything anyway?

As to I&W, I assume that as an artist, he believes that words mean something, because they are his tools. I will also assume he opted for the coarse language purposely because it expresses his intended meaning, knowing that the coarseness would narrow the audience for his work. So good for him, whatever.

As for me and mine, coarse language in our household is punished by the offender having to put some of their own money into a jar, the proceeds of which are then used to buy toothpaste and toothbrushes for the local homeless shelter. My children will learn how to express themselves without dropping the f-bomb every other word — what they do after they leave my household is on them, but they will have the skills.

You guys that like to hear "fuck" in songs are the same ones who come up next to someone and fart.  Good one, huh?  Well everyone does it, everyone knows what a fart smells like, and it is a mark of polite and civilized society to not fart in public, nor take a dump in public, nor use "coarse" language in public.  I don't mind using "the F word" in private conversation any more than the next guy, but it is not appropriate to use it in public.  It's as childish as farting and laughing about it. And then to be indignant that people don't like your farts? I used to play RP outloud in my place of business but got blindsided by too many farts.  Like it or not, RP is public broadcast, not just for you in your private little room.  It surprises me that this one is cleaned up. 

it is a mark of polite and civilized society to not fart in public, nor take a dump in public, nor use "coarse" language in public.

You guys that like to hear "fuck" in songs are the same ones who come up next to someone and fart.  Good one, huh?  Well everyone does it, everyone knows what a fart smells like, and it is a mark of polite and civilized society to not fart in public, nor take a dump in public, nor use "coarse" language in public.  I don't mind using "the F word" in private conversation any more than the next guy, but it is not appropriate to use it in public.  It's as childish as farting and laughing about it. And then to be indignant that people don't like your farts? I used to play RP outloud in my place of business but got blindsided by too many farts.  Like it or not, RP is public broadcast, not just for you in your private little room.  It surprises me that this one is cleaned up. 

first impression:censorship = bad
second impression: still don't like I&W

 it's like rock 'n' roll without sex and drugs.

You guys that like to hear "fuck" in songs are the same ones who come up next to someone and fart.  Good one, huh?  Well everyone does it, everyone knows what a fart smells like, and it is a mark of polite and civilized society to not fart in public, nor take a dump in public, nor use "coarse" language in public.  I don't mind using "the F word" in private conversation any more than the next guy, but it is not appropriate to use it in public.  It's as childish as farting and laughing about it. And then to be indignant that people don't like your farts? I used to play RP outloud in my place of business but got blindsided by too many farts.  Like it or not, RP is public broadcast, not just for you in your private little room.  It surprises me that this one is cleaned up. 

You guys that like to hear "fuck" in songs are the same ones who come up next to someone and fart.  Good one, huh?  Well everyone does it, everyone knows what a fart smells like, and it is a mark of polite and civilized society to not fart in public, nor take a dump in public, nor use "coarse" language in public.  I don't mind using "the F word" in private conversation any more than the next guy, but it is not appropriate to use it in public.  It's as childish as farting and laughing about it. And then to be indignant that people don't like your farts? I used to play RP outloud in my place of business but got blindsided by too many farts.  Like it or not, RP is public broadcast, not just for you in your private little room.  It surprises me that this one is cleaned up. 

You guys that like to hear "fuck" in songs are the same ones who come up next to someone and fart.  Good one, huh?  Well everyone does it, everyone knows what a fart smells like, and it is a mark of polite and civilized society to not fart in public, nor take a dump in public, nor use "coarse" language in public.  I don't mind using "the F word" in private conversation any more than the next guy, but it is not appropriate to use it in public.  It's as childish as farting and laughing about it. And then to be indignant that people don't like your farts? I used to play RP outloud in my place of business but got blindsided by too many farts.  Like it or not, RP is public broadcast, not just for you in your private little room.  It surprises me that this one is cleaned up. 

 rado wrote:So was the censored version uploaded, or was it censored by RP? Does RP play songs with the f word? I've listened plenty, but never really thought about it before

Censorship is a means to continue the pussification of the world.  Oh... it hurts our sensibilities!  Give us all a trophy because we participated!  Winning!  Sticks and stones may hurt my bones but words will likely kill me!

Maybe the manner in which the "censorship" was implemented was purposeful - it has an obvious effect that almost underlines the redacted word. . . strengthening its effect. . . 

I saw Iron & Wine a few years ago at the Sasquatch Festival in the Gorge and they were magnificent!