In Your Ocean

"In Your Ocean" is a profound exploration of romantic entanglement, specifically focusing on the dissolution of the self into another. Released as the lead single for the 2026 album Hen's Teeth, the song articulates the paradox of intimacy: the terrifying loss of control versus the blissful desire to be overwhelmed.

The central metaphor is the ocean, representing the beloved's vast, consuming nature. The narrator expresses a dualistic wish: part of them (the survival instinct) prays for "dry ground," seeking stability and separation. However, the deeper, emotional self "only wants to drown," signifying a desire for total surrender and merging with the partner. This aligns with Sam Beam's description of the album's themes, where lovers are depicted as so entwined they physically merge.

Implicitly, the song touches on the difficulty of maintaining boundaries ("keep making for a door that isn't open") and the endurance required in long-term devotion ("never what you want but how much you can take"). The imagery of "lonely sparrows" and "horses" suggests that even within this merger, there is an inherent existential loneliness that the relationship simultaneously soothes and highlights. Ultimately, the song serves as a declaration of commitment, rejecting "salvation" (independence) in favor of the beautiful danger of shared existence.

The song opens with a sense of awakening and vulnerability, where the narrator describes closing their eyes to return to life, accompanied by the physical reaction of crying despite a heart that is merely broken, not destroyed. This introduces a central tension: a prayer for safety—represented by "dry ground"—conflicting with a profound desire to be consumed or "drown" within the metaphorical ocean of the beloved.

As the verses progress, the lyrics explore the disorientation of this relationship. The narrator reflects on the partner's past and their intrusive presence, noting that the dynamic is never about what is desired, but rather about endurance—how much one can take. Imagery of a lonely sparrow singing to a solitary world paints a picture of isolation even within this deep connection. The narrator attempts to name what has been lost, uncertain if it is truly gone, while repeatedly trying to exit through a door that remains closed, trapping them in this cycle of devotion.

The narrative deepens with scenes of nature mirroring emotional states: lonely horses running and flowers calling out to their own isolated worlds. The lyrics suggest a fatalistic acceptance, advising that one might as well "die where you stand" or land as best as possible, because any chosen path will inevitably lead to wandering astray. The concept of devotion is framed as something learned through severity, like thunder that eventually disappears.

In the final moments, the conflict resolves not into safety, but into a rejection of it. The narrator explicitly states they do not want to be saved, expressing a wish that the partner felt the same level of consuming immersion. The recurring image of leaves sinking in slow motion reinforces this surrender, ending with the narrator once again finding themselves swimming—and willingly drowning—in the partner's ocean.

"In Your Ocean" was released on January 7, 2026, as the lead single for Iron & Wine's album Hen's Teeth, which followed on February 27, 2026. The song was written and produced by Sam Beam. It represents a specific creative period for Beam where he collaborated with a tight-knit group of musicians in the foothills of Los Angeles.

The recording took place at the studio of Dave Way, who also served as the mixing engineer. The track features a rich ensemble including Paul Cartwright on violin, Tyler Chester on Mellotron, David Garza on electric guitar, Beth Goodfellow on drums, and Sebastian Steinberg on bass. The album's title, Hen's Teeth, was chosen by Beam to suggest something impossible or non-existent—"a gift that shouldn't be there but it is"—referencing the serendipitous nature of these recording sessions.

An official music video directed by Spencer Kelly accompanied the release, visually reinforcing the themes of merging and fluidity. The song's release marked the beginning of a world tour for Iron & Wine in early 2026, covering Australia, New Zealand, and North America.

The song utilizes a consistent but fluid rhythmic structure that mirrors the motion of water. The meter is largely iambic, creating a steady, heartbeat-like pulse that drives the song forward without aggression.

Rhyme Scheme: The lyrics employ a mix of perfect and slant rhymes. For example, in the chorus, "ground" and "drown" form a strong near-rhyme that emphasizes the contrast between the two concepts. In the verses, we see pairings like "broken/ocean" and "take/break," which maintain a melodic flow. The rhyme scheme is often AABB or ABAB within the stanzas, but the phrasing allows for run-on lines that blur the edges of the rhymes, much like the "merging" theme of the lyrics.

Rhythmic Pacing: The tempo is slow to mid-tempo, with a sway that feels like being adrift. The drums by Beth Goodfellow provide a soft, organic backbeat that doesn't overpower the vocals, allowing the lyrical rhythm to float on top of the instrumentation.

Musically and lyrically, the song employs several techniques typical of Sam Beam's mature style, refined for this 2026 release:

• Paradox and Juxtaposition: The lyrics constantly pit opposing concepts against each other: dry ground/drowning, closing eyes/coming to life, praying/wanting to drown. This literary technique highlights the internal conflict of the narrator.
• Cinematic Instrumentation: Unlike the lo-fi acoustic sounds of early Iron & Wine, this track utilizes a lush, chamber-pop arrangement. The use of a Mellotron (played by Tyler Chester) adds a vintage, watery texture that complements the ocean theme. Paul Cartwright's violin provides a sweeping, emotional counter-melody that mimics the ebb and flow of tides.
• Vocal Delivery: Sam Beam's delivery is characteristically hushed and intimate (double-tracked in places), creating a sense of a secret being whispered directly to the listener.
• Repetition: The structural repetition of the "When I find myself swimming in your ocean" refrain anchors the song, acting as the wave that constantly washes back over the narrative verses.

As a release from early 2026, the song's long-term legacy is still forming, but it marked a significant moment in the Hen's Teeth album cycle. It was pivotal in re-establishing Iron & Wine's presence in the indie-folk landscape after the Light Verse era.

• Significance: The track was highlighted by Sub Pop Records as the lead single, signaling the album's thematic focus on "impossible" beauty and deep connection.
• Reception: It was well-received by fans for returning to the lush, full-band sound reminiscent of The Shepherd's Dog while maintaining the intimacy of Beam's solo work.
• Visuals: The music video by Spencer Kelly contributed to the song's identity, providing a visual language for the "merging lovers" concept.
• Live Performance: The song became a staple in the setlists for the 2026 World Tour, often serving as an emotional anchor point during the shows in Australia and North America.

The lyrics are dense with elemental and natural imagery used to convey emotional states:

• The Ocean vs. Dry Ground: The primary dichotomy of the song. Dry ground represents safety, logic, and self-preservation. The ocean represents the chaotic, overwhelming, and life-giving force of love. Choosing to "drown" is a metaphor for ego death and total submission to the relationship.
• The Moon: Described as "full and bright," it often symbolizes madness or tides (pulling the ocean). The narrator takes the moon's presence (and perhaps the world's laughter at their devotion) as a "token," accepting the lunacy of love.
• Lonely Sparrow/Horses/Flowers: These recurring images of solitary nature elements emphasize that while the narrator is merging with a partner, the fundamental state of the world remains "lonely." It suggests that love is a refuge within a solitary universe.
• Door that isn't open: Represents the futility of trying to escape or change the nature of the relationship. It is a barrier that forces the narrator back into the "ocean."
• Sinking Leaves: Used in the bridge ("leaves keep sinking in slow motion"), this image conveys a gentle, inevitable descent, reinforcing the lack of struggle and the acceptance of this emotional drowning.

The most significant recurring phrase is the title motif found in the chorus:

• "Praying for dry ground / Though I only want to drown / When I find myself swimming in your ocean."

This refrain is the emotional core of the song. Its repetition serves to reinforce the inescapable nature of the narrator's situation. With each repetition, the "prayer for dry ground" feels less like a genuine plea for rescue and more like a reflexive habit, while the "want to drown" becomes the true confession.

Another motif is the word "Lonely" (lonely sparrow, lonely world, lonely horses, lonely flowers). This repetition creates a background texture of isolation that makes the connection in the "ocean" feel more urgent and necessary.