The band's namesake and place of origin is the Cincinnati, Ohio neighborhood Over-the-Rhine. Karin attended school in Barnesville, Ohio and graduated from Barnesville High School in 1984. She then went to Malone College, located in Canton, Ohio, where she met Linford. Karin and Linford were married in the fall of 1996 in Cincinnati and several years ago relocated to a pre-civil war farm outside of town.
Over the Rhine is now primarily Bergquist (vocals, acoustic guitar, piano) and Detweiler (keyboards, electric bass, vocals) accompanied by complementary musicians on albums and tours. Over the years, they have toured and recorded in many variations. They have shared the stage with a number of fine musicians, including Bob Dylan, John Prine, Adrian Belew, Squeeze, Ani DiFranco, My Morning Jacket, Hem, and toured as "adjunct" members of Cowboy Junkies.
Over the Rhine's new album, _The Long Surrender_ was released nationally on 1/1/11. It recorded on California with Grammy winning producer, Joe Henry and contains a duet with Lucinda Williams on "Undamned" and two songs co-written with Joe Henry.
Jacksie
Over the Rhine Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Her face
Her figure in your window
Her hands unlace your innermost
As you retrace your steps of her familiar
Her ghost appears with raven eyes
To dance
To spin
To spill into your memory
To glare
To grin
To chill you now
But through the din of silence all around you
She stirs within she still knows how
they laid her in the ground
She still comes around
A love that never dies takes you by surprise
hello
Hello
Now she's the voice inside you
Hello again so soft and low
Do you suppose your disbelief could blind you
She's still alive for all you know
Heaven couldn't hold her
She'll be by your side when it's your turn
All she's seen without you
To you she'll confide when it's your turn.
The song "Jacksie" by Over the Rhine is a haunting narrative about the lingering memories of a lost love. The opening lines, "Her hair, her face, her figure in your window, her hands unlace your innermost," describe the vivid and palpable presence of the woman that once held the singer's heart. Despite her physical absence, she remains a powerful force in his life, as evidenced by the lyrics "she stirs within she still knows how." The woman is described as a ghost with "raven eyes" that continue to entrance and bewitch the songwriter, as he remembers the time they spent together.
The second verse, "they laid her in the ground, she still comes around, a love that never dies takes you by surprise" confirms the woman's death, yet her memory refuses to fade away. The chorus is a wistful and sorrowful greeting, as the singer learns to live with her memory. The bridge, "Heaven couldn't hold her, she'll be by your side when it's your turn, all she's seen without you, to you she'll confide when it's your turn" speaks to the possibility of reuniting with her in the afterlife. The song ends with a gentle reminder of her continued presence, as the writer muses on the possibility that "she's still alive for all you know."
Overall, "Jacksie" is a poignant reflection on the power of memory and the impact of lost love. Its haunting lyrics and anguished vocals will stay with you long after the last note fades away.
Line by Line Meaning
Her hair
The physical appearance of Jacksie that he remembers and misses the most.
Her face
The beauty in Jacksie's face that he still treasures in his memories.
Her figure in your window
The shape and outline of Jacksie that he would often see through his window when she was around.
Her hands unlace your innermost
The intimate moments that Jacksie and the artist shared when she touched and explored his soul.
As you retrace your steps of her familiar
The memories that Jacksie's presence evokes in the artist, as he remembers the moments they spent together.
Her ghost appears with raven eyes
The haunting presence of Jacksie in the singer's life, always watching him with her piercing eyes.
To dance
The memory of Jacksie dancing with the singer, a moment that he cherishes forever.
To spin
The vivid image of Jacksie spinning around, caught in the moment and experiencing pure joy.
To spill into your memory
The effect Jacksie has on the artist's memory, where thoughts of her overflow and spill into his thoughts constantly.
To glare
The intense gaze Jacksie would give the artist, the kind that would take his breath away.
To grin
The playful smile that Jacksie would give the singer, that would make his heart skip a beat.
To chill you now
The sudden reminder of Jacksie, which chills the artist as he is unable to forget her.
But through the din of silence all around you
Despite the quietness around him, the singer can still hear Jacksie's voice in his heart.
She stirs within she still knows how
Jacksie's memory is still alive within the singer, and he can feel her presence and movements within him.
They laid her in the ground
The realization that Jacksie is no longer alive, and that she has been laid to rest.
She still comes around
Despite her physical absence, Jacksie's memory still haunts the artist.
A love that never dies takes you by surprise
The unexpected power of love, which is able to survive even beyond death.
Hello
Jacksie's voice reaching out to the singer.
Hello
A familiar greeting that reassures the singer that she is still around.
Now she's the voice inside you
The voice of Jacksie that is still alive within the artist, guiding him and reminding him of their love.
Hello again so soft and low
A soft and gentle voice that comforts the artist and brings him peace.
Do you suppose your disbelief could blind you
Questioning the artist's disbelief in the afterlife and the possibility of Jacksie's continued presence around him.
She's still alive for all you know
A powerful statement about the continued presence of Jacksie's spirit and her deep love for the singer, that remains alive in his heart.
Heaven couldn't hold her
Reinforcing the idea that Jacksie's spirit is still present and vibrant around the artist, as she was too magnificent to be confined to heaven.
She'll be by your side when it's your turn
The comforting message that Jacksie's spirit will be there to guide the singer when it is his time to leave this world.
All she's seen without you
The moments that Jacksie has witnessed the singer going through, even when she is not physically present with him.
To you she'll confide when it's your turn.
Jacksie's promise to always be there for the singer, even after death.
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: LINFORD JEROME DETWEILER
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind