Look at Miss Ohio
Gillian Welch Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
She's a-running around with her rag-top down
She says I want to do right but not right now
Gonna drive to Atlanta and live out this fantasy
Running around with the rag-top down
Yeah I want to do right but not right now
Had your arm around her shoulder, a regimental soldier
An' mamma starts pushing that wedding gown
Yeah you want to do right but not right now
Oh me oh my oh, would ya look at Miss Ohio
She's a-runnin' around with the rag-top down
She says I want to do right but not right now
I know all about it, so you don't have to shout it
I'm gonna straighten it out somehow
Yeah I want to do right but not right now
Oh me oh my oh, look at Miss Ohio
She a-runnin' around with her rag-top down
She says I want to do right , but not right now
Oh I want to do right but not right now
The meaning behind Gillian Welch's "Look at Miss Ohio" is centered around a young woman who is running away from her current predicament and trying to escape her duties. The song opens up with the line "Oh me oh my oh, look at Miss Ohio," an introduction to the fact that the singer of the song is someone who is garnering attention. The phrase "running around with her rag-top down" signifies that she is not driving responsibly and is trying to escape the responsibilities of her life.
Throughout the song, she continuously claims that she wants to do right but not right now. This statement is a reflection of her current situation where she may be required to do something that she is not quite prepared to do or fulfill her obligations. The subject of the song is most likely a young woman who may have spent her entire life doing what she thought others expected from her. However, deep inside, she may have always wanted to break free from those expectations and explore a different path.
The song is about the introspective musings of an individual who understands the importance of fulfilling her obligations, but at the same time, wants to explore her options and live life on her own terms. It speaks to the desire to find personal identity and the struggle to balance different priorities in life.
Line by Line Meaning
Oh me oh my oh, look at Miss Ohio
The singer expresses surprise at seeing Miss Ohio and draws attention to her.
She's a-running around with her rag-top down
Miss Ohio is driving her car with the convertible top down and seeming carefree.
She says I want to do right but not right now
Despite her desire to do the right thing, Miss Ohio wants to delay making changes or taking action.
Gonna drive to Atlanta and live out this fantasy
Miss Ohio has a dream of living in Atlanta and intends to make it a reality.
Running around with the rag-top down
Miss Ohio continues to drive around carefree, enjoying her freedom and the moment.
Yeah I want to do right but not right now
Miss Ohio repeats her desire to do the right thing eventually, just not at this moment.
Had your arm around her shoulder, a regimental soldier
Miss Ohio's companion had his arm around her shoulder like a soldier, and her mother is pushing for them to get married.
An' mamma starts pushing that wedding gown
Miss Ohio's mother is urging her to get married and start a family.
Yeah you want to do right but not right now
The person with Miss Ohio wants to do the right thing, but like her, wants to delay making changes or taking action.
I know all about it, so you don't have to shout it
The artist acknowledges understanding the situation and urges the others to calm down and not overreact.
I'm gonna straighten it out somehow
The singer intends to solve the problem, but not immediately.
Oh I want to do right but not right now
The artist reiterates the desire to do the right thing eventually, but not immediately.
Lyrics © Wixen Music Publishing, Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: Gillian Howard Welch, David Todd Rawlings
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Keith H Moore
"Look at Miss Ohio" by Gillian Howard Welch and David Rawlings
Oh me oh my oh, look at Miss Ohio
She's a-running around with her rag-top down
She says I want to do right but not right now
Gonna drive to Atlanta and live out this fantasy
Running around with the rag-top down
Yeah I want to do right but not right now
Had your arm around her shoulder, a regimental soldier
An' mamma starts pushing that wedding gown
Yeah you want to do right but not right now
Oh me oh my oh, would ya look at Miss Ohio
She's a-runnin' around with the rag-top down
She says I want to do right but not right now
I know all about it, so you don't have to shout it
I'm gonna straighten it out somehow
Yeah I want to do right but not right now
Oh me oh my oh, look at Miss Ohio
She a-runnin' around with her rag-top down
She says I want to do right , but not right now
Oh I want to do right but not right now
joão belmino lopes chaves
Oh me, oh my-oh
Look at Miss Ohio
She's a-running around with her rag-top down
She says, I want to do right but not right now
Gonna drive to Atlanta
And live out this fantasy
Running around with the rag-top down
Yeah, I want to do right, but not right now
Had your arm around her shoulder
A regimental soldier
And mama starts pushing that wedding gown
Yeah, you want to do right, but not right now
Oh me, oh my-oh
Would you look at Miss Ohio
She's a-running around with the rag-top down
She says, I want to do right, but not right now
And I know all about it
So you don't have to shout it
I'm gonna straighten it out somehow
Yeah, I want to do right, but not right now
Oh me, oh my-oh
Look at Miss Ohio
She's a-running around with her rag-top down
She says, I want to do right, but not right now
Oh, I want to do right, but not right now
Steve Cabral
If you were only guessing from the song’s title, you might expect a condescending look at a beauty queen. For one, the Miss Ohio title seems ceremonial at best, meant to represent the kind of All-American girl of whom everything is expected with the possible exception of individualism. And Welch never judges the character, simply telling her story in a fashion that’s so economical it’s practically minimalist. Yet she says all she needs to say.
It helps that she has a refrain that does a lot of the heavy lifting. “Oh me oh my oh, look at Miss Ohio,” she sings, her voice falling from a high trill to lower, confidential tones for the next lines: “She’s a running around with the rag top down/ She says I wanna do right but not right now.“ In those three lines, Welch has established the judgmental stance of the townsfolk, the beauty queen’s behavior which might not be pageant-approved, and her intention to clean up her act, but only after living a little first.
In the verses, Welch adds some details, like an impulsive trip to Georgia (partially and cleverly rhyming “Atlanta” and “fantasy”), the warmer climate promising hotter times than her chilly Midwestern home. The narrator also addresses what seems to be her ex-boyfriend, the one who had his arm around her like “a regimental soldier”, an image that suggests safety, formality, and not an ounce of fun. It’s in that context that Mama enters the picture, “pushing that wedding gown” like a pesky salesman that you can’t shake.
Of course, other listeners might interpret the song differently; such is the beauty of Welch’s construction that it allows for multiple takes. Rawlings certainly offers his own commentary with his simple, unshowy playing that nonetheless suggests all kinds of emotional avenues, which is right in tune with the less-is-more approach of the lyrics.
The last verse hints at some kind of trouble that Miss Ohio has encountered, a jam from which she needs to extricate herself. But she insists that she can do so without any help, thank you: “I know all about it, so you don’t have to shout it/ I’m gonna straighten it out somehow.” You can decide for yourself how deep that trouble is and if she’ll indeed set it right; Welch seems okay with it no matter how it turns out.
The songwriter basically creates a world of possibilities and outcomes for the character, which is somehow fitting considering she has reached a crossroads in her young life. “Look At Miss Ohio” is one of Gillian Welch’s “lonesome stories,” and this one somehow more captivating for not having a clear ending.
federico ligorio
"Look At Miss Ohio"
Oh me oh my oh, look at Miss Ohio
She’s a running around with her rag-top down
She says I wanna do right but not right now
Gonna drive to Atlanta and live out this fantasy
Running around with the rag-top down
Yeah, I wanna do right but not right now
Had your arm around her shoulder, a regimental soldier
An' mamma starts pushing that wedding gown
Yeah, you wanna do right but not right now
Oh me oh my oh, would you look at Miss Ohio
She’s a runnin’ around with the rag-top down
She says I wanna do right but not right now
I know all about it, so you don’t have to shout it
I’m gonna straighten it out somehow
Yeah, I wanna do right but not right now
Oh me oh my oh, look at Miss Ohio
She a runnin’ around with her rag-top down
She says I wanna do right , but not right now
Oh, I want do right but not right now
hanna thompson
I hadn’t heard this song in many years and suddenly had an irrepressible yearning to hear it NOW. I’m so happy to see so many people in the comments just discovering gillian welch, she’s pure magic!! ✨💛✨
Scott Taylor
Just started the journey~
CLASSY GARY
With out any doubt this is the best song I’ve heard in decades . Fantastic arrangement.
Ray R
This woman is a healer. Her music is pure medicine for the soul. I've probably listened to ""Miss Ohio" like 50 times just this past week alone. "Annabelle" and "The Way it Goes" are also very haunting and beautiful.
tg72201
Have you discovered Time (The Revelator) yet?
L M
Am a lover of all genres but nobody comes close to Gillian. Her snarling "Flat Black Ford" is as exhilarating as "Orphan Girl" or "By the Mark" tear at my soul. No one tells a story like her.
Thomas Lyon
I heard this first from Valerie June, and her version is electric and totally electrifying. But Gillian wrote this, and on this acoustic version her delivery is deeper, more soulful, lithe and totally authentic. What a great song!
diMarVal0712
I've never heard this song before from anyone. I'm almost blown away. this woman's voice has a.. soulful, wistful, twangy quality to it. I can definitely also relate to the "I wanna do right but not right now"..
dearydarling
Her Orphan Girl would be the very best if Emmylou hadn't done it lol .. it's much more achy though ... (don't tell Emmylou but i like Gillian's better)
Jordan White
That’s why the song works dearest. Because everyone knows how that feels