In 2002, she released The Song They Sang... When Rome Fell. In 2003, she was a winner of the New Folk Competition, at the Kerrville Folk Festival. In 2004, her second album, Hymns for the Exiled, was released (Waterbug Records).
On 8 Dec 2006, Anaïs' 'folk opera' "Hadestown" débuted (written / produced in collaboration with composer Michael Chorney & director Ben T. Matchstick). On 13 Feb 2007, her third album, The Brightness was released (Righteous Babe).
Hadestown, a concept album based on the ancient Greek myth of Orpheus and Eurydice, was released on March 9, 2010. It features contributions from Justin Vernon as Orpheus, Ani DiFranco as Persephone, Greg Brown as Hades, and Ben Knox Miller as Hermes; Anais herself sings the part of Eurydice.
Her album, 'Young Man in America' was released on Wilderland Records in the UK on February 13, 2012 and in the US on February 28, 2012.
Way Down Hadestown
Anaïs Mitchell Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Follow that dollar for a long way down / Far away from the poorhouse door
You either get to hell or to Hadestown / There ain’t no difference anymore, anymore
Way down Hadestown / Way down under the ground
Hound dog howl and the whistle blow / Train come a-rollin’ clickety-clack
Nobody knows where that old train goes / Those who go they don’t come back
They go way down Hadestown / Way down under the ground
PERSEPHONE
Of my husband coming for / To bring me home to Hadestown
Way down, Hadestown / Way down under the ground
EURYDICE
Everybody dresses in clothes so fine / Everybody’s pockets are weighted down
Everybody sipping ambrosia wine / In a goldmine in Hadestown
Way down Hadestown / Way down under the ground
ORPHEUS
Everybody hungry, everybody tired / Everybody slaves by the sweat of his brow
The wage is nothing and the work is hard / It’s a graveyard in Hadestown
Way down Hadestown / Way down under the ground
FATES
Every little penny in the wishing well / Every little nickel on the drum, on the drum
All them shiny little heads and tails / Where do you think they come from?
They come from Hadestown, way down / Way down under the ground
ORPHEUS & HERMES
Mister Hades is a mean old boss / With a silver whistle and a golden scale
An eye for an eye! And he weighs the cost / A lie for a lie! And your soul for sale
Sold! To the king on the chromium throne / Thrown! To the bottom of a sing-sing cell
Where the little wheel squeal and the big wheel groan / And you better forget about your wishing well
Way down Hadestown / Way down under the ground
EURYDICE
Mr. Hades is a mighty king / Must be making some mighty big deals
Seems like he owns everything / Kind of makes you wonder how it feels
Way down Hadestown / Way down under the ground x 2
Way down under the ground x 2
The song "Way Down Hadestown" by Anaïs Mitchell tells the story of the journey to the underworld, where Hades reigns as king. The lyrics are divided into several sections, each sung by a different character. The first section is sung by Hermes, who tells of the journey to Hadestown, where people either end up in Hell or in the underground kingdom ruled by Hades. The imagery used in the lyrics paints a bleak picture of the journey, with howling hounds and trains that go nowhere.
The next section is sung by Persephone, who speaks of her own journey to the underworld. She describes the end of summer and the coming of winter, and how her husband, Hades, comes to bring her home. The lyrics are haunting and melancholy, mirroring the mood of the season.
Eurydice's section details the opulence of Hadestown, where everyone is well-dressed and flush with money. However, it is clear that their wealth comes at a cost, as everyone is exhausted and enslaved. Orpheus, the singer, then sings about the hard work and terrible conditions in Hadestown, where workers receive barely any wages.
The Fates then sing about the origins of the money in Hadestown, which come from the wishing well and other sources. They drive home the idea that everything in Hadestown comes at a cost, and nothing is given freely.
The final section is a duet between Orpheus and Hermes, in which they sing about Hades' reign as a tyrant, demanding payment for everything and punishing those who resist. The lyrics are harsh and unforgiving, painting Hades as corrupt and cruel. In the end, the song is a powerful critique of capitalism and greed, and a reminder of the importance of justice and fairness.
Line by Line Meaning
Follow that dollar for a long way down
Keep following the wealth and material possessions deeper and deeper, away from being poor and destitute.
Far away from the poorhouse door
The ultimate goal is to escape poverty and achieve financial stability, no matter how far the pursuit takes you.
You either get to hell or to Hadestown
In the search for wealth and prosperity, one is inevitably led to a place of suffering, whether it be Hell or the mythical land of Hadestown.
There ain’t no difference anymore, anymore
The pursuit of wealth has become so all-consuming that the line between Heaven and Hell has been blurred, and there's no distinction between the two anymore.
Way down Hadestown
The destination of this journey is the dark and foreboding underworld of Hadestown.
Way down under the ground
Hadestown is a subterranean realm, deep beneath the surface of the earth.
Hound dog howl and the whistle blow
The ominous sounds of wild dogs and train signals can be heard in the distance as one approaches Hadestown.
Train come a-rollin’ clickety-clack
The train that carries travelers to Hadestown is approaching, with its unmistakable rhythmic sounds.
Nobody knows where that old train goes
The ultimate destination of the train is unknown, adding to the mysterious nature of Hadestown.
Those who go they don’t come back
Anyone who enters Hadestown never returns, trapped forever in the underworld.
Everybody dresses in clothes so fine
In Hadestown, even the poorest of individuals are dressed in luxurious clothing, a stark contrast to the destitution outside its walls.
Everybody’s pockets are weighted down
The inhabitants of Hadestown are wealthy and have no shortage of material possessions.
Everybody sipping ambrosia wine
The food and drink in Hadestown are of the highest quality, befitting of the wealthy and powerful who reside there.
In a goldmine in Hadestown
Hadestown is a place of abundance and wealth, with a seemingly never-ending source of riches.
Everybody hungry, everybody tired
Contrary to the riches of Hadestown, everyone outside its walls is suffering, hungry, and exhausted from their work.
Everybody slaves by the sweat of his brow
The people outside of Hadestown are forced to work tirelessly in exchange for little pay and even less respect.
The wage is nothing and the work is hard
The people outside of Hadestown are paid next to nothing and are forced to work in harsh conditions.
It’s a graveyard in Hadestown
Although Hadestown is a safe haven for those within its walls, it is a nightmare for those forced to work in its mines.
Every little penny in the wishing well
Even hopes and dreams are manipulated and corrupted by the deceptive nature of Hadestown.
Every little nickel on the drum, on the drum
The entirety of one's existence outside of Hadestown can be reduced to nothing more than loose change on a drum.
All them shiny little heads and tails
The currency within Hadestown, while valuable to its inhabitants, are nothing more than shiny trinkets to the outside world.
Where do you think they come from?
Asking where the wealth of Hadestown comes from and challenging its integrity and morality.
Mister Hades is a mean old boss
Hades is portrayed as a cruel and oppressive figure, using his power to control and manipulate those in Hadestown.
With a silver whistle and a golden scale
The whistle and scale represent the power and influence Hades yields over those within Hadestown.
An eye for an eye! And he weighs the cost
Hades is a vengeful and unforgiving figure, punishing those who wrong him and seeking to balance the scales of justice in his own way.
A lie for a lie! And your soul for sale
Hades is not above deception and manipulation, and is willing to trade the souls of others for his own gain.
Sold! To the king on the chromium throne
Those who challenge Hades' power and authority are marked for punishment, being sold and punished as criminals.
Thrown! To the bottom of a sing-sing cell
Any hope of escape is futile, being locked away in a dark and foreboding cell with no way out.
Where the little wheel squeal and the big wheel groan
Even the machinery within Hadestown is working overtime and loudly, a testament to the chaotic nature and oppressive environment of the land.
And you better forget about your wishing well
The dream of a better future is shattered, and any hope or aspiration is left behind in pursuit of fortune.
Mr. Hades is a mighty king
Reinforcing the idea that Hades is a powerful and oppressive ruler in Hadestown.
Must be making some mighty big deals
Hades' power comes from his ability to control the economy of Hadestown, performing advantageous deals and making calculated moves to maintain his position.
Seems like he owns everything
Hades' power extends to everything within Hadestown, making him an unstoppable force with control over all aspects of life in the underworld.
Kind of makes you wonder how it feels
Challenging the morality of Hades' actions and questioning whether his power and wealth are worth the price of his business dealings and manipulative tactics.
Way down under the ground x 2
Reiterating the location of Hadestown as a subterranean land steeped in darkness and despair.
Contributed by Maria N. Suggest a correction in the comments below.