The three were subsequently joined by Steve LaFolette (bass & vocals), Pat Noel (keyboards & guitar), Steve St. Cin (drums), and Ana Pitchon, who toured as Beulah in 1998, before recording When Your Heartstrings Break. Bill Evans (keyboards) then joined the band to play live. Steve St. Cin left the band to be replaced by Danny Sullivan, before The Coast is Never Clear was released in 2000. Bill Evans and Steve LaFolette then left, to be replaced by Pat Abernathy and Eli Crews respectively. Beulah went on to record 2003's Yoko, then toured North America and Europe before a goodbye show on August 5th 2004, in New York.
A DVD, A Good Band is Easy to Kill was released in 2005 and features documentary footage from Beulah's 2003 tour.
Ballad Of The Lonely Argonaut
Beulah Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Through the isthmus o'er the cape they're rounding
Over land
Follow the shallow ribbon of the platte
An El Dorado waits
Like an avalanche
And the boys are off to see
How does it feel
To roam this land like Hart and Twain did?
How, how does it feel?
A thousand miles closer to hell
Over land
They pass God's bluff and cross the basin
Half by sea
They follow the coast and through the gate where
Gold is coated with gold
On the languid hills
Where they wait for hours and hours
Cool gray ladies from shirley's learn us cheer
And they sat for hours and hours
The luck of the roaring camp
And how they taught the outcasts of the flats
In their poker face
Cannot hide the fever of
The children's crusade
Slow, slower than slow
Days spill into one another
Gold is coated with gold
On the languid hills
Where they wait for hours and hours
Cool gray ladies from shirley's [?] cheer
And they sat for hours and hours
The lyrics of Beulah's "Ballad of the Lonely Argonaut" describe a group of adventurers following the well-known California Gold Rush of the mid-1800s. The journey is long and arduous, and the group travels both by sea and overland, passing through various geographic features such as an isthmus, a cape, and a shallow ribbon. The song references two famous American writers, Bret Harte and Mark Twain, who both wrote about the Gold Rush era. The explorers are depicted as seeking their own version of El Dorado, a mythical city of gold that various explorers throughout history sought to find, and that became emblematic of the discovery of the New World.
The lyrics of the song convey a sense of excitement and adventure, but also of danger and uncertainty. The travelers are getting closer and closer to their goal, but also closer to "hell," which could be interpreted as the pitfalls and dangers they may encounter on their journey, or perhaps a foreshadowing of the greed and corruption that characterized the Gold Rush period. The cool gray ladies from Shirley's may refer to a specific location, but more likely indicates the temporary companionships that were formed during such expeditions.
Line by Line Meaning
Half by sea
Starting their journey by sea
Through the isthmus o'er the cape they're rounding
Navigating through the narrow strip of land and around the headland
Over land
Continuing their journey on foot across the land
Follow the shallow ribbon of the platte
Staying on course by following the shallow riverbed of the Platte River
An El Dorado waits
A land of riches and opportunity is waiting for them
Like an avalanche
With unstoppable force and momentum
And the boys are off to see
The group of travelers are excited to witness
The elephant
Something grand and amazing
How does it feel
Asking how it feels to be traveling through this new land
To roam this land like Hart and Twain did?
Referencing famous explorers and writers who also journeyed across America
How, how does it feel?
Echoing the previous question with more emphasis and curiosity
A thousand miles closer to hell
Acknowledging the harsh and unforgiving reality of the American West
They pass God's bluff and cross the basin
Moving through the rugged and wild terrain of the West
They follow the coast and through the gate where
Returning to the sea and traveling through a narrow passage or gateway
Gold is coated with gold
Describing the beautiful, golden landscape of the West
On the languid hills
The slow and relaxed hills of the West
Where they wait for hours and hours
Stopping to rest and take in the scenery for an extended period of time
Cool gray ladies from shirley's learn us cheer
Referencing a place or group of people that bring joy or lift their spirits
And they sat for hours and hours
Continuing to rest and enjoy the moment
The luck of the roaring camp
Referring to a story or legend about a group of prospectors who struck it rich
And how they taught the outcasts of the flats
Describing how this story was shared and imparted wisdom to others
In their poker face
In a way that hides their true emotions or intentions, like a poker player
Cannot hide the fever of
Despite their best efforts, they can't conceal their excitement and anticipation for what's to come
The children's crusade
Referencing the innocence and naivety of the travelers on their journey
Slow, slower than slow
Stressing how difficult and long the journey has been
Days spill into one another
The passing of time seems to blend together into one endless journey
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: KUROSKY
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind