Since its formation in 1991, the band line-up has included Neil Fallon (vocals, rhythm guitar, keyboards), Tim Sult (lead guitar, backing vocals), Dan Maines (bass, backing vocals) and Jean-Paul Gaster (drums and percussion). To date, Clutch has released thirteen studio albums, and several rarities and live albums. Since 2008 the band have been signed to their own record label, Weathermaker.
Clutch (originally called “Glut Trip” and stemmed from “Moral Minority”) was formed in 1991 by Dan Maines (bass), Jean-Paul Gaster (drums), Tim Sult (guitar), and Roger Smalls (vocals) in Germantown, Maryland. Smalls soon departed and was replaced by Neil Fallon, a longtime schoolmate of the other members at Seneca Valley High School. The band quickly gained notice through constant touring. The 12" single “Passive Restraints” on the Earache label was Clutch’s first commercial release, garnering attention from other labels. Their debut LP, Transnational Speedway League, was released in 1993. It was followed by a self-titled album two years later that gained Clutch mainstream exposure. The band moved to the larger Columbia label for the 1998 album The Elephant Riders. They followed it in 1999 with a self-released groove-based album Jam Room.
On April 28, 2009 Clutch released Slow Hole to China, a collection of unreleased tracks.
On June 10, 2012, the band released a new single, “Pigtown Blues”, on iTunes, backed with an acoustic version of “Motherless Child” from Strange Cousins from the West.
On March 16, 2013 Clutch released their tenth album Earth Rocker which entered the Billboard Top 200 chart at #15 giving Clutch their highest chart position to date. It would remain on the chart for a total of 5 weeks. The album also reached #4 on iTunes’ overall Top 100 album charts and was #1 in their rock chart. Earthrocker won “Album of the Year” 2013 from British publication Metalhammer, and was rated highly on many rock/metal magazines’ and websites’ end-of-the-year “Top Tens”.
In an interview on January 7, 2015 with music and entertainment company 88 Miles West, Fallon stated that the band was heading to Dripping Springs, Texas, to record their upcoming eleventh album. Fallon states the venture to Texas was due to the relocation of record producer Machine, with whom they worked on Blast Tyrant and Earth Rocker, and who recently opened a new studio there. He stated in the interview that “Septemberish, give or take a couple of months” is when they hope to release the new album.
Their eleventh studio album is titled Psychic Warfare, and was released October 2, 2015. Fallon said the concept is influenced by science fiction author Philip K. Dick. “His general philosophy and questions have always crept into my lyrics, because I share an interest in it,” he adds. “On Earth Rocker, ‘Crucial Velocity’ was definitely a Philip Dick song for me. On this record, ‘X-Ray Visions’ certainly is.”. Gaster described the new material as more diverse than ever.
In April 2018, Neil Fallon announced through the radio station The Eagle Rocks that the band's twelfth studio album would be titled Book of Bad Decisions. The album will be released on September 7, 2018. The album was recorded at Sputnik Sound Studio in Nashville, Tennessee with producer and engineer Vance Powell.
On November 13, 2020 Released The Weathermaker Studios Vol. 1. A collection of re-recorded hits and 4 unreleased covers and songs.
On September 16,2022 Clutch released their 13th Studio album: Sunrise on Slaughter Beach.
Between 2004-2018 Clutch created seven straight top 10 releases on Billboard’s Independent Album Chart.
Neil Fallon – vocals, rhythm guitar, harmonica, keyboards, percussion
Tim Sult – lead guitar
Dan Maines – bass guitar
Jean-Paul Gaster – drums, percussion
Éléphant
Clutch Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
You keep floating on the river.
Yeah, until the day is done.
Keep on keeping on the low road,
Chesapeake and Ohio.
Because on the higher ground you will find
Elephant Riders to the northwest bring news from father.
Looking like it's always closing,
The Salty Dog is always open.
Here, I got an I.O.U.
Clickity clack clack, clickity clack clack,
Baltimore and Ohio,
Clickity clack clack, clickity clack clack,
Roll on, roll on.
On our way to Washington where work is done by men with gavels,
I heard a sound that just about Removed me from my filly's saddle.
Just outside of Antietam, where once there was a mighty battle,
I heard the rhythm of the hammers Beating the rail lines together.
Elephant Riders to the northwest bring news from father.
Don't be eating all the hard tack.
Between we two there's half a small sack.
Still, we got miles to.
Giddy up pony, Giddy up pony,
Camptown Race is five miles long.
Giddy up pony, Giddy up pony,
Ride on, ride on.
On our way to Washington where work is done by men with gavels,
I heard a sound that just about removed me from my filly's saddle.
Just outside of Antietam, where once there was a mighty battle,
I heard the rhythm of the hammers beating the rail lines together.
Elephant Riders to the northwest bring news from father.
Elephant Riders to the northwest bring news of battle.
The lyrics to Clutch's song Elephant depict a journey, possibly along the Chesapeake and Ohio Canal, towards Washington, D.C. Along the way, the singer hears the sound of hammers beating the rail lines together, evoking the history of the area and the labor that went into building the infrastructure that allowed for the transportation of goods and people. The imagery of the towpath and river suggest a contrast between the hard work of those on the ground and the ease of those who float along the river, drawing attention to the inequities in society.
The mention of Elephant Riders to the northwest who bring news from father is ambiguous but suggests something important is brewing. The reference to a "mighty battle" at Antietam further reinforces this idea. The salty dog image evokes the rough-and-tumble nature of the time period and the camaraderie of those on the journey.
Throughout the lyrics, there is a sense of movement and urgency, with the repetition of phrases like "keep on keeping on" and "ride on, ride on." The song captures the spirit of the American frontier, with its vast expanse and constant struggles, as well as the importance of communication and community in overcoming these challenges.
Line by Line Meaning
I'll keep pulling on the towpath.
I will continue to make slow but steady progress towards my goal.
You keep floating on the river.
You should continue to let life take you where it may.
Yeah, until the day is done.
We should keep going until we have accomplished all we can for the day.
Keep on keeping on the low road, Chesapeake and Ohio.
We should stay focused on our current path, even if it is not the most glamorous or exciting.
Because on the higher ground you will find Elephant Riders to the northwest bring news from father.
If we keep going, we will eventually come across people who can provide us with important information.
Looking like it's always closing, The Salty Dog is always open.
Things may seem tough, but there are always opportunities to be found.
Here, I got an I.O.U.
I owe you, and I intend to repay you when I can.
Clickity clack clack, clickity clack clack, Baltimore and Ohio, Clickity clack clack, clickity clack clack, Roll on, roll on.
The sounds of the train tracks represent the cyclical nature of life, and we must keep moving forward.
On our way to Washington where work is done by men with gavels, I heard a sound that just about Removed me from my filly's saddle.
On our journey, we encountered a sudden and shocking obstacle.
Just outside of Antietam, where once there was a mighty battle, I heard the rhythm of the hammers Beating the rail lines together.
Despite the historical significance of the area, progress and construction continue to shape the landscape.
Don't be eating all the hard tack. Between we two there's half a small sack.
We must be mindful of our resources and ration them appropriately.
Still, we got miles to. Giddy up pony, Giddy up pony, Camptown Race is five miles long. Giddy up pony, Giddy up pony, Ride on, ride on.
Despite the challenges we may face, we must keep pushing forward and making progress towards our goal.
Elephant Riders to the northwest bring news from father.
People we encounter on our journey may have valuable information and connections to offer.
Elephant Riders to the northwest bring news of battle.
These individuals may sometimes bring news of conflict or struggles that we must be prepared to face.
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA/AMCOS
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