After signing a contract with the Atlantic Records label Lava Records in 1994, his first major-label album, Honor Among Thieves, was issued in 1995. His second album, Misguided Roses, spawned I'll Be, a major single in 1998. Two more albums (Messenger and Far from Over) followed, but at the end of 2001, he split from Lava. In 2003 he released a collection of acoustic versions of songs both old and new called The Austin Sessions via ATC Records, a Nashville-based independent record label (at which McCain was the first artist signed following its creation in 2001). Mid-2004 saw the arrival of his first studio album in three years, entitled Scream & Whisper, which was released on another indie label, DRT Entertainment.
He has released two DVDs to date. The first was through ATC records in late 2002, called Mile Marker: Songs and Stories from the Acoustic Highway, and it consisted of interviews, live performances, and other material. The other was in late 2004, Tinsel & Tap Shoes. It was his first live concert DVD, recorded at The House of Blues in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina.
A new CD was released in April, 2006 titled, Lost in America. Edwin recently signed a contract with Vanguard Records. This album (#8) is said to be a true "rock 'n roll" collection.
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See Off This Mountain
Edwin McCain Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
She's a mother to some
And home to the laughter
Of road weary ones
So we'll sing all the old songs
Sing to grandmama road
And we'll sing cause we miss her
And we're sad she had to go
Through the clouds in my eyes
I would see off this mountain
On the nights stars fell
And see off this mountain
Through the tears in my eyes
I would see off this mountain
And the stars fell from the skies
In the air I hear a fiddle
Down along Hickory Way
And the mandolin guitar
Like we used to play
And down on Dunn's rock
Brothers boasting a dare
We tell them they're crazy
And pretend we don't care
If I could see off this mountain
Through the clouds in my eyes
I would see off this mountain
On the nights stars fell
And see off this mountain
Through the tears in my eyes
I would see off this mountain
And the stars fell from the skies
The air tastes like moonshine
In the wind a carnival tune
It soars with our laughter
But we'll all leave too soon
So I raise a toast to family
Put thanks in my glass
In the arms of your loved ones
It's the only home that lasts
If I could see off this mountain
Through the clouds in my eyes
I would see off this mountain
On the night the stars fell
And see off this mountain
Through the tears in my eyes
I could see off this mountain
When the stars fell from the skies
When the stars fell from the skies
Going up to grandmama road
Going up to grandmama road
I'm happy as can be
'Cause can't you see
I'm going up to grandmama road
The song See Off This Mountain by Edwin McCain is a beautiful tribute to the Blue Ridge Mountains and the memories that live in them. The song talks about a woman who is a Blue Ridge cradle, a mother to some and home to the laughter of road weary ones. The lyrics describe the joy of singing old songs, the sound of a fiddle playing down along Hickory Way, and the taste of moonshine in the air. The mountain is a place of comfort and familiarity, where memories and stories are passed down and treasured.
The chorus of the song reflects on the longing to see off this mountain, whether through tears or clouds in the eyes. The singer wishes to see off this mountain on the night the stars fell, a beautiful and melancholic image that captures the fleeting nature of joy and memory. The song concludes with a toast to family and the realization that the arms of loved ones are the only true home that lasts.
Overall, See Off This Mountain is a powerful ode to nostalgia, memory, and the beauty of the Blue Ridge Mountains. The lyrics paint a vivid picture of a place where music, moonshine, and memories coexist and are cherished.
Line by Line Meaning
She's a Blue Ridge cradle
The Blue Ridge Mountains represent home and comfort for the singer
She's a mother to some
The mountains are a source of maternal nurturing and guidance
And home to the laughter
The mountains provide a joyous and carefree atmosphere
Of road weary ones
The mountains offer a place of rest and rejuvenation for those who are tired from traveling
So we'll sing all the old songs
The artist and their companions will reminisce through music and singing
Sing to grandmama road
The singer's nostalgia centers around their mountain home, particularly the road leading to their grandmother's house
And we'll sing cause we miss her
The group sings to cope with the loss of their grandmother
And we're sad she had to go
The group is grieving the passing of their grandmother
If I could see off this mountain
Through the clouds in my eyes
I would see off this mountain
On the nights stars fell
And see off this mountain
Through the tears in my eyes
I would see off this mountain
And the stars fell from the skies
The artist wishes they could see beyond their grief and sentimentality to the beauty that surround them, and the shared experiences that are still possible with their loved ones
In the air I hear a fiddle
Down along Hickory Way
And the mandolin guitar
Like we used to play
The artist is reminded of good times past, particularly musical nights with their friends and family
And down on Dunn's rock
Brothers boasting a dare
We tell them they're crazy
And pretend we don't care
The singer recalls moments of daring and foolhardiness among friends and family
The air tastes like moonshine
In the wind a carnival tune
It soars with our laughter
But we'll all leave too soon
The artist is aware of the fleeting nature of their time in the mountains, and reminisces on past moments of wild abandon and happiness
So I raise a toast to family
Put thanks in my glass
In the arms of your loved ones
It's the only home that lasts
The singer acknowledges the importance of family and acknowledges the value of the warmth and love that comes from those relationships
Going up to grandmama road
Going up to grandmama road
I'm happy as can be
'Cause can't you see
I'm going up to grandmama road
The song ends on a note of excitement and joy, as the singer looks forward to returning to the mountain home and seeing their loved ones once again
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: EDWIN COLE MC CAIN
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind