She received much critical acclaim for her 2005 release, Paradise Hotel, which contains songs that strike a chord with listeners in light of recent events. "Requiem" honors Hurricane Katrina and tsunami victims with hopeful pleas to the Virgin Mary, while "Man of God" is a bitter, unapologetic denouncement of President George W. Bush and his administration.
"The actions of this regime do not follow the teachings of Christ, what I call real Christianity," Gilkyson said in August 2005. "I just don't appreciate the religious right acting like I don't love God and my country just because I'm not in their corner. I'm mad and I want other people to be mad about this too."
In 2008, her album Beautiful World came out, again on Red House Records. The songs vary from pop to folk and points in-between, with songs ranging from intimate ballads to rallying cries against the imperialist machine. She recently collaborated on a new album entitled Red Horse with two of her Red House Records label-mates John Gorka and Lucy Kaplansky.
In 2011, she came out with Roses at the End of Time. Recorded at her home with the help of her son and co-producer Cisco Ryder, Gilkyson took a longer time in the studio and came out with a more eclectic and personal album. She continues to tour about 150 dates per year in the United States and overseas.
www.elizagilkyson.com
Midnight On Raton
Eliza Gilkyson Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
How the years have flown
Since Townes passed through these hills alone
I got someone who loves me
But it's too late to phone
I wanna ride this road forever
And I'm dying to go home
High above room 28 the swirling of the stars
And I draw the vinyl curtains like a veil across my skin
I turn the bedside lamp down
And I let my shadows in
Cause I feel so full and so empty handed
In a world so cruel I don't think I understand it
Are we still the fools
Who don't know right from wrong
Here at midnight on Raton?
I find a crumpled napkin and I fumble for a pen
Chase a fleeting moment like it was my long lost friend
And I curl up 'neath the blankets and dream until the dawn
But come morning I'll be through these hills and gone
Come morning I'll be through these hills and gone
The lyrics of Eliza Gilkyson’s song Midnight on Raton captures the feeling of being in a nowhere place, at midnight, alone with our own thoughts. The singer is sitting in a motel room in Raton, a town in New Mexico. She begins by reminiscing about the past and how quickly time has passed. The mention of Townes passing through these hills alone suggests the possibility that the singer may not be alone for long. She says she has someone who loves her but it is too late to phone, perhaps indicating that she is too far away and it is too late at night to make a call.
In the second verse, the singer describes the sound of cars on the interstate, and the beauty of the stars in the sky above her. She then draws the vinyl curtains, creating a veil that separates her from the outside world. She feels both full and empty-handed in a world that seems cruel and confusing. She questions whether we still don't know right from wrong, suggesting that even now, in the darkest hour, it is not too late to make a change. In the final verse, the singer fumbles with a pen and a napkin, trying to capture a fleeting moment in the hopes of finding something meaningful to hold on to. She curls up under the blankets and dreams of a time and place where she feels at home. Come morning, she will be through these hills and gone, leaving nothing behind except for the echoes of the night that will soon be forgotten.
Line by Line Meaning
Sitting in a motel on the outskirts of Raton
I am currently located in a motel on the edge of Raton
How the years have flown
Time has passed by quickly
Since Townes passed through these hills alone
It has been a long time since Townes traveled through these hills by himself
I got someone who loves me
I am in a romantic relationship with someone who cares about me
But it's too late to phone
It is currently too late to contact this person
I wanna ride this road forever
I have a desire to travel down this road indefinitely
And I'm dying to go home
I am eager to return to my place of residence
Out there on the interstate the hurryin' of the cars
Cars are rapidly moving down the highway outside
High above room 28 the swirling of the stars
The stars are turning and moving above the location of my room
And I draw the vinyl curtains like a veil across my skin
I close the plastic curtains as if they were a cover on my body
I turn the bedside lamp down
I adjust the light coming from my bedside lamp
And I let my shadows in
I allow the darkness around me to enter my room
Cause I feel so full and so empty handed
I am experiencing emotions of both fullness and emptiness
In a world so cruel I don't think I understand it
The world can be harsh and I am struggling to comprehend its nature
Are we still the fools
Do we remain ignorant or foolish
Who don't know right from wrong
Are we unable to distinguish between good and evil
Here at midnight on Raton?
Is this something we question while being in Raton at midnight?
I find a crumpled napkin and I fumble for a pen
I come upon a wrinkled napkin and struggle to locate a writing tool
Chase a fleeting moment like it was my long lost friend
I pursue a short-lived instant as if it were a former companion
And I curl up 'neath the blankets and dream until the dawn
I curl up under the covers and fall asleep until morning
But come morning I'll be through these hills and gone
However, I will be departing this area in the morning
Contributed by Amelia E. Suggest a correction in the comments below.