He developed a method of tuning his guitar that complemented his voice and worked with his background as a bass player. Finding his niche in indie rock circles, Molina made home recordings under the names 'Songs: Albian', 'Songs: Radix', and 'Songs: Unitas' to pass out at live shows. Settling on 'Songs: Ohia', Molina released a single on Palace Records in 1996. The first 'Songs: Ohia' full-length followed in 1997; released on the Secretly Canadian label.
By 2001, Molina had given his tenor guitar a rest in favor of a regular six-string instrument and had put together a full band to back him. However, 2002's Didn't it Rain saw Molina working with members of neo-bluegrass outfit Jim & Jennie & the Pinetops, achieving an almost gospel sound that was a vast departure from the dense feel of Ghost Tropic. Constantly recording and writing new songs, Songs: Ohia released a handful of singles and EPs in 2002, including a split EP with Louisville's My Morning Jacket and a collaborative EP (under the name Amalgamated Sons of Rest) with Will Oldham and Alasdair Roberts. Pyramid Electric Co. and Magnolia Electric Co., originally conceived as a double album, were released separately in early 2003. The former, a sparse solo album, was recorded with Mike Mogis (from Lullaby for the Working Class) while the latter featured a full band and was recorded by Steve Albini.
Jason Molina died, at age 39, on 18. March 2013 from complications of alcoholism.
Some Things Never Try
Jason Molina Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
And I’m sure I’m nothing in it
All those years had to darken me on every single side
Til every part of me was a place to hide
Some things never get better
Some things never try
Pain in my heart finally running me out of my life
Some things do nothing but try
The opening line of Jason Molina's song Some Things Never Try is a plea for a return to a past life, a time where the singer was happier and more content. It is clear from this opening line that the singer is not satisfied with their current state and wishes to escape the pain that is currently plaguing them. In the second line, the singer expresses a sense of worthlessness, declaring that they are nothing in their old life. This may suggest that the pain they are feeling is related to a loss, and that they are struggling to find meaning or purpose without the person or thing they once had.
Molina's lyrics evoke a sense of darkness and isolation, as the singer describes how years of pain have "darkened" every part of them, causing them to retreat from the world and seek refuge in hiding. The line "Some things never get better" is a bleak admission that no matter how hard we try, some things in life cannot be fixed or changed. This is a painful truth that can be difficult to accept, especially when we are struggling to overcome obstacles or move on from difficult experiences.
The final line of the verse, "Some things do nothing but try," provides a glimmer of hope in an otherwise dark and despairing song. Despite the pain and turmoil that the singer is experiencing, they are still fighting to overcome it. This line suggests a resilience and determination that speaks to the human spirit's ability to persevere through even the most challenging circumstances.
Line by Line Meaning
Great bird come down and give me back my old life
I wish for a miracle that can restore my old life, which I have lost due to various reasons.
And I’m sure I’m nothing in it
I have lost my identity and self-worth in my old life, and now I feel worthless.
All those years had to darken me on every single side
The experiences and challenges of life have left me with emotional scars and a darkened worldview.
Til every part of me was a place to hide
I have become so emotionally damaged that I have no other option but to hide behind my own thoughts and feelings.
Some things never get better
Some situations in life cannot be improved no matter what one does, and one has to face them head-on.
Some things never try
Some people and situations never make an effort to change, and one has to accept that fact and move on.
Pain in my heart finally running me out of my life
The emotional pain that I am enduring is driving me away from my own life and everything that I hold dear.
Some things do nothing but try
Certain people and situations will keep trying endlessly to inflict pain and suffering on others, and one has to resist them with all their might.
Lyrics © SC PUBLISHING DBA SECRETLY CANADIAN PUB., Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd.
Written by: Jason Molina
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind