It is not entirely clear when Songs: Ohia became Magnolia Electric Co. In interviews, Jason Molina has claimed that he considered the tenure of Songs: Ohia over after Didn't It Rain, which would make Magnolia Electric Co. the eponymous debut album of the new band. In fact the name Songs: Ohia appears nowhere on the artwork of the album and only a promotional sticker on the cellophane wrapping connects it with the prior band name. Nevertheless, Secretly Canadian still promotes the album under the Songs: Ohia moniker. On the other hand, the Magnolia Electric Co. live album Trials and Errors was recorded on April 16, 2003 at the Ancienne Belgique club in Brussels, at a time when the band was still touring under the Songs: Ohia name. Pitchfork Media later reported that name change would be made official after the Spain tour in October 2003, although by now it seems the label espouses a name change around July 2003.
On January 13, 2006, Molina told a Chicago newspaper that he had recorded three records which were to be released within a few months. A solo record, titled Let Me Go, was recorded February 2005 in Indiana and features a return to the voice/piano/guitar style that Pyramid Electric Co. was recorded in. A Magnolia Electric Co. album, Nashville Moon, was recorded during July 2005 with Steve Albini at Electrical Audio in Chicago. Molina stated that there was a heavy atmosphere in the studio, due to the fact that three of Albini's close friends had died in a car crash. The third record to be released is a full length collaboration with Camper Van Beethoven front man David Lowery, tentatively named The Black Ram. During the sessions for the album, Molina's mother suffered a stroke, went into a coma and has been on life support since then.
In the article, Molina also commented on his determined work ethic: "Every New Year I throw out songs. I just threw out probably 20 tapes full of demos and I didn't even listen to them... Getting rid of all that old stuff really forces you to write new material."
Though officially Songs: Ohia no longer records or performs, and projects have been either marketed as Magnolia Electric Co. or Jason Molina's solo work, most fans still use the name Songs: Ohia to refer to all projects collectively.
Jason Molina stopped touring and recording in 2009 in order to enter rehab and fight his alcoholism. An EP called Autumn Bird Songs was released in 2012 under Molina's own name, although it consisted of songs recorded before Molina had entered rehab. He died on March 16th, 2013 of organ failure.
Little Sad Eyes
Magnolia Electric Co. Lyrics
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Every time it rains I hear the city call my name
And that's what little sad eyes are made of
Harvest and ruin, I've carried both of them
Out of the world that was, into the world to come
That's what little sad eyes are made of
But what good is it, if good news is just goodbye
Waitin'
The forty one highway
Half a mile between
The moon and ending it all
And that's what little sad eyes are made of
The lyrics to Magnolia Electric Co.'s "Little Sad Eyes" speak of heartache and hopelessness, conveyed through dark yet poetic imagery. The opening line, "That's what little sad eyes are made of," sets the tone for the song, implying that the titular little sad eyes are a constant presence in the singer's life.
The next line, "Every time it rains I hear the city call my name," suggests that the singer feels a pull towards the city, perhaps because it offers respite from the pain they're experiencing. However, the fact that this call comes only when it rains implies that it's fleeting, and ultimately unfulfilling.
The lines "Harvest and ruin, I've carried both of them / Out of the world that was, into the world to come" seem to speak to the theme of transformation - the singer has experienced both bounty and devastation, and carries the scars of this with them as they move forward. However, the repetition of "that's what little sad eyes are made of" reinforces the idea that even in the midst of change and growth, the singer's sadness remains a constant.
The final lines of the song, "The forty one highway / Half a mile between / The moon and ending it all / And that's what little sad eyes are made of," describe a desolate and dangerous place, where the singer is tempted by the idea of "ending it all." The fact that this imagery comes after several verses that touch on themes of perseverance and hope makes it all the more poignant - it's clear that despite their struggle, the singer is not yet defeated.
Overall, "Little Sad Eyes" is a deeply introspective and evocative song that speaks to the human experience of pain and uncertainty. Despite its melancholic tone, however, there is a sense of resilience and determination that runs through the lyrics, reminding us that even in the darkest moments, there is always the possibility of hope.
Line by Line Meaning
That's what little sad eyes are made of
This is the common theme that defines someone who has sad eyes
Every time it rains I hear the city call my name
When it rains, the singer feels a strong pull towards the city
Harvest and ruin, I've carried both of them
The singer has experienced both growth and destruction in their life
Out of the world that was, into the world to come
The singer has transitioned from one world to another
Only the strongest hearts can make the heart tick back
It takes great strength to recover from heartbreak
But what good is it, if good news is just goodbye
There is no point in receiving good news if it is followed by bad news
Waitin'
The singer is currently waiting for something
The forty one highway
The singer is referring to a specific highway
Half a mile between
There is a distance of half a mile between two points
The moon and ending it all
The singer is contemplating ending their life, symbolized by the moon
And that's what little sad eyes are made of
This line reiterates the theme that defines someone with sad eyes
Contributed by Mia K. Suggest a correction in the comments below.