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.
Shenandoah
Magnolia Electric Co. Lyrics
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Tonight you're farther away then the Kentucky moon
And I know you hold a secret of mine or two
Tonight, little darlin, my heart's with you
Wabash between us, felt the cannon ball blues
Maybe I really did see the light
Halfway to heaven's fine
But I could not be sure
But I know you hold a secret of yours or two
Tonight, little darlin, my heart's with you
There's just so much a man can miss
And just no end to what he can regret
And I'm holdin on to whatever hope shows through
And tonight, little darlin, my heart's with you
Tonight, little darlin, my heart's with you
The lyrics to Magnolia Electric Co.'s "Shenandoah" depict a longing for someone far away. The singer sings to someone named Shenandoah, expressing how much he misses them and how they hold secrets that he still wants to uncover. He compares the distance between them to the vastness between the Kentucky moon and him. The Wabash river separates them, and the singer references the "cannon ball blues," which could refer to the Civil War or the steamboat era where the river was once an important transportation route.
The singer questions whether he saw "the light," which could be interpreted as a religious reference or a moment of clarity. He acknowledges that halfway to heaven might be fine, but he can't be sure that's where he is. The longing for Shenandoah intensifies as he admits that there's just so much he misses and regrets. Despite this, he holds on to hope and tells Shenandoah that his heart is with them.
Overall, the song is a beautiful and melancholic portrayal of missing someone far away and holding onto hope despite the distance and regrets.
Line by Line Meaning
Shanandoah, how long will I miss you
The singer wonders how long he will continue to miss Shanandoah.
Tonight you're farther away then the Kentucky moon
Tonight, Shanandoah seems very far away and out of reach to the singer.
And I know you hold a secret of mine or two
The singer believes that Shanandoah is keeping secrets from him.
Tonight, little darlin, my heart's with you
The artist's heart is longing for Shanandoah.
Wabash between us, felt the cannon ball blues
The artist is feeling the pain of separation between himself and Shanandoah, as if they were separated by a river and it is like being hit by a cannon ball.
Maybe I really did see the light
The singer is uncertain if he truly had a moment of clarity or realization.
Halfway to heaven's fine
It is acceptable to feel like you are halfway to heaven, even if you are not quite there yet.
But I could not be sure
The artist is unsure of his feelings or beliefs about heaven.
Halfway is all there ever was
There is only halfway, there is no such thing as reaching the destination fully.
But I know you hold a secret of yours or two
The artist believes that Shanandoah is keeping secrets and is mysterious.
There's just so much a man can miss
A man can only miss someone or something so much, until it becomes unbearable.
And just no end to what he can regret
A man can regret things endlessly, without any solution or resolution.
And I'm holdin on to whatever hope shows through
The singer is holding onto any hope that he can find, no matter how small.
And tonight, little darlin, my heart's with you
The singer's heart still feels connected to Shanandoah, even if they are physically apart.
Contributed by Samuel P. Suggest a correction in the comments below.