In March 2003, while on tour, Jason Molina (born December 30, 1973; died Ma… Read Full Bio ↴In March 2003, while on tour, Jason Molina (born December 30, 1973; died March 16, 2013) announced that he would rename his band (Songs: Ohia) Magnolia Electric Co. This new incarnation would retain many of the original players and the stylistic direction of the album of the same name. Jason Molina would also continue to release solo work, but this time under his own name. The first such release came in January of 2004, as the full length vinyl release Pyramid Electric Co. While Magnolia Electric Co. and Pyramid Electric Co. were originally intended as a double album, the latter seems to be the stylistic polar opposite of the former. Engineered by Mike Mogis, who also engineered Ghost Tropic, Pyramid finds Jason Molina alone at the microphone with only his voice, a piano or a guitar. Magnolia Electric Co.'s first official release was a live album called Trials and Errors, followed by a studio album titled What Comes After The Blues and an EP, Hard To Love a Man, all three released in 2005.

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.

The Spell
Magnolia Electric Co. Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

Do not wake, oh little ghost
There is work here still to do
High lights the moon
Hides its face from you
Do not wake, oh little ghost
The work is almost through
I'll wield the river and the mistletoe
Into the crown for you

Come the early dawn
Come the early dawn
Hem of the crossroads be thine
Heart of the serpent be thine
Hand of the scarecrow clasp thine
Will-o-the-wisp be your eye
Voice of the hall be thine
Wings of ruby be thine
Beak of coral be thine
All things eaten be thine
All things forgotten be thine

Wake, oh wake little queen
I have the crown for you

Overall Meaning

In the lyrics of Magnolia Electric Co.'s song "The Spell," the singer addresses a "little ghost" and urges it not to wake just yet, as there is still important work to be done. The ghost is being assured that the moon is watching over it, even though its face is hidden from view. The repetition of the phrase "Do not wake, oh little ghost" conveys a sense of urgency and the importance of completing the task at hand.

The lyrics suggest that the work being done is nearing completion, as the singer mentions wielding the river and mistletoe into a crown for the little ghost. This act seems to be a gesture of protection and empowerment, possibly symbolizing the ghost's transition or ascension to a higher state of being. The imagery of the moon and the mystical elements like mistletoe add a sense of magic and mystery to the song.

As the early dawn approaches, the lyrics introduce a series of symbolic elements that seem to bestow different qualities upon the ghost. References to the crossroads, serpent, scarecrow, will-o-the-wisp, and other mystical entities create a rich tapestry of imagery that enhances the enchanting atmosphere of the song. These symbols may represent different aspects of the ghost's identity or journey, each imbuing it with unique powers or qualities.

Towards the end of the song, there is a shift in tone as the singer addresses the ghost as a "little queen" and proclaims that they have the crown ready for her. This transformation from a ghost to a queen suggests a powerful metamorphosis or awakening, indicating that the work mentioned earlier has been successfully completed. The final lines of the song convey a sense of fulfillment and completion, as the crown is presented to the ghost-queen, marking a significant moment of empowerment and transition in the narrative of the song.

Line by Line Meaning

Do not wake, oh little ghost
Stay asleep, dear spirit

There is work here still to do
There are tasks left to complete

High lights the moon
The moon shines brightly

Hides its face from you
And conceals itself from your view

The work is almost through
The tasks are nearly finished

I'll wield the river and the mistletoe
I'll use the power of nature

Into the crown for you
To create a special crown just for you

Come the early dawn
As the new day begins

Hem of the crossroads be thine
May you rule over the crossroads

Heart of the serpent be thine
May you possess the wisdom of the serpent

Hand of the scarecrow clasp thine
May you be in control like the scarecrow