The band's namesake and place of origin is the Cincinnati, Ohio neighborhood Over-the-Rhine. Karin attended school in Barnesville, Ohio and graduated from Barnesville High School in 1984. She then went to Malone College, located in Canton, Ohio, where she met Linford. Karin and Linford were married in the fall of 1996 in Cincinnati and several years ago relocated to a pre-civil war farm outside of town.
Over the Rhine is now primarily Bergquist (vocals, acoustic guitar, piano) and Detweiler (keyboards, electric bass, vocals) accompanied by complementary musicians on albums and tours. Over the years, they have toured and recorded in many variations. They have shared the stage with a number of fine musicians, including Bob Dylan, John Prine, Adrian Belew, Squeeze, Ani DiFranco, My Morning Jacket, Hem, and toured as "adjunct" members of Cowboy Junkies.
Over the Rhine's new album, _The Long Surrender_ was released nationally on 1/1/11. It recorded on California with Grammy winning producer, Joe Henry and contains a duet with Lucinda Williams on "Undamned" and two songs co-written with Joe Henry.
Another Christmas
Over the Rhine Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Like the ghost of my innocence lost
And the tree in the corner burns brightly
I turned all the other lights off
I think back on my life in this stillness
I consider the days of my youth
And the moments I find myself willing
'Cause I've committed every sin
And each one leaves a different scar
It's just the world I'm livin' in
And I could use a guiding star
I hope that I can still believe
The Christ child holds a gift for me
Am I able to receive
Peace on earth this Christmas
This old world so sweet and so bitter
Seeds of violence we humans have sown
And these weapons we still love to handle
May our children have strength to let go
When we look at the stars after midnight
Sparkling rumors of redemption at play
Can we still hear the echoes of angels
Who were singing that first Christmas day
'Cause we've committed every sin
And each one leaves a different scar
It's just the world we're living in
And we could use a guiding star
I hope that we can still believe
The Christ child holds a gift for us
Are we able to receive
Peace on earth this Christmas
Hark the herald angels sing
Glory to the newborn king
Peace on earth and mercy mild
God and sinners reconciled
Joyful all ye nations rise
Join the triumph of the skies
With angelic hosts proclaim
Peace on earth this Christmas
The lyrics of "Another Christmas" by Over the Rhine are a reflection on the holiday season and the introspection that comes with it. The song begins with the line "Another Christmas is drifting in softly," which sets a peaceful and contemplative tone. The singer acknowledges the loss of their innocence and reflects on their past, considering the moments when they were willing to "surrender and just tell the truth."
The second verse introduces a theme of forgiveness, with the singer acknowledging their sins and the scars they leave. They express a desire for guidance and hope for the gift of peace on earth that the Christ child represents. The third verse shifts to a broader perspective, contemplating the violence in the world and the responsibility of future generations to let go of the "weapons we still love to handle." The final chorus combines the traditional lyrics of "Hark the Herald Angels Sing" with the theme of peace on earth.
Overall, "Another Christmas" is a song that encourages reflection on the meaning of the holiday season and the importance of seeking forgiveness and peace.
Line by Line Meaning
Another Christmas is drifting in softly
The beginning of the holiday season is here, bringing back memories of past Christmases.
Like the ghost of my innocence lost
The nostalgia of the the holiday season reminds me of a time in my life when I was more innocent and carefree.
And the tree in the corner burns brightly
The Christmas tree is the only light in the room, creating a peaceful atmosphere of reflection and contemplation.
I turned all the other lights off
The darkness created by the absence of other light sources makes me more focused on my thoughts and feelings.
I think back on my life in this stillness
The quietness of the moment allows me to reflect on my past experiences and how they have shaped me.
I consider the days of my youth
I think about when I was younger and how much easier things seemed then.
And the moments I find myself willing
I reflect on times when I was able to let go of my pride and speak honestly.
To surrender and just tell the truth
Those moments when I was vulnerable and honest made me feel relieved and at peace.
'Cause I've committed every sin
I am aware that I am not perfect and have made mistakes in my life.
And each one leaves a different scar
All of the bad decisions I've made have affected me in their own way, leaving a mark on me emotionally and mentally.
It's just the world I'm livin' in
The world can be a tough and unforgiving place, and I have to work through it like everyone else.
And I could use a guiding star
I am looking for something or someone to help me navigate through the problems of life.
I hope that I can still believe
Despite everything that has happened in the world and in my life, I still want to believe that there is hope and goodness.
The Christ child holds a gift for me
The hope of Christmas is that there is a gift of salvation and redemption available to me and to everyone.
Am I able to receive
I question whether or not I am ready or deserving of the gift that Christ offers.
Peace on earth this Christmas
The ultimate goal of the holiday season is to find peace in our relationships and in the world around us.
This old world so sweet and so bitter
The world can be both beautiful and painful at the same time.
Seeds of violence we humans have sown
Humans have a tendency to create conflict and harm others, and the world is still dealing with the consequences of our actions.
And these weapons we still love to handle
There are still people in the world who believe in the use of force and violence to solve problems.
May our children have strength to let go
The hope for future generations is that they will learn from the mistakes of the past and be able to move forward in a better way.
When we look at the stars after midnight
The peacefulness and quietness of late night stargazing creates an opportunity for reflection and wonder.
Sparkling rumors of redemption at play
The stars and the mystery of the universe can create a sense of hope and belief in something greater than ourselves.
Can we still hear the echoes of angels
The hope is that we can still believe in the miracle of the Christmas story and the message of love and peace that it brings.
Who were singing that first Christmas day
The idea of the angels singing at the birth of Jesus represents the joy and hope that comes with the holiday season.
'Cause we've committed every sin
As a society, we are not perfect and have made collective mistakes that have led us to where we are today.
And each one leaves a different scar
The consequences of our collective mistakes have varied in their impact on people and society at large.
It's just the world we're living in
We are all dealing with the problems and consequences of our past and present mistakes.
And we could use a guiding star
The hope is that we can find something or someone to help us navigate and work through the challenges of life.
I hope that we can still believe
Despite everything that has happened, I still want to believe that there is hope and goodness in the world.
The Christ child holds a gift for us
The hope of Christmas is that there is a gift of salvation and redemption available for all people and all of society.
Are we able to receive
The question is whether we are ready and willing to accept the gift that Christ offers and work towards peace and justice in the world.
Hark the herald angels sing
An allusion to the traditional Christmas song, representing the joy and celebration of the holiday season.
Glory to the newborn king
A reference to the story of Jesus' birth and the hope that it brings for humanity.
Peace on earth and mercy mild
The ultimate hope for the world is that there will be peace and compassion towards one another.
God and sinners reconciled
The belief that Christ's birth and sacrifice offer redemption for all people, regardless of their mistakes and shortcomings.
Joyful all ye nations rise
The idea that the holiday season can bring people from all over the world together in a spirit of joy and celebration.
Join the triumph of the skies
Alluding to the traditional Christmas carol, representing the hope and joy that comes with the holiday season.
With angelic hosts proclaim
Imagining a scene of heavenly beings proclaiming the message of love and peace that comes with the Christmas story.
Peace on earth this Christmas
Ultimately, the hope is that the holiday season will bring about a greater sense of peace and reconciliation in the world and in our lives.
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
Written by: Jerome Detweiler
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind