Ohio
Over the Rhine Lyrics


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Hello Ohio, the back roads
I know Ohio, like the back of my hand
Alone Ohio, where the river bends
And it's strange to see your story end

In my life I've seen a thousand dreams
Through the threshers all torn to pieces
And the land lay bare someone turned a profit there
And a good son lost his life in a strip pit

Hello Ohio, the back roads
I know Ohio, like the back of my hand
Alone Ohio, where the river bends
And it's strange to see your story end

When the sun went down we would all leave town
And light our fires in the Egypt Bottom
And the reservoir was just as good for Joni
'Cause we knew we would dream out loud in the night air

Holly said, "Don't go inside the children's home"
Mary said, "Don't leave your man alone"
Valerie was singin' to the radio, Ohio

It was summertime in '83
We were burnin' out at the rubber tree
Yeah, I'm wonderin' what in the world
Would make all this worthwhile
And if I knew then I was older then
Would I see regret to the last mile

Hello Ohio, the back roads
I know Ohio, like the back of my hand
Alone Ohio, where the river bends
And it's strange to see your story end





How I hate to see your story end
It's so sad to see your story end

Overall Meaning

"Ohio" by Over The Rhine is a poetic ode to Ohio and the complex emotions that come along with being from a specific place. In these lyrics, vocalist Karin Bergquist sings about the back roads and river bends of Ohio that she knows like the back of her hand. Despite familiarity, there's a certain loneliness associated with being in Ohio, and it's strange to see the story of the place end. Throughout the song, there are several detailed anecdotes that describe memories from Ohio. From seeing a thousand dreams through the threshers all torn to pieces to the land being destroyed after someone turned a profit, Ohio has its share of hardships. There's also mention of a good son losing his life in a strip pit. The song paints a picture of a small town in Ohio in the summertime in 1983, where the group of friends would gather in Egypt Bottom and dream out loud in the night air.


Line by Line Meaning

Hello Ohio, the back roads
I'm familiar with the state of Ohio, particularly the rural areas


I know Ohio, like the back of my hand
I have great knowledge and familiarity with Ohio


Alone Ohio, where the river bends
Ohio can be a lonely and isolating place along a winding river


And it's strange to see your story end
It's difficult and unexpected to see the end of Ohio's story


In my life I've seen a thousand dreams
I have experienced many aspirations and hopes throughout my life


Through the threshers all torn to pieces
Despite the disappointments and failures along the way


And the land lay bare someone turned a profit there
The land was stripped for profit, leaving it barren and unusable


And a good son lost his life in a strip pit
A young man lost his life in a dangerous strip mining pit


When the sun went down we would all leave town
After a day's work, we would leave town to relax


And light our fires in the Egypt Bottom
We would build fires in the Egypt Bottom area


And the reservoir was just as good for Joni
We found the reservoir to be a pleasant place to spend time together


'Cause we knew we would dream out loud in the night air
We spent time together sharing our hopes and aspirations under the stars


Holly said, "Don't go inside the children's home"
Holly warned me not to enter the children's home


Mary said, "Don't leave your man alone"
Mary advised me not to leave my partner alone


Valerie was singin' to the radio, Ohio
Valerie was singing along to a song on the radio about Ohio


It was summertime in '83
This took place during the summer of 1983


We were burnin' out at the rubber tree
We were working hard at the rubber tree plantation


Yeah, I'm wonderin' what in the world
I am questioning the purpose of everything


Would make all this worthwhile
I wonder what would make all the hard work and sacrifice worth it


And if I knew then I was older then
If I knew then what I know now


Would I see regret to the last mile
Would I still have regrets up until the end of my life?


How I hate to see your story end
I despise seeing the end of Ohio's story


It's so sad to see your story end
Ohio's ending is heartbreaking




Lyrics © Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd.
Written by: Karen Bergquist

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
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Most interesting comment from YouTube:

Andrea Aime

Hello Ohio
The back roads
I know Ohio
Like the back of my hand
Alone Ohio
Where the river bends
And it's strange to see your story end

In my life I"ve seen a thousand dreams
Through the threshers all torn to pieces
And the land lay bare
Someone turned a profit there
And a good son lost his life in a strip pit

When the sun went down we would all leave town
And light our fires in Egypt Bottom
And the reservoir was just as good for Joni
'Cause we knew we would
Dream outloud in the night air

Holly said, Don't go inside the children's home
Mary said, Don't leave your man alone
Valerie was singin' to the radio
Ohio

It was summertime in '83
We were burnin' out at the rubber tree
Wonderin' what in the world
Would make all this worthwhile
And if I knew then I was older then
Would I see regret to the last mile

Hello Ohio
The back roads
I know Ohio
Like the back of my hand
Alone Ohio
Where the river bends
And it's strange to see your story end
How I hate to see your story end
It's so sad to see your story end


Compositor: Bergquist



All comments from YouTube:

Andrea Aime

Hello Ohio
The back roads
I know Ohio
Like the back of my hand
Alone Ohio
Where the river bends
And it's strange to see your story end

In my life I"ve seen a thousand dreams
Through the threshers all torn to pieces
And the land lay bare
Someone turned a profit there
And a good son lost his life in a strip pit

When the sun went down we would all leave town
And light our fires in Egypt Bottom
And the reservoir was just as good for Joni
'Cause we knew we would
Dream outloud in the night air

Holly said, Don't go inside the children's home
Mary said, Don't leave your man alone
Valerie was singin' to the radio
Ohio

It was summertime in '83
We were burnin' out at the rubber tree
Wonderin' what in the world
Would make all this worthwhile
And if I knew then I was older then
Would I see regret to the last mile

Hello Ohio
The back roads
I know Ohio
Like the back of my hand
Alone Ohio
Where the river bends
And it's strange to see your story end
How I hate to see your story end
It's so sad to see your story end


Compositor: Bergquist

Lisa Marie

Our local indie radio station, WNKU, stopped broadcasting after 33 years yesterday.  They played this song at the close of the broadcast day and it about pushed me over the edge.   :(

Bob Mueller

The bird man. I loved his work

Amala Lane

WNKU really? Omg, that was such a brilliant station. Very sad. Very, very sad.

Eric Bassham

We lost such a great station.

Wolf Larsen

Lisa Ball it's all right. Those are manly tears alright.

Ernesto Reyes

where are you from. ohio??

Siegbert Fischer

This is my favorite Version
Don´t need a big Band to perform great Music! - just a Piano and a Singer (fits perfect)
It´s just amazing - Thanks...

Uncharted Waters

One of the last songs played on WNKU and probably the most mournful thing I've heard on there.

Wolf Larsen

No matter how happy you might feel, this song is sure to bring you down. That's the genius of it.

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