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.
Ohio
Over the Rhine Lyrics
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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
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
"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
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
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.