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.
Sacred Ground
Over the Rhine Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Like the need to feel some forgotten song
Kiss me to chills like there’s only me
Like it’s hard to kill the last cottonwood tree
Love me later when the stars fall down
A burning light for a wedding gown
They stole the blood right out of this ground
They’d still kick a flower when it’s down
Help me trace the scars on mountains
The sun that sets in a bloody fountain
Take me home and lay me down
On the hungry earth (Love me, love me)
On the sacred ground
Love me like the breath you held too deep
Like the need you feel to lay still beneath
Leave me with teeth marks on my skin
Like some holy spirit’s tryna get in
Love me like a rumor you can’t outlive
Like the deepest cut you’ll ever forgive
They stole my blood right out of this ground
They’d still kick a flower when it’s down
Help me trace the scars on mountains
The sun that sets in a bloody fountain
Take me home and lay me down
On the hungry earth (Love me, love me)
On the sacred ground
The lyrics to Over the Rhine's song Sacred Ground have a raw and haunting quality to them, as if they are the desperate plea of someone who has been betrayed over and over again, yet still longs for an all-consuming love that can help them find redemption. The first two lines, "Love me like a memory held too long/Like the need to feel some forgotten song," suggest a deep longing for someone to hold onto a memory that has become too painful to keep alive, and to rediscover a song that has been forgotten but still resonates with the soul.
The second verse deepens the sense of longing and desperation with lines like "Love me like the breath you held too deep/Like the need you feel to lay still beneath" and "Leave me with teeth marks on my skin/Like some holy spirit’s tryna get in." These lines are visceral and suggest a desire for a love that is all-consuming and transformative, one that leaves a lasting impression on the body and soul.
The final two verses speak to the betrayal and pain of the past, with lines like "They stole the blood right out of this ground/They'd still kick a flower when it's down" and "Help me trace the scars on mountains/The sun that sets in a bloody fountain." Yet despite the pain, the singer still longs to be loved on this "sacred ground," to find a love that is redemptive, transformative, and all-consuming.
Overall, Sacred Ground is a powerful and emotional song that speaks to the universal desire for a love that can heal our deepest wounds and transform our brokenness into something beautiful.
Line by Line Meaning
Love me like a memory held too long
Love me with the same intensity and longing that one holds onto a memory for an extended period of time.
Like the need to feel some forgotten song
Love me in a way that causes a yearning for a song that was once known but has since been forgotten.
Kiss me to chills like there’s only me
Kiss me with so much emotion and passion that it creates a chill, as if there is only the two of us in that moment.
Like it’s hard to kill the last cottonwood tree
Kiss me with the same difficulty it would take to cut down the last standing cottonwood tree, emphasizing the strength and intensity of the kiss.
Love me later when the stars fall down
Continue to love me even when everything around us seems to be falling apart, using the metaphor of the stars falling from the sky.
A burning light for a wedding gown
Love me with a passion that could light a room on fire, and see the beauty in our love like a bride on her wedding day.
They stole the blood right out of this ground
The ground has been tainted with bloodshed and violence, and those responsible have taken away the innocence of the land.
They’d still kick a flower when it’s down
The same people who committed the violent acts have no remorse and would continue to harm even the smallest, most innocent things when they are vulnerable.
Help me trace the scars on mountains
Assist in exploring and understanding the deep emotional wounds that have been created, comparing them to the long-lasting scars on mountains.
The sun that sets in a bloody fountain
The imagery of the sun setting in a bloody fountain creates a sense of tragedy and despair, emphasizing the emotional pain felt.
Take me home and lay me down
Bring me to a place of comfort and rest, where I can find peace from the pain and sorrow.
On the hungry earth (Love me, love me)
In this place of rest, love me with a hunger and intensity that is both uplifting and comforting, rejuvenating the soul.
Love me like the breath you held too deep
Love me with a sense of urgency and depth, like holding your breath for too long, wanting the release and the fullness of breath all at once.
Like the need you feel to lay still beneath
Love me with a sense of comfort and safety, the same feeling of wanting to lay still beneath the covers on a cold morning.
Leave me with teeth marks on my skin
Love me passionately, leaving evidence and a lasting mark, showing the intensity of our connection.
Like some holy spirit’s tryna get in
The passion of our love is so strong, it feels as if a divine power is attempting to join us, heightening the spiritual and emotional connection.
Love me like a rumor you can’t outlive
Love me with a depth and intensity that cannot be forgotten or outlived, becoming an eternal part of our lives.
Like the deepest cut you’ll ever forgive
Our love may cause deep wounds, but it is also powerful enough to heal them, even the deepest ones.
Contributed by Nathaniel C. Suggest a correction in the comments below.