Chains
Railroad Earth Lyrics


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There are notes that ring eternal
there are songs that will remain
momma sang a song of love
I've carried all my days

And I find my own voice singin'
in a voice that I once heard
I recognize the feelings
I recognize the words

oh, here it comes again
oh, some things never end

there are things that aren't forgotten
there are things that still remain
events of long ago, now

somehow form a chain
grandpa cracked a whip down
it's stung a long, long time

daddy picked that whip up
cracked that back of mine
in a moment high confusion
has got a grip on me

i wonder how that whip now

is in the hand i see

there are scars that aren't forgotten
there are scars that still remain
events of long ago now
somehow form a chain

can you find it in the mirror?
can you find it in your heart?
look into tomorrow
do you stop before you start?

do you find your own voice ringin'
in a voice that you once heard?
do you recognize the feelings?
do you recognize the words?

oh, here it comes again
oh, some things never end

there are things that aren't forgotten
there are things that will remain




events of long ago
somehow form a chain

Overall Meaning

The song "Chains" by Railroad Earth is all about the concept of the past influencing the present, and how experiences and memories can be passed down through generations. The first verse talks about "notes that ring eternal" and "songs that will remain," referencing the idea that certain things are timeless and will always hold meaning. The second verse talks about events that happened "long ago" and how they form a "chain" that connects the past to the present.


The chorus emphasizes the idea that "some things never end," and how memories and experiences can follow us throughout our lives. The final verse asks whether we can find these experiences in ourselves, in our hearts and in our actions. It asks whether we can recognize the "feelings" and "words" of those who came before us, and continue to pass these things down to future generations.


Overall, the song is a powerful meditation on the ways in which our past experiences shape who we are and influence how we live our lives.


Line by Line Meaning

There are notes that ring eternal
There are certain melodies that continue to resonate through time and never fade away


there are songs that will remain
There are certain tunes that have a timeless quality and will never be forgotten


momma sang a song of love
The singer's mother would sing a song about love, and the singer has carried that song with them throughout their life


I've carried all my days
The love song that the singer's mother sang has stayed with the singer their entire life


And I find my own voice singin'
The singer recognizes that their own singing voice is reminiscent of someone else's voice they heard in the past


in a voice that I once heard
The singer's current voice sounds like a previous voice they heard before


I recognize the feelings
The singer can identify the emotions that are evoked by the song


I recognize the words
The lyrics of the song also seem familiar to the singer, as if they've heard them before


oh, here it comes again
The singer is reminded of the song and its associated memories once again


oh, some things never end
Certain experiences and memories will always stay with us


there are things that aren't forgotten
There are memories and experiences that remain in our minds and hearts


there are things that still remain
Some experiences and emotions stay with us permanently


events of long ago, now
Past experiences continue to affect us in the present


somehow form a chain
Our past experiences are interconnected and can have a profound effect on our present lives


grandpa cracked a whip down
The singer's grandfather used a whip as a means of discipline


it's stung a long, long time
The singer still feels the pain and hurt caused by their grandfather's actions


daddy picked that whip up
The singer's father continued to use the whip as a means of discipline


cracked that back of mine
The singer was physically abused by their father


in a moment high confusion
The singer is overwhelmed with emotion and feels lost


has got a grip on me
The singer is struggling to deal with their emotions and the memories associated with their upbringing


i wonder how that whip now
The singer is curious about where the whip ended up


is in the hand i see
The singer is worried that someone else is continuing to use the whip to hurt others


there are scars that aren't forgotten
The singer still bears the emotional and physical scars from their past


there are scars that still remain
The singer has not fully healed from the trauma of their past experiences


can you find it in the mirror?
The singer questions whether their past is reflected in their present self


can you find it in your heart?
The singer wonders if the memories and emotions from their past are still present within them


look into tomorrow
The singer is reflecting on the future and what it may hold


do you stop before you start?
The singer is unsure if their past experiences will hold them back from pursuing new opportunities


do you find your own voice ringin'
The singer is wondering if they will hear echoes of their past in their present voice


do you recognize the feelings?
The singer acknowledges that their past experiences have had a lasting impact on their emotions


do you recognize the words?
The lyrics of the song they are singing may have a deeper significance to the singer based on their past


oh, some things never end
Certain experiences continue to have a lasting impact on our lives and never truly go away


there are things that aren't forgotten
Certain memories and emotions remain with us, even if we try to forget them


there are things that will remain
Certain experiences and emotions will always be a part of us


events of long ago
The singer is reflecting on their past experiences and how they still influence the present


somehow form a chain
Our past experiences are linked together and can continue to impact our present and future selves




Contributed by Luke E. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
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