The band members, already accomplished musicians, first came together in early 2001. Originally comprised of guitarist/vocalist Todd Sheaffer, violinist/vocalist Tim Carbone, mandolinist/vocalist John Skehan, multi-instrumentalist/vocalist Andy Goessling, drummer/vocalist Carey Harmon, and bassist ]Dave Von Dollen, the group played both original compositions mostly written by Sheaffer, the former From Good Homes songwriter, as well as traditional songs. After just three weeks of rehearsals, they went into a local recording studio and tracked a five song demo. Recorded live with no overdubs except backing vocals, The Black Bear Sessions set Railroad Earth's career in motion. Within a week they had a manager on board who then sent their demo out to some of the country’s most prestigious festivals, quickly landing a slot at the Telluride Bluegrass Festival. That was their tenth gig. The Black Bear Sessions was released to the public in June 2001, and following their appearance at Telluride Sugar Hill Records approached the band and offered them a record deal. The Black Bear Sessions contains some of the most popular songs in Railroad Earth's repertoire, including "Seven Story Mountain" and "Head."
In June 2002, one year from the release of their debut, Railroad Earth’s second album, Bird in a House, came out on Sugar Hill Records, featuring songs such as "Bird In A House," "Like A Buddha," and "Mighty River.". The band continued its steady touring schedule, playing theatres, folk-music festivals, jam-band festivals, and other venues, while gathering much praise for its unique sound and enjoyable live concerts. The band eventually built up a fanbase who call themselves Hobos.
In 2003 Dave Von Dollen was replaced by bassist Johnny Grubb. In 2004 the band released its third studio effort, The Good Life, featuring "Storms," Mourning Flies," and "Goat." The band continued to tour throughout the country, and its first live album, Elko, was issued in late January 2006. They performed at the Austin City Limits Music Festival on September 15, 2007.
The band's fourth studio album, entitled Amen Corner, was released on June 10, 2008. The new album features songs such as "Been Down This Road," "Hard Livin'," "Waggin' The Dog," and "Lovin' You".
On November 11, 2009, Grubb announced his departure from the band after Railroad Earth's New Year's Eve run of shows in Portland, OR. In February 2010, Andrew Altman of the Codetalkers and Blueground Undergrass was named as his successor.
The band's self-titled fifth album was released on Oct 12, 2010. The album features Andy Goessling playing electric guitar for the first time, plus an 11-minute instrumental written by John Skehan entitled "Spring-Heeled Jack" (SHJ is John Skehan's initials backwards); the latter is the longest studio track to date for the band.
Andy Goessling passed away in October 2018.
Chains
Railroad Earth Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
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
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
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.