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.
Crossing The Gap
Railroad Earth Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
There are things I'd change, but what's been done is done. But one to many thrills, and now I've come unspun. I sleep and I dream and lie on some strange bed. I almost lost the story, but I know it never ends, it never ends.
I'm crossing the gap on my way home. Above my head just sky and stone. Cross the river from the Jersey side, at the end, of a long, long ride.
I'm begging the sun for just a bit more time. Moonlight, it's alright to sit down this line. So goodbye morning star, daylight's come again. I crossed one hundred rivers, there's one more ahead, yeah just ahead.
Yes I'm crossing the gap on my way home. Above my head just sky and stone. Cross the river from the Jersey side, at the end, of a long, of a long, of a long, long ride.
The song "Crossing The Gap" by Railroad Earth is a reflective and introspective piece that touches upon themes of life, death, and the journey in between. The lyrics are poetic and full of vivid imagery that captures the essence of the journey that the singer is on. The song begins with the singer addressing the morning star, which is a symbol of a new day, hope, and renewal. The morning star is referred to as a friend, but also as the beginning of death, which creates a sense of duality and ambiguity. The singer is racing against the dawn, trying to hold on to the night a little longer, which suggests a reluctance to face the new day and whatever it may bring. The roadsigns mark the passage of time until the singer sees the morning star again, which shows a cyclical nature of time and the inevitability of certain events.
As the song progresses, the singer contemplates the past and the choices that were made. They acknowledge the consequences of their actions, but also express a sense of acceptance and resignation. They sleep and dream on a strange bed, almost losing the narrative of their journey, but ultimately knowing that it never ends. The singer is crossing a gap on their way home, which can be interpreted literally as crossing a physical distance, or metaphorically as crossing a gap in their life journey. The singer is aware of their surroundings, looking up at the sky and stone above their head. The journey has taken them across rivers and roads, and they are almost at the end of a long ride, ready to cross one more river.
In the final verse, the singer's tone shifts to a more urgent one. They beg the sun for just a bit more time, aware that the end of the journey is near. The moonlight is a comforting presence that reminds the singer that it's alright to take a break and rest. The morning star appears again, signaling the beginning of a new day, and the singer embarks on the final leg of their journey, ready to cross one more river.
Overall, "Crossing The Gap" is a poignant and insightful song that captures the essence of the journey of life. It is a reminder that every journey is unique and has its own challenges and rewards. The song encourages the listener to reflect on their own journey and to appreciate the moments that make it worthwhile.
Line by Line Meaning
Hello morning star, you are my old friend.
Addressing the morning star as an old friend, who holds the power to end life.
You are death beginning, to me you're a ten.
To the singer, the morning star represents the beginning of death, the ultimate fate that he gives a rating of 'ten'.
I'm racing the dawn, but I'll never win.
The singer feels like he's competing against time, trying to hold onto life, as the dawn represents the start of a new day.
Roadsigns mark time, till I see you again.
The artist sees roadsigns as markers of time, reminding him of his impending death and inevitable reunion with the morning star.
There are things I'd change, but what's been done is done.
The artist has regrets, but accepts that he cannot change the past.
But one to many thrills, and now I've come unspun.
The singer has made mistakes and gone too far, leading to a state of disarray.
I sleep and I dream and lie on some strange bed.
The singer is disoriented, mentally and physically, and finds himself in unfamiliar territory.
I almost lost the story, but I know it never ends, it never ends.
The artist has experienced setbacks, but believes that life is a continuous journey that never truly ends.
I'm crossing the gap on my way home.
The artist is on a journey towards death, which is like crossing a gap or bridge.
Above my head just sky and stone.
The artist is surrounded by nature - the sky and rocks - as he makes his way closer to death.
Cross the river from the Jersey side, at the end, of a long, long ride.
The singer is crossing the metaphorical river separating life and death, at the end of a long and eventful journey.
I'm begging the sun for just a bit more time.
The artist is trying to cling onto life, even begging the sun (representing time) for more time before he crosses the gap.
Moonlight, it's alright to sit down this line.
The singer finds solace in the moonlight, and accepts that he must continue on his journey towards death.
So goodbye morning star, daylight's come again.
The singer bids farewell to the morning star, accepting the arrival of a new day and the end of his journey.
I crossed one hundred rivers, there's one more ahead, yeah just ahead.
The singer has experienced many challenges and obstacles in life, but knows that there is one more (death) that he must face, just ahead of him.
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