Railroad Earth is a roots and Americana-based jamband from rural western St… Read Full Bio ↴Railroad Earth is a roots and Americana-based jamband from rural western Stillwater, New Jersey, USA. Their name stems from a Jack Kerouac poem "October in the Railroad Earth," and the band has a song by the same name. Railroad Earth's music combines elements of bluegrass, rock and roll, jazz, celtic and more, and the group is known for its extensive live improvisation and lyrical songwriting within an acoustic base.

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.

Drag Him Down
Railroad Earth Lyrics

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I've got fire for a heart
I'm not scared of the dark
You've never seen it look so easy
I got a river for a soul
And baby, you're a boat
Baby, you're my only reason
If I didn't have you, there would be nothing left
The shell of a man who could never be his best

If I didn't have you, I'd never see the sun
You taught me how to be someone, yeah
All my life, you stood by me
When no one else was ever behind me
All these lights, they can't blind me
With your love, nobody can drag me down
All my life, you stood by me
When no one else was ever behind me
All these lights, they can't blind me
With your love, nobody can drag me down
Nobody, nobody
Nobody can drag me down
Nobody, nobody
Nobody can drag me down
I've got fire for a heart
I'm not scared of the dark
You've never seen it look so easy
I got a river for a soul
And baby, you're a boat
Baby, you're my only reason
If I didn't have you, there would be nothing left
The shell of a man who could never be his best
If I didn't have you, I'd never see the sun
You taught me how to be someone, yeah
All my life, you stood by me
When no one else was ever behind me
All these lights, they can't blind me
With your love, nobody can drag me down
Nobody, nobody
Nobody can drag me down
Nobody, nobody
Nobody can drag me
All my life, you stood by me
When no one else was ever behind me
All these lights, they can't blind me
With your love, nobody can drag me down
All my life, you stood by me
When no one else was ever behind me
All these lights, they can't blind me
With your love, nobody can drag me down
Nobody, nobody
Nobody can drag me down
Nobody, nobody
Nobody can drag me down
Nobody, nobody
Nobody can drag me down
Nobody, nobody

Nobody can drag me down
(end)

Overall Meaning

The lyrics to Railroad Earth's song Drag Him Down are rich in metaphorical language and highlight the enduring love and support one person can provide to another. The singer in the song claims to have "fire for a heart" and to be "not scared of the dark," conveying their own internal strength and resilience. They also assert that their partner is their "only reason" to continue on, emphasizing the importance of this other person's role in their life. The metaphor of a boat floating on a river represents the singer's reliance on their partner to navigate the challenges of life. Similarly, the image of "all these lights" attempting to blind them suggests the temptation to lose one's way in the face of success, but their partner's love remains a constant guidepost.

The chorus repeats the idea that no one can "drag me down" because of the support the singer has received from their partner. This message of resilience and determination is reinforced by the repeated lines "nobody, nobody." The use of repetition throughout the song emphasizes the singer's unwavering commitment to their partner and their reliance on their love to move forward.

Overall, the lyrics to Drag Him Down are a tribute to the power of love and the profound impact one person can have on another's life. The metaphors used throughout the song create a vivid picture of the singer's emotional state, while the repeated lines of the chorus emphasize the importance of resilience and the strength that can come from a deep connection with another person.

Line by Line Meaning

I've got fire for a heart
My passion burns inside me, spurring me on.

I'm not scared of the dark
I'm confident in the face of adversity.

You've never seen it look so easy
I make my successes look effortless.

I got a river for a soul
I possess powerful emotions that flow deep and strong.

And baby, you're a boat
You are the vessel that carries me safely through life.

Baby, you're my only reason
You are my motivation, the driving force behind all I do.

If I didn't have you, there would be nothing left
Without you in my life, I would have nothing to live for.

The shell of a man who could never be his best
I would be an empty, hollow version of myself without your love.

If I didn't have you, I'd never see the sun
You are the light that brightens up my entire world.

You taught me how to be someone, yeah
You helped me discover my true self and become who I am today.

All my life, you stood by me
You have been my steadfast companion through all my hardships.