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.
Mighty River
Railroad Earth Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Won't take much to grow us older, no
Just a little time
I was in the livin' callin'
Could it be that you were callin' too
My, my
Blows out & bowls ya over
Don't take long to realize, we're standin'
On shaky ground
Ridin' on a backroad dreamin'
Hear a voice tellin' you, you're losin'
Something dear
Do ya doubt it?
In the mighty river, rollin' along
In the mighty river, losin' hold
In the mighty river, over my head
Oh, oh
Write me down as one who knew
Revenge means more revenge on you
What ya gonna do?
In a song that I once sang
I heard a bell & it just rang my blues
Right away
Think about it
In the mighty river, rollin' along
Oh, washin' clean
In the mighty river, I'm over my head
Oh, tearin' free
The lyrics to Railroad Earth's "Mighty River" tell the story of the cyclical nature of life, how time keeps moving forward and with it come new challenges along the way. The first verse speaks about the inevitability of aging, how time passes by so quickly and before we know it we are much older. It also touches on the concept of destiny, how we are all connected to each other and to the world around us. The second verse highlights the fragility of life, how we can lose what is most important to us in an instant. It speaks about the fear and doubt that can arise in us when we face adversity.
The chorus of the song is a powerful reminder that life is like a river, constantly flowing and sometimes overwhelming. The phrase "in the mighty river" is repeated multiple times, emphasizing the power and uncontrollable nature of time and fate. The idea of being "over my head" and "losin' hold" speaks to feeling helpless and overwhelmed by life's challenges. However, the line "oh, washin' clean" suggests that there is a sense of renewal and purification that comes from facing these challenges and emerging on the other side.
Overall, "Mighty River" is a song that reflects on the inevitability of change and the importance of resilience in navigating the unpredictable waters of life.
Line by Line Meaning
Sun risin' on the shoulder
The sun is rising and with each passing day, we are getting older
Won't take much to grow us older, no
Time flies quickly and we'll grow older without realizing it
Just a little time
Time is fleeting and we should make the most of every moment we have
I was in the livin' callin'
I was living life and experiencing its moments
Could it be that you were callin' too
Were you also experiencing life's moments with me?
My, my
An expression of surprise or amazement
I think about it
Reflecting on past experiences and memories
Blows out & bowls ya over
Life can catch you off guard and knock you down
Don't take long to realize, we're standin'
It doesn't take long to realize that we are standing on shaky ground
On shaky ground
In a situation that is uncertain or unstable
Ridin' on a backroad dreamin'
Going through life with hopes and dreams but unsure of the way forward
Hear a voice tellin' you, you're losin'
Sometimes in life, we feel like we're losing something important
Something dear
Something of great value or importance
Do ya doubt it?
Are you questioning or doubting the feeling of losing something dear?
In the mighty river, rollin' along
Life is like a powerful river that constantly moves forward
In the mighty river, losin' hold
Sometimes in life, we lose our grip on things that matter to us
In the mighty river, over my head
Feeling overwhelmed and overpowered by life's challenges
Oh, oh
Expression of surprise or realization
Write me down as one who knew
Remember me as someone who understood the challenges of life
Revenge means more revenge on you
Seeking revenge only leads to more revenge and hatred
What ya gonna do?
What is the solution to this cycle of revenge and hatred?
In a song that I once sang
In a memory or experience from the past
I heard a bell & it just rang my blues
A moment of clarity that helped alleviate some sadness or despair
Right away
Immediately after the bell rang
Oh, washin' clean
The mighty river can also cleanse and purify our troubles
In the mighty river, I'm over my head
Feeling overwhelmed and consumed by the river of life
Oh, tearin' free
Freedom from the struggles and challenges of life
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
Written by: BILLY BASKETTE
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@v0nstrudelhaven
Railroad earth is so slept on
@majorbuzzfortwnty
I love this song, Make heart feel good. Beautiful
@vaiz4lvrs
So beautiful. My soul's song
@Ventsolo
I just can’t make sense of this at all. I feel like I just saw him yesterday... RIP Andy.
@johnroberts9131
Miss him every day. You know he's playing in Heaven with Mikey & Jerry.
@krishnamanson1863
So sad 59 is so young , I hate cancer .
@ashman0071
not to be missed if and when they play within 400 miles of your house - make a weekend of it and see them both nights :P
@gilthethrill9179
Shit yea, I drive from Portland to Placerville for Hangtown every year. Worth it! And ya never want to miss a Portland show!
@zr24X4ROCKS
would start up at the river , the rivers bend , nature at our hand, river giving us sand, the memories melt in my hand
@MarcusTublin
Americana Heart and Soul.