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.
Neath The Stars
Railroad Earth Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
She changed her name to fit the way that she was feeling then
Then wren, she spilled some wine, forgot the names they used to call her in those other times
Truly, underneath the stars there are a million ways to be the way you are . . all of them dying
Underneath the rays there'll be a million ways to live the days ahead . . why are we crying?
If I knock . . what will I say? I know you've been in your home & I've been far away
Truly, underneath the stars there are a million ways to be the way you are . . all of them dying
Underneath their rays there'll be a million ways to live the days ahead . . why are we crying?
Why not change our names? some things we won't recognize . . some will remain the same
Some people roll a stone . . find out they were never really even in their home
Underneath the stars there are a million ways to be the way you are . . all of them dying
Underneath the rays there'll be a million ways to live the days ahead . . why are we crying?
There were words . . on my skin . . you touched them & they woke again . . now they're on the wind . .
Railroad Earth's song "Neath The Stars" explores the theme of personal identity and the fluidity of it. The song's lyrics start with a question asking why someone is called Wren. The following lines suggest that she changed her name to reflect her current state of being, which has evolved from her past identity. Wren is shown to have spilled wine, forgotten her old names, and is now embracing her new identity. This change in identity is represented as a way of being true to oneself, and living life one's way without being bound by traditional norms or expectations.
The chorus of the song emphasizes the power of living life freely, as there are a million ways to be and live one's life. However, these ways are temporary and fleeting, making the journey all the more precious, something emphasized by the lyrics "all of them dying". The song suggests that this fleeting nature of life should bring joy, not sadness or tears. The later part of the song shifts attention to the singer's attempt to connect with someone. The singer knows the other person has changed over time and fears they won't recognize each other anymore.
"Neath The Stars" is a song that encourages people to embrace their true selves, live their lives without pressure, and cherish the journey. It emphasizes that change is constant and one's life is fleeting, so it should be savored and enjoyed without fear or restraint.
Line by Line Meaning
Why do they call her wren?
The singer is curious about the reason behind the name 'wren' given to someone.
She changed her name to fit the way that she was feeling then
The person named 'wren' didn't feel like their original name reflected who they were at the time, so they changed it.
Then wren, she spilled some wine, forgot the names they used to call her in those other times
After changing her name to wren, the person spilled wine and forgot about their previous name and the associated memories from that time.
Truly, underneath the stars there are a million ways to be the way you are . . all of them dying
There are countless ways to be oneself, but all of them have a limited lifespan when compared to the vastness of the universe.
Underneath the rays there'll be a million ways to live the days ahead . . why are we crying?
Similarly, there are countless ways to live the future, yet we often find ourselves crying despite this abundance of possibilities.
If I knock . . what will I say? I know you've been in your home & I've been far away
The singer is uncertain of what to say when they finally return to someone's home after being distant for some time.
When I knock . . who will I be? I know you're a different you & I've forgotten me
Upon reuniting with the person, the singer is unsure of what version of themselves they will embody, as the other person has also evolved since their last meeting.
Why not change our names? some things we won't recognize . . some will remain the same
The idea of changing one's name again as a way to reflect the changes in oneself is brought up, with the acknowledgement that not everything will change despite the name change.
Some people roll a stone . . find out they were never really even in their home
People may try to make their lives more stable or predictable, but eventually realize that they never truly had control over their circumstances or sense of belonging.
There were words . . on my skin . . you touched them & they woke again . . now they're on the wind . .
The artist has words engraved on their skin, which are brought to life when touched by the other person. Now, these words have been released into the world.
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA/AMCOS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind