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.
You Never Know
Railroad Earth Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
You never know, You never know, You never know, You never know, You never know, You never know, I guess it goes to show you never know.
Cold hard facts, nothing stuck. They were shooting fish in a pickup truck. But it the end, it was all a show. And I guess it goes to show you never know.
You never know, You never know, You never know, You never know, You never know, You never know, I guess it goes to show you never know.
Now here we are, sitting pretty. High on a hill over redwood city. From little seeds, big plants will grow. Like pulling a rabbit from a hat. Big home run you're last at bat. We're counting blessings, taking it slow. And I guess it goes to show you never know.
You never know, You never know, You never know, You never know, You never know, You never know, I guess it goes to show, I guess it goes to show, I guess it goes to show you never know.
Railroad Earth's "You Never Know" reflects on the unpredictable nature of life, how we often have high hopes with no guarantees, and how things can change in an instant. The opening verse, "That wheel of fortune went spinning round, high, high hopes went crashing down," creates a sense of tension and disappointment. This sense of hopelessness is furthered by "We were all locked up, free to go," as the lyrics suggest that there is no clear path forward.
The second verse, "Cold hard facts, nothing stuck. They were shooting fish in a pickup truck. But it the end, it was all a show. And I guess it goes to show you never know," speaks to the absurdity of life and how sometimes things just don't make sense. The imagery of shooting fish in a pickup truck is nonsensical and humorous, but it also highlights how life can often feel like a joke. The repetition of "you never know" throughout the song emphasizes the theme of unpredictability; no matter what plans we make, we can never be sure of the outcome.
The final verse, "Now here we are, sitting pretty. High on a hill over redwood city. From little seeds, big plants will grow," offers a hopeful tone. Despite the previous disappointment and uncertainty, here the lyrics express a sense of gratitude and optimism for the future. "Like pulling a rabbit from a hat, big home run you're last at bat." These lines suggest that sometimes we hit the jackpot and succeed beyond our wildest dreams, even if it seemed impossible before. The final line, "And I guess it goes to show you never know," bookends the song and brings us back to the idea that anything can happen in life, and we should treasure the moments of hope and joy.
Line by Line Meaning
That wheel of fortune went spinning round.
Life is unpredictable, and things can change in an instant.
High, high hopes went crashing down.
Even our biggest and brightest dreams can be shattered in an instant.
We were all locked up, free to go.
Sometimes we feel trapped in our circumstances, but there is still a way out.
I guess it goes to show you never know.
Life is full of surprises, and we can never be certain of what the future holds.
Cold hard facts, nothing stuck.
Sometimes reality doesn't live up to our expectations or hopes.
They were shooting fish in a pickup truck.
Some people take advantage of their power or advantage over others for their own gain.
But it the end, it was all a show.
Appearances can be deceiving, and things may not always be as they seem.
Now here we are, sitting pretty.
Despite the ups and downs of life, we can still find moments of contentment and happiness.
High on a hill over redwood city.
We can find beauty and joy in unexpected places.
From little seeds, big plants will grow.
Small actions and efforts can lead to great outcomes and achievements.
Like pulling a rabbit from a hat.
There are times when things work out in our favor in surprising ways.
Big home run you're last at bat.
Even if things haven't gone well in the past, there is always potential for success in the future.
We're counting blessings, taking it slow.
Gratitude and patience can help us navigate the uncertainties of life.
And I guess it goes to show you never know.
Life is full of twists and turns, and we can never really be certain of what's coming next.
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Thomas Conrad
I heard this tune on XM this morning and just had to learn more about this group. I am recovering from a ten month stay in the hospital from an illness called Guillain-Barre' Syndrome. I went from a very fit and strong man to a paralyzed semi-comatose man overnight. Bottom line is the name of this song fits me. You Never Know. Thanks. You guys are awesome and you made my day!
Thomas Conrad
@Dan McGlauflin Just saw your post today Dan, thanks 2 years later. Believe it or not, but yesterday I found out I have Covid-19 from a test done on Tue. I have mild symptoms with a bit of a cough and tiredness so far. I sure hope it stays that way because I've already had enough hospital for a lifetime. But once again, You Never Know!
Dan McGlauflin
Thomas Conrad chills man , chills down my spine. Best wishes and thoughts from this internet stranger ! May you dance again, if only in the heart and soul !
Chloe Lou
amazing !
fred greene
How true!!!!
markaidin
sounds like Jerry
Lee Diamond
I took flak for saying that. I guess it is that guy’s loss.