In 1999, Rocky Votolato branched out from his work with Waxwing, having written a handful of songs which did not really fit in with their more aggressive, fast tempo syle. Along the way he has toured with the likes of Damien Jurado, Small Brown Bike, The Get Up Kids, The New Amsterdams, Owen and The Casket Lottery, members of the latter having provided assistance as backing musicians on occasion. His studio albums have also been littered with appearances from some of Seattle's finest musicians (including players in the bands Red Stars Theory, Sharks Keep Moving, The Blood Brothers, Death Cab for Cutie, Pedro the Lion and Sub Pop solo artist Rosie Thomas). On the production side, Votolato has worked with Matt Bayles (Pearl Jam, Botch, Murder City Devils, Hayden), along with Chris Walla (of Death Cab for Cutie). It is a creative input which has helped see Rocky progress sylistically with every release, from his low key self-titled album released in 1999 - all pretty much recorded live, right through to his recent, alt-country, folk-esque offering, 'Makers'. A video was shot for the first track of Makers, "White Daisy Passing", a song which also appears on the soundtrack of the forthcoming Seattle indie feature film Cthulu.
Rocky also starred in the film 'The Edge of Quarrel', which he worked on with Dave Larson from Excursion Records. It also includes members of the Murder City Devils and Botch, and is about a gang war between straightedgers and punk rockers.
He is married with two children, and lives in Seattle.
Goldfield
Rocky Votolato Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Is passing by on the right to
Bring back all the hopelessness
Of a trailer park in the old
Mining town
Where the irony's laying thick on the ground
In the dirty streets of Goldfield
Or an easier fortune
Finding nothing in the way of love or a
Life of living any better than before
You'll know you've arrived
In Goldfield
Car 5032 of the union pacific
Is passing by on
The right and she's thinking of escaping out to Frisco
From the
Trailer park in the old mining town
Where the irony's laying
Thick on the ground
In the dirty streets of Goldfield
Laying roots
Down to soak up the poison for generations
Finding nothing in
The way of love or a life of living any better than before
You'll
Know you've arrived in Goldfield
Gotta get the hell out of Goldfield
I'm gone this time
I'm really leaving
The song "Goldfield" by Rocky Votolato tells the story of a person trying to escape their current situation in the rundown and forgotten town of Goldfield. The lyrics paint a picture of a place that is hopeless and where the prospects for a better life are limited. Car 5032 of the Union Pacific passing by is a metaphor for the fleeting hope of escaping the town. The ironic juxtaposition of a train passing through this forgotten town and the hopelessness experienced by the residents creates an atmosphere of despair.
The song touches upon themes of disillusionment, loneliness, and the desire for a better life. The singer feels stuck in their current situation and recognizes that there may be no escape from the fate of living in Goldfield. The decision to leave is final and driven by the need for change. The message in this song is profound and speaks to the human desire for a better life, where there is hope and purpose.
Line by Line Meaning
Car 5032 of the union pacific
The passing train symbolizes the ever-moving, industrial world outside the trailer park.
Is passing by on the right to
The train is passing by on the right side of the trailer park.
Bring back all the hopelessness
The train brings back memories of hopelessness and despair.
Of a trailer park in the old
The trailer park is old and losing its former glory.
Mining town
The town used to be a mining town, but the mine is now closed.
Where the irony's laying thick on the ground
There is a thick sense of irony and injustice in the town's current state.
In the dirty streets of Goldfield
The streets of Goldfield are dirty and impoverished.
If you're searching for silver
If you're searching for riches or a better life.
Or an easier fortune
Or an easier way to make a living.
Finding nothing in the way of love or a
If you can't find love or a better way of living.
Life of living any better than before
A life that is any better than the present state of the town.
You'll know you've arrived
If you feel trapped in Goldfield, then you've arrived in Goldfield.
Car 5032 of the union pacific
The passing train is a recurring symbol.
Is passing by on
The passing train is still in motion.
The right and she's thinking of escaping out to Frisco
The train represents an escape to a better world, like Frisco.
From the trailer park in the old mining town
The trailer park represents a trapped existence.
Where the irony's laying thick on the ground
The town's situation is full of ironies, injustice and failure.
Laying roots down to soak up the poison for generations
Families in Goldfield accept their situation and are rooted in despair.
Finding nothing in
The search for a better life is fruitless.
The way of love or a life of living any better than before
A life that is any better than the present state of the town is not possible.
You'll know you've arrived in Goldfield
If you can feel the despair and hopelessness in the town, you are in Goldfield.
Gotta get the hell out of Goldfield
One must escape this trapped existence and find a better life.
I'm gone this time
The singer is finally leaving Goldfield behind.
I'm really leaving
The artist is determined to leave for good and find a better life.
Lyrics © ROUGH TRADE PUBLISHING, Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd.
Written by: Rocky Votolato
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind