Rogue Valley is an American americana-rock band from Minneapolis, Minnesota… Read Full Bio ↴Rogue Valley is an American americana-rock band from Minneapolis, Minnesota, led by Chris Koza, with Peter Sieve, Luke Anderson, and Linnea Mohn. Already a prolific songwriter and performer, Koza envisioned a grandiose concept project: write and record four full-length albums, and release each one in consecutive seasons beginning in the spring of 2010. Working with his longtime musical comrades, the Spring album, “Crater Lake,” is being released on April 10th at a unique show at the Fitzgerald Theater in St. Paul, MN. Tentative release dates for the subsequent records are August 2010, November 2010, and Februrary 2011.
The albums tell a story that takes place primarily on the West coast, where the band has spent a lot of time touring in the past few years, and the seasons provide natural transition points in the telling of the tale. Crater Lake was recorded primarily in a tiny cabin in northern Minnesota.

Orion
Rogue Valley Lyrics

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A reckoning for every beast and every bird
A storm in motion gathering the herd
Mirror facing mirror
Sky and water
Eye to eye

Come down, Orion, the hunt is on

The empryean for those fell from the now
Pomegranate seed in the soil buried deep
Shadow facing shadow
Rock and matter
Blind to blind

Come down, Orion, the hunt is on

Overall Meaning

The lyrics to Rogue Valley's song "Orion" are incredibly rich in symbolism and meaning. The song seems to be alluding to ideas of cyclical time, rebirth, and judgment. The first verse speaks of a "reckoning for every beast and every bird," and a "storm in motion gathering the herd." These lines suggest that the natural world is on the brink of a great change or upheaval, and that there will be a day of reckoning for all living things. The image of a mirror facing a mirror suggests a kind of duality or reflection, while "sky and water" and "eye to eye" both imply a sense of interconnectedness.

In the second verse, the song makes a shift to more personal symbolism. The "empyrean" is a reference to the highest heaven, and so the line "for those fell from the now" suggests that some have fallen from grace or have been cast out of heaven. The image of a "pomegranate seed in the soil buried deep" is often connected to ideas of rebirth and renewal. The repeated use of the word "facing" connects the shadow and rock, and suggests that all things have an opposite or a counterpart. The final line "blind to blind" could be interpreted in a number of ways - perhaps it refers to people who are ignorant or unaware of the larger forces that are at work in the world.

Overall, "Orion" is a deeply poetic and evocative song that speaks to larger existential themes. Its metaphorical language is open enough to allow for a range of personal interpretations, but there is a cohesive sense of purpose that ties the verses together.

Line by Line Meaning

A reckoning for every beast and every bird
All creatures will be held accountable for their actions.

A storm in motion gathering the herd
An approaching storm is causing the animals to unite in preparation.

Mirror facing mirror
Two reflective surfaces are positioned directly across from each other.

Sky and water
An open expanse of air and a large body of liquid.

Eye to eye
They are staring directly at each other, without averting their gazes.

Come down, Orion, the hunt is on
Orion is being summoned to begin the hunt.

The empryean for those fell from the now
The highest reaches of heaven are reserved for those who have recently departed.

Pomegranate seed in the soil buried deep
A seed from a pomegranate has been placed underground and covered with dirt.

Shadow facing shadow
Two obscured shapes are positioned directly across from each other.

Rock and matter
A solid object and a substance of unknown composition.

Blind to blind
Neither participant can see the other clearly.