Songs: Ohia was largely a solo project for singer-songwriter Jason Molina (… Read Full Bio ↴Songs: Ohia was largely a solo project for singer-songwriter Jason Molina (December 30, 1973 – March 16, 2013). Critics and fans alike have found considerable difficulty in trying to define the band's sound, usually settling on more general labels such as indie rock and folk-rock. Most are quick to draw comparisons to Neil Young and Will Oldham, (the latter of which Molina has collaborated with, alongside Alasdair Roberts, as the Amalgamated Sons of Rest). Molina died aged 39 on March 16, 2013, in Indianapolis as a result of alcohol abuse-related organ failure. Henry Owings, a friend of the musician, published an article on his online music magazine Chunklet that said Molina had struggled with alcoholism for most of the decade leading up to his death.

Molina was born in Lorain, Ohio and attended Oberlin College. After playing bass guitar in various heavy metal bands in and around Cleveland, Ohio, Molina made the decision to become a solo artist, recruiting other musicians as needed. He made several home recordings under various names, including Songs: Albian, Songs: Radix, and Songs: Unitas, which he distributed himself at live performances. Molina's first release under the Songs: Ohia moniker came in 1996 as a single on Palace Records, Nor Cease Thou Never Now. This was followed by the 1997 full-length album Songs: Ohia (known among fans as the Black Album), released on the Bloomington, Indiana-based label Secretly Canadian, the label on which Molina has remained since. Though the band is still virtually unknown in the mainstream, 2002's Didn't It Rain garnered widespread critical acclaim with the indie community throughout the United States, and is arguably the group's most popular album. He also released Axxess and Ace and The Ghost both in 1999. 2000 saw the release of the "passionate" album The Lioness and the very sparse Ghost Tropic.

The release of Magnolia Electric Co. in 2003 marked a shift in direction for Songs: Ohia. Several major differences set this album apart from previous Songs: Ohia releases. Firstly, the album, recorded with renowned producer/engineer Steve Albini, is the most upbeat and straightforward rock album in the Songs: Ohia catalogue. Every song was recorded live in the studio with a full band. The album's sound draws heavily from the Southern rock and folk-rock of the 1960s and 70s, as well as, to some degree, Molina's heavy metal roots (British metal pioneers Black Sabbath are often cited as one of Jason Molina's biggest influences). For the first time, Magnolia Electric Co. sees Molina relinquishing vocal duties on two of the eight tracks; Lawrence Peters lends his voice to "The Old Black Hen", while fellow Secretly Canadian artist Scout Niblett takes over on "Peoria Lunch Box Blues" (both songs were written by Molina).

From 2003 on Molina buried the moniker Songs: Ohia, to go on under the name Magnolia Electric Co. which he used he for his full band records up until his death. Jason Molina died March 16th 2013 of natural causes at age 39.
http://www.last.fm/music/Magnolia+Electric+Co./+wiki

Blue Chicago Moon
Songs: Ohia Lyrics

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Out of the ruins
Blood grown heavy from his past
His wings stripped by thunder
But those storms keep coming back
Singing birds in sickness
Sing the same blues songs
When they fell out of the emptiness
They must have brought along

Space's loneliness
Space's loneliness
Gotten so good at hiding it
Even he does not admit it
That glittering flash in his eyes
Makes it look like he might be alright
If the blues are you hunter
Then you will come face to face
With that darkness and desolation
And the endless depression
But you are not helpless
And you are not helpless
Try to beat it
Try to beat it
And live through space's loneliness
And live through space's loneliness
You are not helpless

You are not helpless
I'll help you to try to beat it

Overall Meaning

The song "Blue Chicago Moon" by Songs: Ohia is a poignant, soulful exploration of pain, loss, and loneliness. The lyrics are imbued with a sense of sadness and longing, as the singer struggles to come to terms with the weight of his past and the challenges of his present. The opening lines, "Out of the ruins, blood grown heavy from his past, his wings stripped by thunder," set the tone for the rest of the song. The singer is depicted as a fallen angel, someone who has been brought low by the storms of life.

The imagery in the song is striking and evocative. The singing birds mentioned in the second verse are a powerful symbol of hope and resilience, even in the face of suffering. The phrase "space's loneliness" is repeated several times throughout the song, highlighting the sense of isolation that the singer feels. Yet even as he struggles with these intense emotions, there is a glimmer of hope in the final verses. The repeated refrain of "you are not helpless" is a powerful reminder that even in our darkest moments, we can find the strength to keep going.

Overall, "Blue Chicago Moon" is a deeply moving and introspective song that speaks to the universality of pain and suffering, and the human capacity for resilience and hope.

Line by Line Meaning

Out of the ruins
Starting off from the wreckage of his past

Blood grown heavy from his past
His memories weigh on him like a burden

His wings stripped by thunder
The forces of life have left him powerless and vulnerable

But those storms keep coming back
Despite his efforts, troubles continue to plague him

Singing birds in sickness
Even when feeling unwell, birds continue to sing their sorrowful songs

Sing the same blues songs
The songs of grief and heartache are timeless and universal

When they fell out of the emptiness
When they were born into this world of nothingness

They must have brought along
They carried with them

Space's loneliness
The infinite void and sense of isolation that surrounds us

Gotten so good at hiding it
He has become skilled at concealing his pain

Even he does not admit it
He is not even honest with himself about his struggles