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

Lightning Risked It All
Songs: Ohia Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

Still no guides
It's not a generous world
It is a separate world
The bad luck taste of the dark
The broad luck of blood on the water
I can see it will be red, the choice if it is a choice

It's too hard to tell

It's too hard to tell
It's too hard to tell

Lightning standing drained and like us deeply risked it all

And like us, deeply risked it all

And like us, deeply risked it all
And like us, deeply risked it all

Overall Meaning

The lyrics of Songs: Ohia's song "Lightning Risked It All" can have multiple interpretations, but one possible explanation is that they pertain to the unpredictability and unfairness of the world. The absence of guides suggests that there are no clear directions or rules to follow, and that one must navigate through life relying on their own intuition or luck. However, the world is not benevolent or supportive but rather indifferent and harsh, as symbolized by the bad luck taste of the dark and the broad luck of blood on the water. The line "I can see it will be red, the choice if it is a choice" may refer to the impossible dilemma of choosing between equally unpleasant outcomes or the inevitability of a violent resolution.

Despite the bleak outlook, the chorus repeats the phrase "It's too hard to tell," which could express a sense of uncertainty or resignation, but also suggest that there might be hope or possibility beyond what is immediately visible. The image of lightning standing drained and risking it all suggests that even powerful and unpredictable forces can experience vulnerability and sacrifice. The repetition of the line "And like us, deeply risked it all" could underline the idea that all beings, regardless of their nature or status, share a common fate of facing challenges and uncertainties.

Line by Line Meaning

Still no guides
There is no direction or assistance available

It's not a generous world
The world is not kind or giving

It is a separate world
The world is distinct and disconnected

The bad luck taste of the dark
The unpleasant experience of being surrounded by darkness

The broad luck of blood on the water
The great fortune of catching a lot of fish in bloodied waters

I can see it will be red, the choice if it is a choice
If there is a decision, it will likely result in bloodshed

It's too hard to tell
Uncertainty and ambiguity make it impossible to predict

Lightning standing drained and like us deeply risked it all
Much like ourselves, lightning bravely took a significant risk and now stands exhausted

And like us, deeply risked it all
Echoing the previous line, the repeated phrase emphasizes the shared experience of taking a great risk

And like us, deeply risked it all
Once again, the line restates the fact that both lightning and humans face great risks in life

Lyrics © SC PUBLISHING DBA SECRETLY CANADIAN PUB.
Written by: Jason Molina

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind