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
Soul
Songs: Ohia Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
You're bound for glory
And how long did you know
That you'd make it there before me
And what is it like
Is it worth this misfortune
What is it like on the other side
These 20 years I've loved one thing only
I love what I know about passion
I love what I know about mercy
I love what I know about patience
I love what I know about soul
And I know you
And I know you
And I know you
I tell all my friends
That I'm bound for heaven
And if I ain't so
You can't blame me for living
I know what it's like
And it's worth this misfortune
I know what it's like on the other side
These 20 years I've loved one thing only
I love what I know about passion
I love what I know about mercy
I love what I know about patience
I love what I know about soul
And I know you
And I know you
And I know you
The lyrics of the song "Soul" by Songs: Ohia seem to be about the pursuit of a better life, or even what's beyond, and the emotions that come with it. The song seems to be addressed to someone who is seen as more accomplished, perhaps someone who has "made it" in some way or another. The singer sounds impressed and curious at the same time, asking about what life is like on the other side, and whether it's worth all the trouble. This could refer to the afterlife, or simply to the end of a difficult journey that has culminated in some sort of success.
At the same time, the singer reflects on their own life, and seems to be in a position of uncertainty, hoping that they too are "bound for heaven", but acknowledging that they might not be. However, they don't seem to mind too much, because they have lived a life guided by their love for certain things, like passion, mercy, patience, and soul. This suggests that what really matters to the singer is the journey itself, rather than the destination, and that they find meaning in striving towards something they believe in, rather than in achieving it.
In the end, the repeated refrain of "And I know you" seems to suggest that no matter where life takes us, no matter how different our paths might be, we are all bound by similar feelings and experiences, and that we are all in this together.
Line by Line Meaning
I tell all your friends that
You're bound for glory
I am spreading the word to others that you are destined for success and greatness.
And how long did you know
That you'd make it there before me
I wonder how long you've had the knowledge and confidence that you would reach your goals before I would.
And what is it like
Is it worth this misfortune
What is it like on the other side
I am curious about what it's like to have achieved your dreams and wonder if it was worth enduring the struggles and misfortunes along the way. I want to know what it's like on the other side of success.
These 20 years I've loved one thing only
I have devoted two decades of my life to loving and pursuing one thing above all else.
I love what I know about passion
I love what I know about mercy
I love what I know about patience
I love what I know about soul
I derive immense joy and fulfillment from my knowledge and experience of passion, mercy, patience, and soul.
And I know you
And I know you
And I know you
I have a deep and intimate understanding of who you are as a person.
I tell all my friends
That I'm bound for heaven
And if I ain't so
You can't blame me for living
I am informing others that I am confident that I am destined for eternal happiness in heaven, and even if I am wrong, I don't regret living and pursuing that belief.
I know what it's like
And it's worth this misfortune
I know what it's like on the other side
I have firsthand experience of the struggles and sacrifices required to achieve my goals, but I believe it was all worth it, as I have tasted the rewards that await on the other side.
These 20 years I've loved one thing only
For the past two decades, I have been focused on and dedicated to loving and pursuing one thing above all else.
I love what I know about passion
I love what I know about mercy
I love what I know about patience
I love what I know about soul
Just as before, I still gain immense joy and fulfillment from my knowledge and experience of passion, mercy, patience, and soul.
And I know you
And I know you
And I know you
Once again, I want to emphasize that I deeply and intimately understand who you are as a person.
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA/AMCOS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@skollbus
LYRICS:
I tell all your friends that you're bound for glory
And how long did you know that you'd make it there before me
And what is it like? Is it worth this misfortune?
What is it like on the other side?
These 20 years, I've loved one thing only
I love what I know about passion
I love what I know about mercy
I love what I know about patience
I love what I know about soul
And I know you, and I know you, and I know you
I tell all my friends that I'm bound for heaven
And if it ain't so, you can't blame me for living
I know what it's like, and it's worth this misfortune
I know what it's like on the other side
These 20 years, I've loved one thing only
I love what I know about passion
I love what I know about mercy
I love what I know about patience
I love what I know about soul
And I know you, and I know you, and I know you
@mr.typhon7997
jason molina was an angel before he even left us
@letmegoletmego
He's 100% ok - it's the rest of us I worry about.
@randit
i just watched pixar's new movie "soul" and immediately had the urge to listen to this song. RIP jason, miss ya.
@rorysellers8821
Angel if you're out there this song is what reminds me of you
@intherein
This is a super collection. I love what I know about Jason.
@Flickstro
Much props to Death in Vegas to introducing me to this incredible song!
@PavementIztRad
Been a fan of Molina since I was on a trip to San Fran and an employee at Amoeba had recommended the then new 'Magnolia Electric Co' album. All these years and yet it took me until today to to discover this single. I'm really upset that I did discover it because I can't stop listening to it and it just gives oh so many feels and it makes me mourn again over Jason's demons taking him away.
@truefunksoul8638
Jason played ukelele on this recording. Guitar was by Todd Jacops, bass Mike McCartney, percussion Todd Renschler.
@letmegoletmego
Faultless
@plemgrubern
just the first lines are almost enough to bring me to tears