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
Steve Albini's Blues
Songs: Ohia Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
See them brake lights burning feel my motor turnin
On the bridge out of Hammond
See the big city moon
See how it close comes (x2)
Watch my wiper blades pound it like a drum
On the bridge out of Hammond (x2)
Think about what's darkening my life (x2)
It's the light of nowhere else burning to the west
See its sulphery shine (x2)
From the bridge out of Hammond (x2)
See the big city moon (x3)
Between the radio towers
Between the big diesel rigs
In the Midwest's witching hour
I watch the whole town eclipse
From the bridge out of Hammond (x4)
"Steve Albini's Blues" by Songs: Ohia is a hauntingly beautiful song that takes the listener on a reflective journey. The song opens with the singer driving on a bridge out of Hammond, with brake lights burning and the motor turning. As he sees the big city moon and the close proximity of the city, he reflects on the darkness that is present in his life. The wiper blades pounding like a drum symbolize the rhythm of his thoughts. The light of the afterworld shining on the ruins is a fascinating line that suggests that the singer is seeing his own world in ruins, and the only light shining on it is from beyond.
As the song progresses, we see the singer taking in the surroundings of the Midwest's witching hour. He watches the town eclipse under the big city moon, between radio towers and big diesel rigs, suggesting the bleakness of the place. The lyrics of the song perfectly complement the music, which is soft and melancholic, with a hint of blues, creating a mood of nostalgia and reflection.
The song has a sense of despair and reflection, which is characteristic of the genre that the band Songs: Ohia is associated with. The song's haunting lyrics refer to the singer's struggle to come to terms with the darkness in his life. The light of the afterworld and the city's moon symbolize hope for the singer, but he seems to be unable to grasp it.
Line by Line Meaning
On the bridge out of Hammond
I am driving on the bridge out of Hammond
See them brake lights burning feel my motor turnin
I see other cars on the road ahead of me and feel the power of my own engine
See the big city moon
I see the moon shining over the big city in the distance
See how it close comes (x2)
I notice how the city seems to be getting closer as I drive
Watch my wiper blades pound it like a drum
I see the rain pounding against my windshield like a drum
Think about what's darkening my life (x2)
I reflect on the things in my life that are causing me pain or sadness
See the light of the afterworld shining on the ruins
I see a metaphorical light shining on the remnants of something that has ended or died
It's the light of nowhere else burning to the west
This light seems unique and is only visible in this particular direction
See its sulphery shine (x2)
I see the glow of this light, which seems to be a bit hazy or smoky
Between the radio towers
I notice the tall towers that are used for transmitting radio signals
Between the big diesel rigs
I see trucks that run on diesel fuel driving by
In the Midwest's witching hour
I am driving through the Midwest late at night
I watch the whole town eclipse
I see the city slowly disappear from view as I continue on my journey
From the bridge out of Hammond (x4)
I am still driving on the bridge out of Hammond and observing my surroundings
Lyrics © SC PUBLISHING DBA SECRETLY CANADIAN PUB., Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd.
Written by: Jason Molina
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
umut dağ
On the bridge out of Hammond
See them brake lights burning feel my motor turnin
On the bridge out of Hammond
See the big city moon
See how it close comes (x2)
Watch my wiper blades pound it like a drum
On the bridge out of Hammond (x2)
Think about what's darkening my life (x2)
See the light of the afterworld shining on the ruins
It's the light of nowhere else burning to the west
See its sulphery shine (x2)
From the bridge out of Hammond (x2)
See the big city moon (x3)
Between the radio towers
Between the big diesel rigs
In the Midwest's witching hour
I watch the whole town eclipse
From the bridge out of Hammond (x4)
Marek Przybyszewski
found this today by accident, looking for something about Steve Albini. I listen to this for like 5th time in a row, I read this guys wiki page and his bio. I cant remember when music touched me so much in a long time. fuck alcohol, ruined so many lives
Sir Psycho Sexy
Some days there is nothing better than to just lock myself up, pull down the blinds and drift away to all of Jason's fantastic music... Today's one of those days.
umut dağ
On the bridge out of Hammond
See them brake lights burning feel my motor turnin
On the bridge out of Hammond
See the big city moon
See how it close comes (x2)
Watch my wiper blades pound it like a drum
On the bridge out of Hammond (x2)
Think about what's darkening my life (x2)
See the light of the afterworld shining on the ruins
It's the light of nowhere else burning to the west
See its sulphery shine (x2)
From the bridge out of Hammond (x2)
See the big city moon (x3)
Between the radio towers
Between the big diesel rigs
In the Midwest's witching hour
I watch the whole town eclipse
From the bridge out of Hammond (x4)
metalvaq79
Thank you for the music Jason ... May you rest in peace and find comfort
james m
"See the big city moon, watch my whiper-blades pound it like a drum." So good.
Roberto Lopez
I´m so sad....A great musician is gone...but his sweet voice and amazing music will always stay with us
phucket01
great band discovered it when listening to Terry Reid at Pandora
alex&erikvidz
best song on the album
Risbo Turbide
Thank you Jason Molina. RIP
John Pfeifer
Great Song