The band's lineup has changed frequently during its career, with founding members Miller and Prystowsky being the only constants. Former members include Dan Lefkowitz (guitar) (2006–2007), Mat Davidson (bass) (2009–2011), Jocie Adams (vocals, organ, clairinet) (2007–2013), Mike Irwin (guitar, bass, trumpet) (2011–2013) and Tyler Osborne (guitar, bass). Adams, the longest serving member other than Miller and Prystowsky, amicably left the group in 2013 to focus on her other band Arc Iris.
Ben Knox Miller and Jeffrey Prystowsky met while DJing an overnight jazz show on a Brown University radio station, WBRU. They became friends and teammates for a local wood-bat baseball team called the Providence Grays. Miller and Prystowsky played in various ensembles together ranging from classical and jazz to electronica, and the Low Anthem was formed in 2006. In the fall of 2006, Dan Lefkowitz, a bluesman from Strasburg, Virginia, joined the band and contributed to its evolving brand of songwriting with his song “This God Damn House." Early in 2007, Lefkowitz left the band to pursue simple living in a yurt in Arkansas. The band became a trio again in late 2007 with the addition of classical composer and clarinetist Jocie Adams, a fellow student and former NASA employee, who joined the band after a late-night recording session for the band's album What The Crow Brings. She appears on vocals and clarinet on the album's closing track, "Coal Mountain Lullaby."
What the Crow Brings was recorded in Miller’s and Prystowsky’s apartments over several months and was then self-released on October 2, 2007. The band took on every aspect of manufacturing the album including dumpster diving for empty cereal boxes to fold into album sleeves to creating the silkscreens for the album art, to hand painting and serial-numbering 600 copies of the album.
The Low Anthem recorded and self-released its second album, Oh, My God, Charlie Darwin on September 2, 2008. The band traveled to Block Island in the middle of winter and spent ten days recording the tracks that would become the album, with engineer and co-producer Jesse Lauter. After the album was completed, the band returned to the island to handpaint and silkscreen the first 2000 copies of the album The band did a release tour booked by booking agent Jeff "The Scarecrow" Jones.
While touring, the Low Anthem first gained some recognition in the UK when Rough Trade Shops decided to make it an Album of the Month. End of the Road Festival then booked the band and released a 7” single of "Charlie Darwin" coinciding with the celebration of Darwin Day.
The band signed record deals with both Nonesuch Records and the UK label Bella Union and both rereleased Oh, My God, Charlie Darwin after Bob Ludwig re-mastered the disc. There was new artwork and the track order was resequenced.
In the summer of 2009, the band played US festivals Bonnaroo, Lollapalloza, the Newport Folk Festival, and Austin City Limits. In addition to headlining shows throughout Europe, The Low Anthem also played Glastonbury, Hyde Park Calling, Wireless, and End of the Road Festivals in the UK. Matt Davidson became a member of the band shortly before the band's Autumn 2009 tour.
In November, The Low Anthem released its debut music video for Charlie Darwin, a claymation work by Glenn Taunton and Simon Taffe. On November 20, 2009, The Low Anthem made its television debut on Later... with Jools Holland.
The beginning of 2010 saw the band's first US television appearance on The Late Show with David Letterman, where it performed "Charlie Darwin", and a short tour in Europe, including its biggest headlining show at Shepherds Bush Empire. The band returned to the US to support The Avett Brothers and then completed its first headline tour of the USA.
From December 2009 until February 2010, the band recorded its fourth album, Smart Flesh, in the abandoned Porino’s pasta sauce factory in Central Falls, RI. The album was engineered by Jesse Lauter and mixed by Mike Mogis of Bright Eyes. The album was released February 22, 2011. The band released "Ghost Woman Blues", the first song on the record as a free download in December on its Web site. The band appeared again on The Late Show with David Letterman on January 12, 2011, performing "Ghost Woman Blues."
In July 2011, Matt Davidson played his final show with The Low Anthem. He has been replaced by Mike Irwin. Multi-instrumentalist Tyler Osbourne joined the band in December 2011.
On December 20, 2011, the band released an album for free under the alter-ego Snake Wagon, entitled "Have Fun With Snake Wagon". The album was recorded during the same sessions as Smart Flesh. The band has also recorded a soundtrack album for the upcoming film "Arcadia" for release in 2012.
To Ohio
The Low Anthem Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I left Louisiana on the rail line, oo oo
I was trying to get to Ohio
Trying to get to Ohio
Lost my love before her time, oo oo
Lost my love before her time, oo oo
On the way to Ohio On the way to Ohio
Now every new love is just a shadow, oo oo
Every new love is just a shadow, oo oo
'Cause once you've known love you don't know how to find love, oo oo
Yeah once you've found love you don't know how to find new love
All the way to Ohio All the way to Ohio
Heard her voice come through the pines in Ohio
I heard her voice singing in the pines in Ohio
She sang bless your soul you crossed that line to Ohio
Bless your soul you crossed that line oo oo
All the way to Ohio
All the way to Ohio
The Low Anthem's "To Ohio" is a mournful ballad that portrays the physical and emotional landscape of the singer. The lyrics describe a journey undertaken by someone who has experienced loss and is struggling to find their way. The singer left Louisiana on a rail line, hoping to find solace in Ohio. But as the song progresses, it becomes apparent that the journey reflects the singer's emotional state, where they are lost, heartbroken, and struggling to move on. The singer has lost their love before her time, and every new love feels like a shadow. They have known love intimately, but once it's lost, they don't know how to find new love.
The singer discovers a glimmer of hope when they hear their love's voice singing in the pines in Ohio. The lyrics are rich and evocative, drawing on the listener's emotions and engaging them in the singer's journey. The ballad has a haunting melody that captures the sadness and longing that the singer feels. The exquisite vocal harmonies of Ben Knox Miller and Jeff Prystowsky beautifully complement the lyrics, as they convey the heartbreak and mournful desperation of the singer seeking love and solace in Ohio.
Line by Line Meaning
I left Louisiana on the rail line, oo oo
I departed Louisiana by train in pursuit of a new life in Ohio.
Lost my love before her time, oo oo
I tragically lost my beloved before her life was fully lived.
On the way to Ohio On the way to Ohio
During my journey to Ohio, I lost my love and felt lost myself.
Now every new love is just a shadow, oo oo
All new love interests seem to lack depth and meaning after experiencing the depth of love I once had.
Every new love is just a shadow, oo oo
All new love interests seem to lack depth and meaning after experiencing the depth of love I once had.
Once you've known love you don't know how to find love, oo oo
Once you've experienced a profound love, it becomes difficult to find new love that compares.
Yeah once you've found love you don't know how to find new love
After finding a deep love, the idea of finding something as meaningful becomes seemingly impossible.
All the way to Ohio All the way to Ohio
Throughout my entire journey to Ohio, the memories of my lost love continue to weigh heavy.
I heard her voice singing in the pines in Ohio
I distinctively heard my beloved's voice singing among the trees of Ohio.
She sang bless your soul you crossed that line to Ohio
My beloved sang a message saying she is proud of me for the journey and progress I have made in coming to Ohio.
Bless your soul you crossed that line oo oo
My beloved sends her blessings upon me for successfully completing my journey to Ohio.
All the way to Ohio All the way to Ohio
Even after arriving in Ohio, the memories of my lost love continue to follow me wherever I go.
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management
Written by: BENJAMIN KNOX MILLER, JEFFREY CARL PRYSTOWSKY, JOCELYN JAGER ADAMS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
J E M
MCMXIV
Tender is the Night
And all her forgotten beauty
So soon passing out of sight
On this evening in August
When the serpent and the saviour sit
Side-by-side
Somewhere in England
No truths hidden
No disguise..
Such wide-open rosy faces,
Gnarled hands shading their eyes,
No, no this is no time for trusting your eyes.
Flowers and animals follow
The usual path of the sun
Images coagulate,
Mirror big brother sun
On this shining Ἀρκαδία of August 1914.
.
Sweet air filling the slim breezes
With forgotten summer scents,
O! The billowing of the trees,
This beautiful canopy of the living green,
Clouds are sent
To warn us.
Seen and half-created,
Future phantoms drift by my blue eyes.
Tender, filigree fragility
Human fragments arise.
I climb the vertiginous cliff path,
Which connects now and then,.
O! The brightest of the silver stars are seen
On the blackest
Of nights, again.
Keith O'Connell
Forgot about these guys for years. Feel ashamed. So so damn good.
Chris dee
Keith, you've forgot again, come back pal!🤣
HattyMarris
These guys are amazing. Oh My God, Charlie Darwin is one of the best pieces of music i have ever bought. I'm not sure about in America but they don't get anywhere near the amount of praise they deserve in the UK
thestrum71
QAmen to that...
Dave Pursh
This is just a really great band.
russellyb
Just got back from their gig at the Tabernacle in London. Blown away. This band is stunning live, go see them. Now!!
Esoteric Highway
I’ve always loved this song...
elfyoung
this song is sooo beautiful. Really love the richness of the harmonies :)
Ascetic Blur
This is the greatest live band I've ever seen.
russellyb
Totally agree, I haven't stopped listening since hearing it on the radio yesterday. Such a great sound, reminds me of Surfjan Stevens.