In regards to the meaning of this song:
Before a live performance on the EP Five Stories Falling, Geoff states “It’s about the last time I went to visit my grandmother in Columbus, and I saw that she was dying and it was the last time I was going to see her. It is about realizing how young you are, but how quickly you can go.”
That’s the thing about Geoff and his sublime poetry, you think it’s about one thing, but really it’s about something entirely different. But the lyrics are still universal and omnipresent, ubiquitous, even. So relatable. That’s one thing I love about this band. I also love their live performances, raw energy and Geoff’s beautiful, imperfectly perfect vocals. His voice soothes my aching soul.
I'll keep pulling on the towpath.
You keep floating on the river.
Yeah, until the day is done.
Keep on keeping on the low road,
Chesapeake and Ohio.
Because on the higher ground you will find
Elephant Riders to the northwest bring news from father.
Looking like it's always closing,
The Salty Dog is always open.
Here, I got an I.O.U.
Clickity clack clack, clickity clack clack,
Baltimore and Ohio,
Clickity clack clack, clickity clack clack,
Roll on, roll on.
On our way to Washington where work is done by men with gavels,
I heard a sound that just about Removed me from my filly's saddle.
Just outside of Antietam, where once there was a mighty battle,
I heard the rhythm of the hammers Beating the rail lines together.
Elephant Riders to the northwest bring news from father.
Don't be eating all the hard tack.
Between we two there's half a small sack.
Still, we got miles to.
Giddy up pony, Giddy up pony,
Camptown Race is five miles long.
Giddy up pony, Giddy up pony,
Ride on, ride on.
On our way to Washington where work is done by men with gavels,
I heard a sound that just about removed me from my filly's saddle.
Just outside of Antietam, where once there was a mighty battle,
I heard the rhythm of the hammers beating the rail lines together.
Elephant Riders to the northwest bring news from father.
Elephant Riders to the northwest bring news of battle.
You keep floating on the river.
Yeah, until the day is done.
Keep on keeping on the low road,
Chesapeake and Ohio.
Because on the higher ground you will find
Elephant Riders to the northwest bring news from father.
Looking like it's always closing,
The Salty Dog is always open.
Here, I got an I.O.U.
Clickity clack clack, clickity clack clack,
Baltimore and Ohio,
Clickity clack clack, clickity clack clack,
Roll on, roll on.
On our way to Washington where work is done by men with gavels,
I heard a sound that just about Removed me from my filly's saddle.
Just outside of Antietam, where once there was a mighty battle,
I heard the rhythm of the hammers Beating the rail lines together.
Elephant Riders to the northwest bring news from father.
Don't be eating all the hard tack.
Between we two there's half a small sack.
Still, we got miles to.
Giddy up pony, Giddy up pony,
Camptown Race is five miles long.
Giddy up pony, Giddy up pony,
Ride on, ride on.
On our way to Washington where work is done by men with gavels,
I heard a sound that just about removed me from my filly's saddle.
Just outside of Antietam, where once there was a mighty battle,
I heard the rhythm of the hammers beating the rail lines together.
Elephant Riders to the northwest bring news from father.
Elephant Riders to the northwest bring news of battle.
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I just made hard tack candy, I didn't eat it all.