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Ohio Lyrics
Out from my window across from the city
I have what's considered a good view
Two blocks from the subway, three from the fountain
Where I walk to break in new shoes
She stands on the sidewalk just waving at taxis
Like horses in parades in passing
I ask where she's headed she tells me,
"Ohio, I've not seen my mother in ages
It's been a long time, a real long time."
Out from my window "How far is Ohio?"
She laughed and pointed out east
She said, "I grew up there with my dear mother
And I haven't seen her since thirteen.
You see, I was taken while she lay sleeping
By my father's hired man
We moved to city so far from my family
I haven't been back there since.
It's been a long time, a real long time."
Out from my window please hear me Ohio
Your daughter wants to come home
She longs to be with you to hug you to kiss you
To never leave her alone
And I've gotten know her to live with to love her
It's hard to see her leave
She belongs to her mother and the state of Ohio
I wish she belonged to me
See you sometime, see you sometime
An absolutely wonderful song. Sentimental, beautiful, longing, melancholic, sad, but still happy. Wonderful.
I grew up in the Cincinnati, Ohio area and moved to Chicago when I was in my 20s. I found I had to move back home to Ohio to help with some family issues at the same time I first heard this song. At that point, Jurado was already my very favorite, but it's things like this that cement my love of his music/lyrics.
i don't know why but every time i hear this song i just want to wrap myself in a big soft blanket and cry. it's so very powerful, the sadness in his voice and the lyrics, it's such a genuine heart-breaking song
I wrote Damien Jurado about this song once, expressing my adoration for it. He informed me that it is 100% fiction, inspired by a girl he knows in Ohio, but not about her.
As for it's meaning, seems pretty straightforward, a song about homesickness and longing. The girl longs for her home, and the singer longs for her. In a story of simple images it conveys a plaintive sadness of distance.
@elbeano Made an account just to reply to you. Thank you
@elbeano Made an account just to reply to you. Thank you
@elbeano Made an account just to reply to you. Thank you
@elbeano Made an account just to reply to you. Thank you
i think this is jurado's most beautiful, sad song. my favorite. close second is abilene.
I've only heard the CocoRosie cover in a believer magazine compilation, pretty good from what I've heard. Gorgeous lyrics.
sais- I completely agree- I'm from Ohio as well and have heard no song that even compares.
this song makes me love my state in a way i didn't think was possible
being from the buckeye state, this song naturally pulls on my heart-strings by default. recently, it especially hits home. i have a twin sister that moved to england a few years ago and whenever i hear it, it reminds me of how much she struggled during the first year she was there and how much she really does "belong to her mother and the state of ohio". it conveys so much emotion and incredible longing.
the version of this on the "daytrotter sessons" is just absolutely haunting.
i think i started my day to this song for three months straight, love love it. cocorosie's wasnt so bad, just gave a little hint of their sweet trademark freak:)