Like much of the album Smile itself, the song “Cabinessence” tells a story of American history. In this case it is about expanding to the west, particularly by means of the transcontinental railroad in the mid nineteenth century. The word cabin would be referring to the cabin cars of a freight train, traveling west during this time of change for the country.
Grain (wheat and corn) is mentioned throughout the song. And when the words “I want to watch you windblown facing,” you might think of the windy city. During the mid nineteenth century, Chicago became one of the largest grain ports in the world.
When Mike Love sings the words “Have you seen the grand coolie workin' on the railroad,” play on words are apparent. The Grand Coulee is a riverbed in Washington State. The dam was particularly significant during the production of “Cabinessence,” because beginning in 1966, it was expanded, making it one of the largest hydroelectric facilities in the world. While a coulee is a gorge, coolie was a derogatory term used for Asian immigrants in America during the mid nineteenth century, who worked on the railroads.
Like much of the album Smile itself, the song “Cabinessence” tells a story of American history. In this case it is about expanding to the west, particularly by means of the transcontinental railroad in the mid nineteenth century. The word cabin would be referring to the cabin cars of a freight train, traveling west during this time of change for the country.
Grain (wheat and corn) is mentioned throughout the song. And when the words “I want to watch you windblown facing,” you might think of the windy city. During the mid nineteenth century, Chicago became one of the largest grain ports in the world.
When Mike Love sings the words “Have you seen the grand coolie workin' on the railroad,” play on words are apparent. The Grand Coulee is a riverbed in Washington State. The dam was particularly significant during the production of “Cabinessence,” because beginning in 1966, it was expanded, making it one of the largest hydroelectric facilities in the world. While a coulee is a gorge, coolie was a derogatory term used for Asian immigrants in America during the mid nineteenth century, who worked on the railroads.