The 3 major events referenced in the song occurring on April 14th:
1865: The assassination of Abraham Lincoln by John Wilkes Booth.
1912: The sinking of the Titanic after striking an iceberg, resulting in the death of 1,517 people.
1935: "Black Sunday" - The worst dust bowl storm ever, resulting in the residents of the region fleeing for other areas (many went to California).
Also referenced in the song is Casey Jones, who famously saved the lives of many passengers by remaining on his train as it crashed in order to slow it down, thus killing himself. This event (coincidentally most likely) also occurred in April, though on the 30th, not the 14th. The line "God Moves on the Water" actually comes from an old song (its title being the same) by Blind Willie Johnson, which is about the Titanic. I wonder if the bit about the concert in Idaho is self-referential. Possibly.
The 3 major events referenced in the song occurring on April 14th:
1865: The assassination of Abraham Lincoln by John Wilkes Booth.
1912: The sinking of the Titanic after striking an iceberg, resulting in the death of 1,517 people.
1935: "Black Sunday" - The worst dust bowl storm ever, resulting in the residents of the region fleeing for other areas (many went to California).
Also referenced in the song is Casey Jones, who famously saved the lives of many passengers by remaining on his train as it crashed in order to slow it down, thus killing himself. This event (coincidentally most likely) also occurred in April, though on the 30th, not the 14th. The line "God Moves on the Water" actually comes from an old song (its title being the same) by Blind Willie Johnson, which is about the Titanic. I wonder if the bit about the concert in Idaho is self-referential. Possibly.
Anyway, incredible song on an incredible album.