Andrew McMahon in the Wilderness - Ohio (Lyric Video)

I’ve been known to talk about the songs I’ve written. Sometimes I’m asked to and other times I just feel like talking. If I’m being completely honest though, I don’t feel so desperately inclined to speak about “Ohio”. What I can say is that this past thanksgiving, after four years, two records and all the touring that went along with a full career reboot I finally settled down long enough to get some perspective. The thought was I would take some time off, do an acoustic run in the spring and figure out what comes next when i returned. What happened was something altogether different and really kind of beautiful. In the midst of living the closest thing to a normal home life I could imagine for myself, I began to write. Not for anything or anyone. There was no goal, no deadline, no story I was trying to tell. Just the hours in the day when Cecilia was off at school or everyone had gone to bed or whatever, that I felt like sitting in my little back house studio and making noises until they sounded like music. In the middle of it all this song appeared. I hadn’t intended to write it. It’s rare for me to dig so far into my memory, but in this case the call was not one that could go unanswered. Ohio is about my families pilgrimage from a small town in Ohio to the coast of California. I call it a pilgrimage because that’s how it felt. At least that’s how I remember it. I suppose it’s one thing to run away but it’s another be pulled down the road by what feels like the hand of fate. But there I go again, talking about a song.

FOLLOW ANDREW

LYRICS

On a razor’s edge
At the first sign of light
The car was packed
While the house was quiet
And my sister slept
As we started the drive
To California
Where it’s warmer,
Gonna start a new life

Gonna miss Ohio but this time
We’re gonna get it right

Station wagon tires, flying,
Katie’s counting crows through the
Tears in her blue eyes,
State lines and capitals go rushing
By as, I’m trying to find
A station on the radio
Everything’s gonna be better on the west coast.

And the days move fast
On northern plains
And I read the maps,
The prairie grass moved
In the wind like waves.
And we can’t look back
Some men you just can’t save.
We had our reasons, for leaving,
It’s better this way.

I’m gonna miss Ohio but not
Gonna miss rain

Station wagon tires, flying,
Katie’s counting crows through the
Tears in her blue eyes,
State lines and capitals go rushing
By as, I’m trying to find
A station on the radio.
Everything’s gonna be better on the west coast.
Better than the mess that we left back home
In Ohio.
Ohio

Goodbye blue house,
Goodbye red door,
Abandon worlds where we would drink all we can
There’s magnet’s pulling from the ocean floor
I can’t forget,
The way you looked when we were leaving.

Tires, flying,
Katie’s counting crows through the
Tears in her blue eyes,
State lines and capitals go rushing
By as, I’m trying to find
A station on the radio
Everything’s gonna be better on the west coast,
Better than the mess that we left back home
In Ohio
Ohio
Ohio
Ohio
Ohio

[LadyKT]

My name is Katie, from Ohio, and when I found this song it hit me hard because it is perfect for how I felt leaving my home. Thank you.

[mvelotta]

Hello, I just want to say something to you and your band Andrew. Thank you. I am standing outside the hospital room you guys are visiting right now, in Madison, WI. A patient was supposed to go to your concert here tonight, but couldn't make it because he was admitted to the hospital. His sister contacted you, and, well, here you are, in his room right now, with your guys. Singing Ohio. I am floored. I am honestly stunned and appreciative, because while you may not notice it as you leave later, but you have not only impacted the man you came to see today, you have impacted an entire hospital floor, patients and staff alike. We all saw you guys talking outside the patients room before going in, none of us knew who you guys were, with your accordion and guitars.. just family members we thought. But, when the music started, and your voices rose, we could all hear your clearly down the hallway. I have to tell you, I walked by the room several times, and beyond, looking at the patients in the adjoining rooms, and I must tell you they were moved.Rarely have I ever seen such a compassionate act by strangers to other strangers. So, thank you again. You didn't just lift the spirits of one patient today, but you and your band lifted an entire hospital floor's spirits today. May 29th, 2018. Thank you.

[Litarider]

Born and raised in Pennsylvania. I really wanted to go to California when I finished high school. My patents said absolutely not. When I was in my late 30s, my husband’s job sent us to California. I loved our few years there. Then we were sent back to Philadelphia. I am meant to be in California. It’s been 10 years and I still cry over it. This song, the rhythm is just like driving across country.

[lauridsd]

Born, raised, and have lived in Ohio for 49 years. I love how everyone identifies with this song, whether they love Ohio, or have lots of reasons to leave it, or left it and secretly pine for it. I have always felt that Ohio is a pretty good "everywhere." It is home. It is memories, good and bad. It is comfortable and reassuring. It is uncomfortable, and painful sometimes. But it forges who we are, and pushes us to what (and where) we want to be, even if it's right back where we started. I used to joke that Ohio is a great place to live but I wouldn't want to visit here. Now I know it is both a great place to live, and a great place to visit. And still it welcomes you to go elsewhere...see the big cities all within a days drive. Go find the small towns and hills and plains here and everywhere. Ohio will be here. Happy to have you. Happy to have you find whatever makes you sing.

[phoenixstudios]

reminds me of when I moved from Ohio back to Florida, where I was born. I had lived in ohio for five years and made so many good friends and it had become my home. now I've been in Florida for a year now and I realized it was for the best that we moved. I miss it though.

[saram]

Everything Andrew McMahon does is gold. I know this for sure. Something Corporate basically raised me, and gosh, the better part of two decades later I still love his voice as much as the day I first heard “Hurricane.” Please never stop making music!

[magicallymundane]

This song makes me happy and sad. You perfectly describe exactly what my children and I did one summer, except not CA. Him in the front and her in the back, the prairie grass, the state lines and capitals, the mixed feelings, all of it. Where we went wasn't right...so I threw a dart and we ended up in Ohio lol. I found your music (Cecilia and the Satellite) during a random driving trip around the east coast in summer 2020, threw a dart and landed in OH that winter. We've never been happier.

[beccas]

Tears in my eyes and a full full heart for all those who have had to find new roots. I love this

[blackstar]

Thank goodness for radio stations that sneak in sweet gems like these. Dec 2019 and I'm finally just hearing this👍

[garenmcvay]

I"'ve never heard this one but I dig it. I"'ve lived in Ohio all of my life and love everything about it.

[Joe-niwj]

Born and raised on a farm in ohio. I never wanna leave this place. My family and I have lots of memories here. It’s amazing I love it. Ohio is my home.

[justinhamill]

Lived in Ohio the first 13 years of my life. Moved to Texas because my mom got a new job. I’m currently 24 and still miss it every single day. My dad overdosed on drugs 5 years ago and I know he would be alive today if we hadn’t moved away from him. I miss him every single day he was my hero. But everything happens for a reason and I’m here doing my part to make him proud ❤️

[MichaelJonesCarmichaeldude]

Andrew, it’s truly uncanny how you described our move from Ohio to California! This was back in 1973, my eldest sister was of age and so my parents didn’t ask her to come. I vaguely remember a lump in my throat as I didn’t understand at 8 years old. Just had to let you know how many memories it strikes with me. It’s amazing how someone else can so accurately describe someone else’s experience! Truly a great song!❤️❤️❤️❤️

[williammercer]

Thank you for the video.
I love a miss my people back home in Southern Ohio. We moved to the Edisto Beach, SC. which is near Charleston for work. We've since then moved to the upstate of SC. I like it here, it reminds me a little of home when I was a young kid in Ohio.

[hollyvanscyoc]

Love this song!! I live in Niles Ohio right now. My brother is in Seattle. I’m moving there in 3 years! To start a new life!! Amazing song! LOVE IT!!

[bratpollution]

This is exactly my story. Born and raised in Ohio, and I would take vacations to San Diego to surf. The ocean was always calling. Then, when the time was right I was pushed to the west coast. That was 2015. My life since leaving Ohio and living in San Diego has been one adventure after the next. Life is better on the west coast.

[chrism]

Holy SHIT this song hits home. We left Ohio a year ago (after a decade there). My pop passed away JUST before we left (some men ya just can't save). We went to Ohio to escape the mess back home and left for a job opportunity after some very hard times. WOW. This really hit me. It just happen to come across my Pandora - this is the anniversary of our first year in California - exactly (as confirmed by Facebook memories)

[witchmoon]

i went from ohio to texas 3 times in my life to live. im 45 and have adult kids with children...i now feel stuck here and I miss ohio. i mis her so bad. i cried hard thru this song. its a grand song. 💖

[laurenearly]

Such a gem of a song. It captures that sweet moment of memory so well.

[rattlesnake]

Your music has been with me throughout my memories. Thanks for the good feels, and even the slightly too crazy moments in my life!