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.
All that love all those mistakes
What else can a poor man make?
But I gave up a life of crime
I gave it to a friend of mine
Something else was on my mind
The only ghost I'm haunted by
I hear her howling down below
Idaho, Idaho
Wolves oh wolves oh can't you see?
Ain't no wolf can sing like me
And if it could then I suppose
That he belongs in Idaho
Packs of dogs and cigarettes
For those who ain't done packing yet
My clothes are packed and I want to go
Idaho, Idaho
Well, out at sea for seven years
I got your letter in Tangier
I thought that I'd been on a boat
'Til that single word you wrote
That single word it landlocked me
Turned the masts to cedar trees
And the wind to gravel roads
Idaho, Idaho
What else can a poor man make?
But I gave up a life of crime
I gave it to a friend of mine
Something else was on my mind
The only ghost I'm haunted by
I hear her howling down below
Idaho, Idaho
Wolves oh wolves oh can't you see?
Ain't no wolf can sing like me
And if it could then I suppose
That he belongs in Idaho
Packs of dogs and cigarettes
For those who ain't done packing yet
My clothes are packed and I want to go
Idaho, Idaho
Well, out at sea for seven years
I got your letter in Tangier
I thought that I'd been on a boat
'Til that single word you wrote
That single word it landlocked me
Turned the masts to cedar trees
And the wind to gravel roads
Idaho, Idaho
Lyrics submitted by EffulgentEnnui, edited by bucketsofrain, kv0the, wmax351
Add your thoughts
Log in now to tell us what you think this song means.
Don’t have an account? Create an account with SongMeanings to post comments, submit lyrics, and more. It’s super easy, we promise!
More Featured Meanings
Standing On The Edge Of Summer
Thursday
Thursday
When We Were Young
Blink-182
Blink-182
This is a sequel to 2001's "Reckless Abandon", and features the band looking back on their clumsy youth fondly.
Punchline
Ed Sheeran
Ed Sheeran
Ed Sheeran sings about missing his former partner and learning important life lessons in the process on “Punchline.” This track tells a story of battling to get rid of emotions for a former lover, whom he now realized might not have loved him the same way. He’s now caught between accepting that fact and learning life lessons from it and going back to beg her for another chance.
Head > Heels
Ed Sheeran
Ed Sheeran
“Head > Heels” is a track that aims to capture what it feels like to experience romance that exceeds expectations. Ed Sheeran dedicates his album outro to a lover who has blessed him with a unique experience that he seeks to describe through the song’s nuanced lyrics.
American Town
Ed Sheeran
Ed Sheeran
Ed Sheeran shares a short story of reconnecting with an old flame on “American Town.” The track is about a holiday Ed Sheeran spends with his countrywoman who resides in America. The two are back together after a long period apart, and get around to enjoying a bunch of fun activities while rekindling the flames of their romance.
This is the wrong song. The actual lyrics are as follows:
All that love all those mistakes What else can a poor man make? But I gave up a life of crime I gave it to a friend of mine Something else was on my mind The only ghost I'm haunted by I hear her howling down below Idaho, Idaho
Wolves oh wolves oh can't you see? Ain't no wolf can sing like me And if it could then I suppose That he belongs in Idaho Packs of dogs and cigarettes For those who ain't done packing yet My clothes are packed and I want to go Idaho, Idaho
Well, out at sea for seven years I got your letter in Tangier I thought that I'd been on a boat 'Til that single word you wrote That single word it landlocked me Turned the masts to cedar trees And the wind to gravel roads Idaho, Idaho
I will comment. I love the simplicity in the music of this song. It makes the lyrics stand out and give it even more meaning that they have as a stand-alone poem.
I love it. I'm from Idaho. When you hear this song you just have to stop and listen. Its really powerful, especially because it describes Idaho so well. I definately agree with what gabbyownsme said.
I love it. I'm from Idaho. When you hear this song you just have to stop and listen. Its really powerful, especially because it describes Idaho so well. I definately agree with what gabbyownsme said.
This song means one of either two things: (i) he left the girl he loves in Idaho and still misses her and her memory; or (ii) he has been away from Idaho for too long and longs to go back to the beauty and simplicity of Idaho.
he leaves the girl he loves, then gets a single word from her (in tangiers) and it reminds him of all he left behind in idaho (replace the masts with cedar trees, winds with gravel roads)
the gorgeous imagery of the lyrics made me stop and listen to the rest of this song, and I'm glad I did because it's stunning
I love the imagery. especially the masts to cedar trees, etc. Beautifullllll. and the soft music. Very powerful and emotional song.
This song is a reference back to Wilco/Billy Bragg's adaptation of Woody Gurthrie's "Way Over Yonder In The Minor Key": "ain't nobody can sing like me."
Being from Idaho, this song is rather poignant. Just like Josh Ritter, I had to leave Idaho to make my way in the world, and this will always be a ghost I'm haunted by- as I'll never be able to live there again due to my career choice.