I believe that this song is primarily about the trials and tribulations of the miners who lived through and died in the Granite Mine Disaster. I have for worked for the Montana bureau of mines and geology under Butte and in several other underground hardrock mines; so if I may be so bold, I'll clarify some of the lyrics.
"Rox in the box" is the act of mining. We refer to the ore bin as the box. Also, it is very wet under Butte.
In mining, a bulkhead is an airtight seal to direct the air for ventilation. During the Granite Mine Disaster in Butte Montana, many miners sealed themselves into drifts to survive the fires gases by building bulkheads and waiting for rescue. These men waited, in some cases, 5 days together in the dark, "we endure our fellow man." Many men were caught on the wrong side of these bulkheads and died from smoke inhalation "on the wrong side of the lee."
During a mine fire, the biggest danger is CO gas, which can leave you stumbling ("get your shuffling back in line") and unconscious in seconds. Death follows quickly ("And if you ever make it to ten you won’t make it again.")
If anyone has any points of contention, please voice them.
@bdmangan Thanks a lot for this analysis. The Decemberists are so specific in their references and vocabulary. While this is the very thing I love about them, oftentimes I have to consult the internet to understand their music. As I'm not someone who knows anything about mining, there's no chance I'd have been able to intuit the song meaning on my own. Thanks for sharing your expertise!
@bdmangan Thanks a lot for this analysis. The Decemberists are so specific in their references and vocabulary. While this is the very thing I love about them, oftentimes I have to consult the internet to understand their music. As I'm not someone who knows anything about mining, there's no chance I'd have been able to intuit the song meaning on my own. Thanks for sharing your expertise!
I believe that this song is primarily about the trials and tribulations of the miners who lived through and died in the Granite Mine Disaster. I have for worked for the Montana bureau of mines and geology under Butte and in several other underground hardrock mines; so if I may be so bold, I'll clarify some of the lyrics.
"Rox in the box" is the act of mining. We refer to the ore bin as the box. Also, it is very wet under Butte.
In mining, a bulkhead is an airtight seal to direct the air for ventilation. During the Granite Mine Disaster in Butte Montana, many miners sealed themselves into drifts to survive the fires gases by building bulkheads and waiting for rescue. These men waited, in some cases, 5 days together in the dark, "we endure our fellow man." Many men were caught on the wrong side of these bulkheads and died from smoke inhalation "on the wrong side of the lee."
During a mine fire, the biggest danger is CO gas, which can leave you stumbling ("get your shuffling back in line") and unconscious in seconds. Death follows quickly ("And if you ever make it to ten you won’t make it again.")
If anyone has any points of contention, please voice them.
@bdmangan Thanks a lot for this analysis. The Decemberists are so specific in their references and vocabulary. While this is the very thing I love about them, oftentimes I have to consult the internet to understand their music. As I'm not someone who knows anything about mining, there's no chance I'd have been able to intuit the song meaning on my own. Thanks for sharing your expertise!
@bdmangan Thanks a lot for this analysis. The Decemberists are so specific in their references and vocabulary. While this is the very thing I love about them, oftentimes I have to consult the internet to understand their music. As I'm not someone who knows anything about mining, there's no chance I'd have been able to intuit the song meaning on my own. Thanks for sharing your expertise!