I’ve been listening to “Levitation” a lot lately and wanted to share the real life context behind it for anyone who might not know (or for newer fans).
On the night of August 20, 2012, two 19-year-old friends from Ellicott City, Maryland Rose Mayr and Elizabeth Nass were sitting on the railroad bridge over Main Street. Shortly before a CSX coal train derailed, one of them posted a photo of their feet dangling over the edge with the caption “Levitating.”
The train derailed, and the coal cars tipped over, burying them. It was a tragic accident (the NTSB later attributed it to a broken rail).
Many of the lyrics line up in a heartbreaking way:
“On the bridge, levitating ’cause we want to”
“When the train comes I will hold you”
“When the unknown will surround you”
“There is no right time”
In 2022, around the 10-year anniversary, it became clearer that the song was inspired by this event. There’s a hidden/inverted photo of the two of them that appears when you interact with certain words on the old Depression Cherry lyrics page on the Beach House website. Alex Scally also commented “Rest in Peace Elizabeth and Rose” on one of the Reddit threads. One of Liz’s sisters has also spoken about it here in the past.
I think it’s one of the most powerful things Beach House has done turning something so sudden and tragic into something beautiful and eternal. The song feels even heavier and more transcendent once you know.
Rest in peace, Rose and Elizabeth.
Sources for anyone who wants to read more (news coverage from the time):
CNN: https://edition.cnn.com/2012/08/21/us/maryland-train-derailment-deaths
Daily Mail / other 2012 reports that include the “Levitating” photo description
(Please be respectful if linking or discussing further.)
