On his website, Craig has said of Holyoke:
My parents are from Western Massachusetts and I still have some family in the area. I go up there fairly regularly; there are a lot of graveyards. I’ve made a lot of friends over the years that are from this region – these people make sense to me.
[Verse 1]
Massachusetts, man you've got a lot more graveyards than we're used to
I swear to God they're every other mile
We were somewhere up by Holyoke
I mostly drove, she mostly smoked
We mostly get the things we want
Rental cars and restaurants
Different from the ones we have at home
[Verse 2]
Woke up last month and couldn't breathe
Now there's meds for my anxiety
I swear to God I thought that I was gone
So this year skip the birthday cake
Open flames, they make me nervous
The service was atrocious
But the atmosphere was decent
And by the time I got to bed
She was already sleeping
Sat spinning in the dark
Trying to guess what she was dreaming
Said, "I'm sorry, but the game went extra innings"
[Verse 3]
Once I start on something
I get obsessed about the ending
Like once we start a show
We watch every single episode
I'm sorry if I scared you
But I thought that I was dying
It's good to get away from the city for a little while
'Cause after the beginning
I rush right towards the ending
Fast forward through the theme song
That thing always always takes so long
I hate it when they end it
Without answering the questions
I'm sorry if I scared you
I thought that I was dying
[Instrumental Break]
[Verse 4]
As we came down in the valley
I was thinking 'bout the pioneers
Blazing trails and cutting clear
All the roads that led us here
I let you take my medicine
'Cause I was hoping you'd be wild
But you just kept on talking
With your sleepy little smile
Going on about the graveyards
Close your eyes after a while
I swear to God, they're every other mile
I swear to God, they're every other mile
Holyoke was written by Craig Finn.
Holyoke was produced by Josh Kaufman.
Craig Finn released Holyoke on Fri Apr 26 2019.