A performance by The Milk Carton Kids is a quiet and intricate affair. The duo have enjoyed intently listening audiences across the country and abroad in their respective solo careers, but an even greater sense of urgency and demand of attention is palpable now that they've come together as The Milk Carton Kids. Their songs are written together, but you won't know there is more than one author. Their history together spans only one short year, but you won't know that either. They stand close together when they play, facing each other and using microphones instead of plugging their guitars in. And if they looked more alike, they'd fool you that they were brothers.
Their songs disguise the youth of the members of the band. Befittingly, so do the old guitars they play and old clothing they wear. But to be sure, The Milk Carton Kids have something new to present: harmonies & minimalist instrumentation which are a clear reference to times passed, but with an eye intently on the future; a perspective on coming-of-age in the eye of a present-day storm; and the chronicling of an American struggle for simplicity, at least musically. To present it they use two guitars and two voices, they labor over the arrangements, they record themselves live, and they release their music on their own label, and for free.
As solo artists they have 10 releases between them. As a band their career is off to an auspicious start. Starting from a highly regarded position among their peers, they've opened for the art-piano-pop critical darling Vienna Teng, Grammy nominated friend and fan Sara Bareilles, and now will take to the entire U.S. and Canada this summer supporting one of the consummate songwriters of their generation, Joe Purdy. Despite the decision to stick to acoustic guitars in their own show, both Ryan and Pattengale are multi-instrumentalists and will also comprise Purdy's backing band, joining him on bass, pedal steel guitar, piano, and harmonies.
Their first collaborative release, RETROSPECT, is a live album due out March 15th, 2011, that represents the culmination of the past year of live performance. A collection of songs from each of their solo careers, written separately but reinterpreted and performed as the duo now called The Milk Carton Kids, RETROSPECT will be released under the name "Kenneth Pattengale & Joey Ryan".
The first official release of The Milk Carton Kids, entitled PROLOGUE, comprised of original songs written by the duo for this project. It was released in 2011 on their own Milk Carton Records.
I Meant Every Word I Said
The Milk Carton Kids Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Maybe you were right
I'm so tired
Turn around and close the door
I don't want to hurt you anymore
I don't love you any less
It's just the way it is
If I could take it back
I'd do it all again
I meant every word I said
I don't wanna lie anymore
Don't want to waste your time
I'm so tired
I can still remember saying
Like it was yesterday
When I first heard your name
That I'd never love again
I think it's for the best
If you were wondering
I meant every word I said
Take it as a sign
Take it on the chin
Cut me off like a stranger just walked in
Cast me aside
Keep your head up, eyes front
Don't look back again
I don't want to fight anymore
Don't want to say goodbye
I'm so tired
The Milk Carton Kids' song "I Meant Every Word I Said" is an emotional ballad about the end of a relationship. The song starts with the singer expressing their exhaustion of fighting and admits that maybe their partner was right. The singer reveals that even though they're tired, they still think it's for the best if they go their separate ways. The lyrics continue by saying that they never want to lie to their partner and that they never want to hurt them anymore. The singer expresses that even though their love may have faded, it doesn't mean that they love their partner any less. The chorus reveals that the singer meant every word they said, especially when they realized they'd never love again, and it feels like it was yesterday.
The second verse builds upon the theme of honesty and truthfulness as the singer reveals that they don't want to waste their partner's time. They share that they can still remember the moment they promised that they'd never love again. The honesty the singer displays is quite relatable as it can be hard to move forward in life when you're unable to say how you truly feel about a situation. The song ends with the singer telling their partner to take it as a sign to move on, to not look back, and to keep their eyes front.
Line by Line Meaning
I don't want to fight anymore
I no longer want to argue or create any conflict between us.
Maybe you were right
It's possible that you were correct in our disagreement.
I'm so tired
I'm exhausted from all the fighting and negativity between us.
Turn around and close the door
Please leave and shut the door on your way out.
I don't want to hurt you anymore
I don't want to be the cause of any further pain or discomfort for you.
I don't love you any less
My love for you has not diminished in any way.
It's just the way it is
The way things are is beyond our control and cannot be changed.
If I could take it back
If it were possible, I would undo what has been done.
I'd do it all again
I would repeat everything I've done in our relationship up until this point.
I meant every word I said
Everything I said to you was sincere and genuine.
I don't wanna lie anymore
I don't want to be dishonest or insincere with you anymore.
Don't want to waste your time
I don't want to be the reason you waste your valuable time and energy.
I can still remember saying
I can recall the specific moment when I said...
Like it was yesterday
It feels like it just happened yesterday, it's still vivid in my memory.
When I first heard your name
The very first time I heard your name or was introduced to you...
That I'd never love again
I confidently declared that I would never be capable of loving another person.
I think it's for the best
I believe that we parting ways is ultimately the best decision for both of us.
If you were wondering
In case you were unsure or curious...
Take it as a sign
Consider this to be a clear message or indication.
Take it on the chin
Deal with the situation with determination and resilience.
Cut me off like a stranger just walked in
Treat me as if I'm a complete stranger who just entered the room.
Cast me aside
Dismiss me or discard me without hesitation.
Keep your head up, eyes front
Stay focused and alert, don't allow yourself to become distracted or lose sight of your goals.
Don't look back again
Do not dwell on the past or look back at what has already been left behind.
Don't want to say goodbye
I don't want to part ways or bid farewell just yet.
I'm so tired
Once again, I'm extremely weary and fatigued from all of this.
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management
Written by: Kenneth Pattengale, Joey Ryan
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind