On and On
10000 Maniacs Lyrics
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Just to see the eyes of my future children
Looking back at me
Back through the foggy window
On and on
Miles pass years turn over
On and on
There from that rolled down window
There in the greenery somewhere
I keep this picture
On and on
Miles pass years turn over
On and on
For all the roads we've travelled
And all the bridges burned
I was thinking out loud the ways of the world
That all seem so constant
How few of the lessons we really have learned.
Out through the foggy window frozen in frame
Capturing passing pictures life's lastrefrain,
Memories ashes scatter
On and on
Miles pass years turn over
On and on.
The lyrics of "On and On" by 10000 Maniacs reflect on the passage of time and the fleetingness of memories. The first verse focuses on the singer's contemplation of their future children through a foggy window, which adds a sense of distance and unreality to the image. The repetition of "on and on" throughout the song emphasizes the endless cycle of life and the way time passes without ever really stopping.
The second verse shifts to a more concrete image, with ponies running free and being protected within the greenery. This image serves as a contrast to the abstractness of the previous verse, and highlights the contrast between the unpredictable natural world and the constant forward march of time.
The final verse returns to a more contemplative mood, as the singer reflects on the lessons of life and the ephemeral nature of memories. The lyric "life's last refrain" suggests that, like a song coming to an end, memories are fleeting and will eventually disappear. Throughout the song, the powerful imagery and repetition of "on and on" work together to convey a poignant sense of the passage of time and the inevitability of change.
Line by Line Meaning
Out through the foggy window there
Looking out of a foggy window over there
Just to see the eyes of my future children
Just to catch a glimpse of my future children's eyes
Looking back at me
Staring back at me
Back through the foggy window
Looking back through the same foggy window
On and on
Continuously moving forward in time
Miles pass years turn over
Time passes by quickly
There from that rolled down window
From the window that was rolled down earlier
Ponies run free cradled protectively
Ponies run around free while being protected and cared for
There in the greenery somewhere
Somewhere amongst the greenery
I keep this picture
I hold onto this mental image
For all the roads we've travelled
For all the paths we've taken
And all the bridges burned
And all the connections we've cut off
I was thinking out loud the ways of the world
I was vocalizing my thoughts on how the world works
That all seem so constant
That all seem to persist over time
How few of the lessons we really have learned.
We've learned very few of life's lessons
Out through the foggy window frozen in frame
Frozen in time in a picture through the foggy window
Capturing passing pictures life's last refrain,
Capturing fleeting memories that serve as life's final reminder
Memories ashes scatter
Memories fade away over time
On and on
Continuously moving forward in time
Miles pass years turn over
Time passes by quickly
Contributed by Arianna N. Suggest a correction in the comments below.