Ortega was born and raised in Albuquerque, New Mexico near the banks of the Rio Grande. He started learning piano at eight years of age. Through his father's work with the United States Department of State, he also spent time in Ecuador and Barbados. It is from his heritage and classical training at The University of New Mexico where Ortega derives his sound, embracing country, classical, Celtic, Latin American, world, modern folk, and rustic hymnody. Fernando Ortega currently leads worship at Christ the King Anglican Church in Albuquerque, New Mexico.
His album Storm reached No. 197 on the Billboard 200 in 2002, and Christmas Songs reached No. 36 on the Billboard Christmas Album Chart in 2009.
On the Line
Fernando Ortega Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Something's always wrong,
He can't remember,
He goes on and on,
On and on.
He gets confused,
Holds his head in his hands,
But he's still a man,
Still a man.
He's alone,
Frail and thin
We listen, but fail him.
Out of time,
We're running out of time,
And old life on the line,
Old life on the line.
He lost most everyone
He ever loved
His mother, His Father,
His only Son,
His only son.
He holds onto things
Stamps and coins,
He holds onto no one
And hides his mail
Like a broken boy.
He believes in no one for too long.
He needs attention, so many demands,
So sentimental, a bitter man
A bitter man.
In Fernando Ortega's song "On the Line," the lyrics describe the struggles of an old man who wakes up every day with worry and fear. The man seems to have trouble remembering things, and he often talks endlessly without making sense. The lyrics describe the worsening state of the man's mental health as he gets older, and how people around him fail to provide the care and attention that he needs.
The lyrics paint a picture of a man who has lost most of the people he loves, including his parents and only son. The man is left alone, and he holds onto material possessions like stamps and coins. He has no one to confide in or share his feelings, and he hides away from the world like a broken boy. The song describes the man's bitterness and unwillingness to trust anyone for too long, which further contributes to his isolation and loneliness.
Overall, "On the Line" is a poignant song that portrays the emotional struggles of aging and the importance of compassion and care for the elderly. The song highlights the need for empathy and support for the older generation, who often suffer from loneliness and neglect.
Line by Line Meaning
He wakes up worried,
Every morning, he wakes up feeling anxious and stressed.
Something's always wrong,
He feels like there's always something bad happening in his life.
He can't remember,
He struggles with memory lapses and forgetfulness.
He goes on and on,
His worries and anxieties continue without relief.
He gets confused,
His thoughts become jumbled and unclear.
Holds his head in his hands,
He physically expresses his emotional distress by holding his head.
Willful and afraid,
He tries to take control of his life while feeling scared and uncertain.
But he's still a man,
Despite his struggles, he retains his identity as a human being.
He's alone,
He lacks meaningful relationships and feels isolated.
Frail and thin
He's physically weak and vulnerable.
We listen, but fail him.
People try to understand him, but they can't truly help or support him.
Out of time,
He feels like time is running out for him to change his life.
We're running out of time,
Others are also running out of time to help him.
And old life on the line,
His past mistakes and regrets are impacting his current life.
He lost most everyone
He experienced the pain of losing the people closest to him.
He ever loved
People that he cared about deeply.
His mother, His Father,
He lost his parents.
His only Son,
He lost his child.
He holds onto things
He tries to find comfort in material possessions.
Stamps and coins,
He collects stamps and coins as a hobby and source of comfort.
He holds onto no one
He doesn't have any strong interpersonal connections.
And hides his mail
He's secretive and guards his personal information.
Like a broken boy.
His emotional struggles have left him feeling vulnerable and childlike.
He believes in no one for too long.
He struggles to trust others and often becomes disillusioned with people he initially trusted.
He needs attention, so many demands,
He craves attention and validation from others, but can be demanding and difficult to please.
So sentimental, a bitter man
He's emotional and sensitive but also harbors resentment and anger towards the world.
Writer(s): JOHN ANDREW SCHREINER, ELAINE RUBENSTEIN, FERNANDO ORTEGA
Contributed by Jake B. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
Janice Bultman Bogott
on Into Your Presence
Is there anywhere I can get the sheet music for piano for this song? I just love it!!