Frontier Ruckus is an American folk-rock band from Michigan. The project is… Read Full Bio ↴Frontier Ruckus is an American folk-rock band from Michigan. The project is centered on the lyrically intensive songs of Matthew Milia, and was formed by Milia and banjo player David Winston Jones while living in Metro Detroit. The band released its debut full-length record, The Orion Songbook, through Quite Scientific Records in November, 2008. In February, 2009, it was announced that Frontier Ruckus had joined North Carolina-based label Ramseur Records.

Adirondack Amish Holler
Frontier Ruckus Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

So I am the eyes
That my father cried out
In our swamp sunk with doubt
In the darkyards of North Country aging uncles
Caught in the summer horrid
Endless and fluttered torrid
But all of my ditches
Were buzzing green as I grew taller

Fam'ly don't know that
I've seen the road end
Far past the bridges where
Salt thaws out to the river
There on the roadside
Passing by I spied
Billboards that relied on
Only I to deliver
The dusk to the years
And old mirrors, in here

Now those windows still bring back memories
Supermarket rusting through the trees
Hearts drawn on invisibilities, like these
Aching Spring please bring a ring
For the powder songs these orchards sing
And that shall string the one thing I have left

In Adirondacka, you are the fire escape alley gleaming
I've shed your red valleys dreaming
Of Springtown streets and pinksky sheets
Adirondacka, harmonicas were blowing through the fairgrounds, darlin'
Life blows their scary sounds on us
But that is why the spirits fly in Adirondacka

So my twitchin' girl
When I kissed you our dock had been broken
And every word spoken
Were desp'rate desire seeds
Sown in your raging hair
Blown to your face so fair
But I died five lifetimes
Before I breathed just what I needed

No place is safe no more
'Cept sometimes in my door-
I have something that no one else ever touches
Oh Adirondacka, dust bowl harmonicas
Blew through poor houses
And all sorts of awkward crutches

The city hall poplars soon perfumed of death
The kitchen yellows soon paled every breath
The afternoon lethargy makes our home cleft, and left
Open wide as barns divide the supper swamp and gentle pride
From every side as sunset is upset

In America, the mayor comes
And walks among the Greenpark benches
Dreams are just like endless trenches
It quenches me halfheartedly
Adirondacka, I am the water you are pumping
The town-end glades are up and jumping
The narrow road, my past implodes in episodes that I've forgotten

We love our families
We love our twilight trees
We love our memories
Salt pours out to the river

There on the swamp edge
Skies north of the mountains
My eyes pulse like fountains
And salt pours out to the river

Kiss you in eye-gulps
As my piney heart yelps
In no other manner

Could salt pour out to the river
At dinnertime

Overall Meaning

The lyrics of "Adirondack Amish Holler" by Frontier Ruckus is a layered and evocative portrayal of the memories and experiences of the singer in his hometown of Adirondacka. The song starts with the singer's realization that he is the outlet for his father's pain and uncertainty in their swampy hometown. He describes the aging uncles and the endless summer that engulfs his town. The singer contrasts this with his growth and the buzz of life in his surroundings, providing a glimmer of hope in an otherwise difficult environment.

The singer then talks about his travels outside of Adirondacka, a fact he has not shared with his family. He speaks about the bridges and the salted river that he's crossed, and the billboards that he's seen. These experiences are inside him, and he shares them with no one else. He claims that his journeys have given him a unique perspective and a deeper understanding of life.

The song then delves into his memories of Adirondacka. He remembers the supermarkets rusting through the trees, and the hearts drawn on invisibilities. He speaks about the powder songs the orchards sing, and the aching Spring that brings a ring. The singer then describes Adirondacka as a place where the spirits fly, where the harmonicas blow, and where his dreams play out.

In summary, the lyrics of "Adirondack Amish Holler" are a complex and nostalgic portrayal of the singer's experiences, memories, and emotions about his hometown.

Line by Line Meaning

So I am the eyes
I am the one observing and taking everything in

That my father cried out
Those who came before me have experienced pain and uncertainty which has impacted my own existence

In our swamp sunk with doubt
I come from a place of uncertainty and confusion

In the darkyards of North Country aging uncles
I come from a place where many of the older generation are struggling and feeling lost

Caught in the summer horrid
Trapped in a state of discomfort and heat

Endless and fluttered torrid
The heat and discomfort continue on without end

But all of my ditches
Despite everything, I have found growth and life

Were buzzing green as I grew taller
As I grew and changed, my surroundings remained vibrant and beautiful

Fam'ly don't know that
My family is unaware of something important to me

I've seen the road end
I have experienced a sense of finality and closure in a situation

Far past the bridges where
Beyond the point of no return, where options are limited

Salt thaws out to the river
The harshness of reality is finally revealed

There on the roadside
In a place where most people pass through without thought

Passing by I spied
I noticed something important that others may have missed

Billboards that relied on
Advertisements that depended on my attention

Only I to deliver
I was the only one capable of providing what was needed

The dusk to the years
The passage of time, catching up to us all

And old mirrors, in here
Looking back at our past selves, seeing memories and changes over time

Now those windows still bring back memories
My memories are still potent and impactful

Supermarket rusting through the trees
The modern world deteriorating and being overtaken by nature

Hearts drawn on invisibilities, like these
Emotions and connections that are intangible and difficult to explain

Aching Spring please bring a ring
The longing for change and new beginnings

For the powder songs these orchards sing
For the beauty and potential waiting to be realized

And that shall string the one thing I have left
The hope for something better, the one thing that keeps me going

In Adirondacka, you are the fire escape alley gleaming
You are the light, the hope, in a place of darkness and uncertainty

I've shed your red valleys dreaming
I've experienced a sense of longing for a place that brings me comfort

Of Springtown streets and pinksky sheets
Of a time and place of peace and tranquility

Adirondacka, harmonicas were blowing through the fairgrounds, darlin'
In the midst of chaos and confusion, moments of beauty and clarity can still be found

Life blows their scary sounds on us
Life can be overwhelming and the fear can be palpable

But that is why the spirits fly in Adirondacka
That is why there is hope and resilience in the face of adversity

So my twitchin' girl
Referring to a significant other who is anxious or nervous

When I kissed you our dock had been broken
In a moment of vulnerability, action was taken

And every word spoken
And every exchange shared

Were desp'rate desire seeds
Were the beginning of a deep longing and need

Sown in your raging hair
Shared with someone who is spirited and bold

Blown to your face so fair
Shared with someone who is beautiful and deserving of love

But I died five lifetimes
I have experienced death and rebirth, and have been changed by it

Before I breathed just what I needed
It took a long time for me to realize what I truly value and need in life

No place is safe no more
The world feels more dangerous and uncertain than ever

'Cept sometimes in my door-
Except for the brief moments of safety I feel at home

I have something that no one else ever touches
The things I hold most dear are unique to me and cannot be taken or altered by anyone else

Oh Adirondacka, dust bowl harmonicas
Even in the midst of hard times, there is a beauty to be found

Blew through poor houses
A shared experience of struggle and hardship

And all sorts of awkward crutches
The ways in which we cope and survive, even if imperfect or unconventional

The city hall poplars soon perfumed of death
Even in the midst of life, death looms and reminds us of our mortality

The kitchen yellows soon paled every breath
The mundanity and routine of life can eventually drain us of our passion and vitality

The afternoon lethargy makes our home cleft, and left
Even in our safe and comfortable spaces, we can experience a sense of loss and separation

Open wide as barns divide the supper swamp and gentle pride
The wide expanse and division of nature and humanity

From every side as sunset is upset
As we approach the end of the day, we are confronted with our own mortality and the passage of time

In America, the mayor comes
Referring to the leader of the community or country

And walks among the Greenpark benches
Even those in positions of power must be in touch with the everyday people they serve

Dreams are just like endless trenches
Our dreams can sometimes feel impossible and unattainable, like a trap we can't escape

It quenches me halfheartedly
Something that brings temporary relief or satisfaction, but is not truly fulfilling

Adirondacka, I am the water you are pumping
I am the source of life and vitality for my loved ones, even in a tumultuous world

The town-end glades are up and jumping
Even in a small and seemingly insignificant place, there is life and energy to be found

The narrow road, my past implodes in episodes that I've forgotten
The narrow path I've taken in life has led me to a place where I've forgotten important parts of my past

We love our families
The unconditional love and support of those closest to us

We love our twilight trees
The beauty and serenity of nature as the day draws to a close

We love our memories
The moments we cherish and keep close to our hearts

Salt pours out to the river
Our emotions and experiences are eventually washed away and lost in the passage of time and life

There on the swamp edge
At the border between the known and unknown

Skies north of the mountains
The wide expanse and mystery of the natural world

My eyes pulse like fountains
The energy and vitality I feel in the face of the unknown

And salt pours out to the river
My emotions and experiences, intensified by the uncertainty and fear of the unknown

Kiss you in eye-gulps
An intense and meaningful kiss

As my piney heart yelps
As my heart fills with emotion and longing

In no other manner
In no other way can I express the depth of my feelings

Could salt pour out to the river
My raw and intense emotions can only be released in this moment