Crossing state lines with guitars, looping pedals, and all manner of percus… Read Full Bio ↴Crossing state lines with guitars, looping pedals, and all manner of percussive instrument in tow, Lucas Carpenter is a modern pop troubadour. With a beat heavy and melody rich sound that borrows from his love of folk songcraft, the colorfulness of pop, Nashville storytelling, and hip electronic production values, LC is remixing what it means to be a singer-songwriter.

Born into a tightly knit, small town community in Pennsylvania, he is the son of a funeral director and the much loved black sheep of a large family. A self-proclaimed "Art Kid From the Country", Lucas began his creative journey in musical theater productions, choirs, and garage bands before moving first to Pittsburgh, then to Boston to attend the Berklee College of Music (’06 Songwriting graduate), to Philadelphia for 3 years, then to New York City. Eventually "Music City" beckoned, landing him in Nashville, TN, where he currently resides when not on the road. His songs are colorful sonic tapestries, contrasting the mundane and often comic reality of life in rural America against the cultural diversity and fast pace of the cities he's called home.

Since releasing the “Art Kids From the Country” EP 6 years ago, Lucas has played over 500 shows, sold over 5,000 albums and digital downloads completely independently, plus created “The Pixelated Path” (2008) and "Evolution/Mystery" (2010), his most ambitious work to date. Both EP's, produced with Los Angeles based friend and producer David Bowick, venture into new sonic territory, combining beats generated from samples of office equipment, classic synthesizer sounds, beatboxing, and even a desk chair rolling across the floor, with organic instrumentation that included fretless guitar, Irish tin whistles, nyckelharpa (Swedish keyed fiddle), and toy pianos.

Currently, Lucas is on the road, sharing his high octane, electro-acoustic show with fans across the country. As a songwriter, a storyteller, a producer, and a performer Lucas Carpenter offers a new vision for the modern pop artist.

Around the World
Lucas Carpenter Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

1,2,3,4

13 years old

Staring at a map on the wall

In a social studies class I almost didn't pass

My brain was working overtime

Concocting conclusions in my mind

As I sat back and bided my time

Planning to exit this small town that we grew up in

It wouldn't hold us back again

'Cause the county line couldn't confine dreams we'd never compromise

1,2,3,4

Here we go around the world

1,2,3,4

Here we go around the world

1,2,3,4

Here we go around the world

1,2,3,4

Here we go around the world

23 years old

Staring at a clock on the wall

In an office cube I don't wanna sound rude but

Most people drowned all their dreams in paper trails and coffee

But I understand you know we've all got to eat

So we take the time to cram in a PHD in back up plans

While our first choice never gets a chance

You can't sink or swim unless you jump in,

Don't concern what could've been

1,2,3,4

Here we go around the world

1,2,3,4

Here we go around the world

1,2,3,4

Here we go around the world

1,2,3,4

Here we go around the world

And we go

You're never stuck if you always strain

So I'll settle down

But for now I've got an atlas and I've got a greyhound yeah

1,2,3,4

Here we go around the world

1,2,3,4

Here we go around the world

1,2,3,4

Here we go around the world

1,2,3,4

Here we go yeah

It's a new world

Around the world

Around the world we go we go yeah

We go yeah

We go round the world

Around the world we go

Around the world

Around the world we go

Yeah

13 years old staring at a map on the wall

13 years old staring at a map on the wall

13 years old staring at a map on the wall

13 years old I was

I was 13 years old.

Overall Meaning

The lyrics of Lucas Carpenter's "Around The World" reflect on dreams and the desire for personal growth and adventure. The song's first verse details the singer's teenage years, where they were already pondering their own aspirations in life. Despite failing their social studies class, they spent their time daydreaming and planning their exit from their small hometown, believing that the county line should not limit one's dreams. The following verse depicts the singer as a 23-year-old struggling to balance their own dreams with the reality of needing to earn a living. They observe that many people give up on their passions entirely to focus on their work, settling instead for a life of paper trails and coffee. The chorus, repeated several times throughout the song, signifies the singer's ultimate decision to chase their dreams, emphasizing the idea that life is an adventure, and the world is a vast, exciting place to explore.

Carpenter's lyrics contain a sense of upcoming change and new beginnings, resonating with anyone who may be eager to explore the world. The repetition of "1,2,3,4… Here we go around the world" feels like a countdown to exciting opportunities, and the chorus encourages the listener to hold on to their dreams and be adventurous. The line "You're never stuck if you always strain" embodies the song's entire spirit, emphasizing the importance of pushing oneself to grow and to take risks to achieve one's goals.

Overall, Carpenter's "Around The World" is a hopeful reminder that life is an adventure to be explored fully, and that it is never too late to continue pursuing one's dreams, regardless of age or circumstance.

Line by Line Meaning

13 years old
Lucas Carpenter reflects on being a young teenager and staring at a map on the wall in his social studies class, dreaming of the places he'd go.

Staring at a map on the wall
As a young teenager, Lucas Carpenter became entranced with the idea of exploring new territories after staring at a map on his classroom wall for hours on end.

In a social studies class I almost didn't pass
Despite struggling in social studies class at a young age, Lucas Carpenter found himself intrigued by the idea of travel and exploration that was ignited by looking at a map in class.

My brain was working overtime
Lucas Carpenter's mind was hyperactive as he tried to come up with ideas and plans for his future travels and adventures.

Concocting conclusions in my mind
Lucas Carpenter was piecing together his ideas and formulating his plans for traveling the world as he visualized his journeys in his mind.

As I sat back and bided my time
Lucas Carpenter waited patiently for his opportunity to leave the small town he grew up in to follow his dreams of world travel.

Planning to exit this small town that we grew up in
Lucas Carpenter dreamed of leaving his hometown and breaking free from the confines of the small community he grew up in to explore the world.

It wouldn't hold us back again
Lucas Carpenter was determined to follow his dreams and not let his hometown hold him back or limit his potential for exploring the world.

'Cause the county line couldn't confine dreams we'd never compromise
Lucas Carpenter and his fellow dreamers refused to let boundaries or limits keep them from pursuing their dreams of exploring the world.

Here we go around the world
Lucas Carpenter is excitedly anticipating the start of his journey to explore the world, taking us through a journey of his transformation.

23 years old
As a young adult, Lucas Carpenter reflects on his life while daydreaming at work.

Staring at a clock on the wall
Caught in a daydream at work, Lucas Carpenter can't help but view his monotonous existence as a reminder of all the new things he would like to experience in the world.

In an office cube I don't wanna sound rude but
Lucas Carpenter acknowledges that some people end up in seemingly mundane office jobs, simply to make enough money to survive.

Most people drowned all their dreams in paper trails and coffee
Lucas Carpenter observes that many people give up chasing their dreams in favour of practicality and working a job for substance and stability.

But I understand you know we've all got to eat
Lucas Carpenter understands the reality of life's necessities, acknowledging that we all need to work to survive.

So we take the time to cram in a PHD in back up plans
Lucas Carpenter observes that people often take the time to set up back-up plans in case their first choice of job or dream doesn't work out.

While our first choice never gets a chance
Many people neglect to follow their first choice of career or pursue their dreams due to the practicality of other options, often hindering their ability to grow and fully realise their potential.

You can't sink or swim unless you jump in
Lucas Carpenter stresses the importance of taking chances in life to fully pursue your dreams, asserting that you won't know your true earning potential unless you try.

Don't concern what could've been
Lucas Carpenter encourages people to focus on living in the present moment and making the most of their current circumstances, rather than dwelling on missed opportunities or what-ifs.

You're never stuck if you always strain
Lucas Carpenter is encouraging listeners to push themselves to work towards their goals and to never stop striving for what they truly want in life.

So I'll settle down
Lucas Carpenter has come to terms with the fact that at some point in life, it's necessary to settle down and resign oneself to stability and security.

But for now I've got an atlas and I've got a greyhound yeah
Lucas Carpenter is excited to set off on his adventures, armed with the tools he needs to explore the world - including an atlas and a Greyhound bus ticket.

It's a new world
Closing out his song, Lucas Carpenter affirms that there is always something new to explore and experience in the world.

Around the world we go
Lucas Carpenter is excited to embark upon his adventure to explore the world and all of the different cultures and experiences it has to offer.

Yeah
A simple affirmation of the exciting confidence Carpenter feels at the prospect of exploring the world and chasing his dreams.

Contributed by Emma B. Suggest a correction in the comments below.

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