Mandolin Orange’s music radiates a mysterious warmth —their songs feel like whispered secrets, one hand cupped to your ear. The North Carolina duo have built a steady and growing fanbase with this kind of intimacy, and on Tides of A Teardrop, due out February 1, it is more potent than ever. By all accounts, it is the duo’s fullest, richest, and most personal effort. You can hear the air between them—the taut space of shared understanding, as palpable as a magnetic field, that makes their music sound like two halves of an endlessly completing thought. Singer-songwriter Andrew Marlin and multi-instrumentalist Emily Frantz have honed this lamp glow intimacy for years.
In the last three years, the group has toured throughout the U.S and Europe, including appearances at Austin City Limits, South by Southwest, Edmonton Folk Music Festival, Telluride Bluegrass Festival, Newport Folk Festival, Pickathon, Hardly Strictly Bluegrass, Rooster Walk, and MerleFest and the Omagh Bluegrass Festival. Mandolin Orange was the featured artist on CBS This Morning's Saturday Morning Sessions on December 7, 2019.
They signed to Yep Roc Records in 2013 and have produced four albums under their umbrella, This Side Of Jordan, Such Jubilee, Blindfaller and Tides of a Teardrop.
Hey Stranger
Mandolin Orange Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
There's danger down the line
You'll find heartache and trouble
And all your good time
Rowdy ways
I'll tell you no lie
There's no burden greater in life
As soon as you pick yourself up just to say
Who'll all turn away
Don't go living with trouble in mind
There's no burden greater in life
Hey stranger
If ever you decide
Giving in to the bottom will ease your weary mind
And heavy heart
You'll see in time
There's no burden greater in life
As soon as you pick yourself up just to go
Home to your loved ones
You'll find a locked door
Don't go making mistakes like mine
There's no burden greater in life
Don't go living with trouble in mind
There's no burden greater in life
The lyrics to Mandolin Orange's song Hey Stranger consists of a warning and a piece of advice that is directed towards someone who's on a path to self-destruction. The song begins with "Hey Stranger, there's danger down the line, You'll find heartache and trouble, and all your good time" where the singer warns the stranger that they're about to go down a path of destruction that will ultimately lead to negative consequences such as heartache and trouble. The chorus continues with "Rowdy ways, I'll tell you no lie, there's no burden greater in life" where the singer emphasizes that living a wild and careless life may provide temporary pleasures, but ultimately it will cost the person more than they're willing to bear. The singer goes on to advise the stranger not to give up and to keep pushing forward, but also to recognize the importance of family and home. The second verse concludes with "Don't go making mistakes like mine, there's no burden greater in life" which reflects the regrets and pain experienced by the singer in the past and how they don't want the stranger to make the same mistakes.
Overall, Hey Stranger is a song that warns against the dangers of living a reckless life and emphasizes the importance of having a home and loved ones. The lyrics are filled with wisdom and experience and provide a strong message to the listener to be mindful of their actions and the impact it may have on their own life.
Line by Line Meaning
Hey stranger
The singer is addressing someone unfamiliar.
There's danger down the line
The singer warns of impending danger.
You'll find heartache and trouble
The danger will result in emotional pain and difficulty.
And all your good time
The difficulty will overshadow all previous good times.
Rowdy ways
The source of the danger is associated with disorderly behavior.
I'll tell you no lie
The warning is truthful and honest.
There's no burden greater in life
The pain and difficulty referenced are among the most challenging aspects of life.
As soon as you pick yourself up just to say
When trying to remain positive and keep going, it often feels like no one is there for you.
Hey to your loved ones
Addressing loved ones who are not there, perhaps due to relationship or personal issues.
Who'll all turn away
Loved ones may not always be supportive, and may even be the cause of some of the difficulties faced.
Don't go living with trouble in mind
It is important to not let difficulties consume thoughts and actions.
Hey stranger
Another address to the same unfamiliar person.
If ever you decide
In case this person makes a specific choice.
Giving in to the bottom will ease your weary mind
Succumbing to negative impulses may provide temporary comfort from difficulties.
And heavy heart
The emotional pain makes life feel heavy and difficult to bear.
You'll see in time
The consequences of this choice will become clear over time.
As soon as you pick yourself up just to go
The same experience as before; feeling like no one is there for you when you try to remain positive.
Home to your loved ones
Returning to the same loved ones previously addressed.
You'll find a locked door
Love and support may not always be available, even from those closest to you.
Don't go making mistakes like mine
The artist has faced similar difficulties and is warning against making the same mistakes.
There's no burden greater in life
Re-emphasis on the difficulties being one of life's most challenging burdens.
Don't go living with trouble in mind
Final warning to not let difficulties consume thoughts and actions.
Writer(s): Andrew Marlin
Contributed by Addison J. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
@heyu1313
Lyrics:
Hey stranger
There's danger down the line
You'll find heartache and trouble
And all your good time
Rowdy ways
I'll tell you no lie
There's no burden greater in life
As soon as you pick yourself up just to say
Hey to your loved ones
Who'll all turn away
Don't go living with trouble in mind
There's no burden greater in life
Hey stranger
If ever you decide
Giving in to the bottom will ease your weary mind
And heavy heart
You'll see in time
There's no burden greater in life
As soon as you pick yourself up just to go
Home to your loved ones
You'll find a locked door
Don't go making mistakes like mine
There's no burden greater in life
Don't go living with trouble in mind
There's no burden greater in life
@folkablemusic5251
Seriously?! I cannot get enough of Mandolin Orange. Just Beautiful
@sharonringshauser1179
I am in total agreement with you. My daughter introduced me to this duo and well now I can't say enough good. 💖
@sunny2shoes
I bought a cottage here in Ireland that needed a lot of work.. I listened to these amazing musicians all through..JUST Wow!
@NotDecided420
Anybody know what movie this song was in?
In fact they had about 3 of their songs in the movie, that's how I found them, but I now I can't find the movie. 🤣
@user-lg4zm5nj8t
Right. Amazing...
@TightwadTodd
@@NotDecided420 I believe it was called Cold Brook.
@jls.628
Heard this song as the ending credits of the movie, “Cold Brook” ended. Just keep playing it over and over. Something about it…❤
@jeanneharrington7534
I was in hospital for a month from a heart attack and I was going thru YT when I found mandolin orange. I am a forever fan.
@jonahnesmith7004
That's beautiful
@Pawnfirst007
sounds a hell of a lot better than anything on the radio why aren't these guys at the top of the charts?