Open Ground
Neal Casal Lyrics


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To work like the devil for your pay
Was the old song that he used to sing
Before the waking hours
Rolled out across the open ground

Now I see him through the window
At a table drinking his coffee
And talking about the days
Before the time that we knew
Would not return to this old town

He's waiting for somebody else to save his day
Or at least to see some light before it fades away
Yeah, yeah

To choose no companion
It fell right in line
With all the others she had known
Had laid by his side
Before the sleepless morning
Showed its face without a sound
Without a sound

Now where did the time go all these years
After the pictures had been burned
And the names have all been cleared
From all that she remembers it adds up in time
To not a thing, no not a thing

She's waiting for somebody else to save her day
Or at least to see his face before he goes away
Before he goes away
Before he goes away
Before he goes away
She just wants to see his face before he goes away
Before he goes away
Before he goes away
Oh, before he goes away




Before he goes away
Before he goes away

Overall Meaning

The lyrics to Neal Casal's song Open Ground are focused on two different characters who are both waiting for someone else to save them. The first character is someone who used to work hard for their pay and sing old songs about that hard work. However, now all they do is sit in a cafe and drink coffee, talking about the days before everything changed. This person is disillusioned and not able to take action to improve their situation. The second character is someone who has been alone for a long time and has had many failed relationships. They are waiting for someone to come along and make their life better, but they also seem resigned to their fate.


Both of these characters are waiting for someone else to take action for them, and both seem to be trapped in their own patterns of behavior. The lyrics suggest that they are both stuck and unable to change their lives. The imagery of the "open ground" suggests a sense of possibility, but the characters in the song don't seem to be able to make use of it.


Overall, Open Ground is a song about feeling helpless and trapped. The characters are waiting for someone else to make their lives better, but ultimately they will have to take action themselves if they want to break out of their cycles of disappointment and frustration.


Line by Line Meaning

To work like the devil for your pay
The old song he sang about working hard for money.


Before the waking hours
Referring to the early morning hours before sunrise.


Rolled out across the open ground
Referring to the open and vast spaces of the countryside.


Now I see him through the window
Talking about observing an old acquaintance through a window.


At a table drinking his coffee
Describing what the old acquaintance is doing.


And talking about the days
Talking about the days of the past.


Before the time that we knew
Referring to a time in the past that they now understand differently.


Would not return to this old town
Not expecting to return to their hometown anytime soon.


He's waiting for somebody else to save his day
Waiting for someone else to help him overcome his struggles.


Or at least to see some light before it fades away
Hoping to see some hope before it's too late.


To choose no companion
Choosing not to have a companion.


It fell right in line
Matching with the other choices they had made in their life.


With all the others she had known
Talking about the other people she had known who made similar choices.


Had laid by his side
Referring to the people who had been close to the old acquaintance.


Before the sleepless morning
Referring to a restless night without sleep.


Showed its face without a sound
Describing how the morning arrived without any noise or warning.


Now where did the time go all these years
Asking where all the time went over the years.


After the pictures had been burned
After the old memorabilia had been destroyed.


And the names have all been cleared
Talking about how the names of people have been forgotten with time.


From all that she remembers it adds up in time
Not remembering anything significant from the past.


To not a thing, no not a thing
Referring to how nothing from the past was significant or memorable.


She's waiting for somebody else to save her day
Like the old acquaintance, she's waiting for someone else to help her overcome her struggles.


Or at least to see his face before he goes away
Hoping to see someone's face before they leave or pass away.




Contributed by Taylor D. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
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