Cooper's sophomore album, "Family Tree: The Roots" was released in October 2011. It is the first of the trilogy record called "The Family Tree" which follows the story of a fictional family from 1800 to 1950. Following "The Roots" will be "The Branches" and "The Relatives" respectively.
In between his first two Radical Face records Ben released two EP's to fill the gap. The first was "Touch The Sky". In the summer of 2011 "The Bastards Volume 1" EP was released. Other volumes will compliment the fore-coming Family Tree trilogy.
Under his 'Radical Face' moniker his music features acoustic guitar, "found-sound" percussion, and many multi-layered tracks. The sound is incredibly unique, not only because of Cooper's originality and raw talent, but also because most of the music has traditionally been recorded in the shed in his backyard.
Website: www.radicalface.com
Ghost Towns
Radical Face Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
'Cause all I own fits on my back
I see the world from rusted trains
And always know I won't be back
'Cause all my life is wrapped up in today
No past or future here
If I find my name's no good
But I miss you
But there's comin' home
There's no comin' home
With a name like mine
I still think of you
But everyone knows
Yeah everyone knows
If you care, let it go
I've seen more places than I can name
And over time they all start to look the same
But it ain't that truth we chase
No, it's the promise of a better place
But all this time, I been chasin' down a lie
And I know it for what it is
But it beats the alternatives
So I'll take the lie
I still miss you
There's no goin' home
There's no goin' home
With a name like mine
I still dream of you
But everyone knows
Yeah everyone knows
If you can, let it go
The song "Ghost Towns" by Radical Face is about a person who prefers a nomadic lifestyle, traveling on rusted trains and carrying everything they own on their back instead of settling down in one place. The singer of the song opts for a life with no attachments to the past or the future, and if their name is no good, they simply leave and head in a different direction. The song's opening line, "I've got no need for open roads,” emphasizes this preference for a life on the move.
The singer admits that they miss someone, but they believe that there is no coming home for them. They feel they cannot go back due to their name, which suggests that they have done something that makes it difficult or impossible to return to their previous life. Despite this, the singer still thinks about the person they left behind, indicated in the lyrics, "But I miss you / But there's no coming home / There's no coming home with a name like mine / I still think of you / But everyone knows / Yeah, everyone knows if you care, let it go."
The singer admits that they have seen a lot of places, but they all start to look the same after a while. They reveal that they have been chasing the promise of a better place, but they eventually realize they have been chasing a lie. Despite this, the singer is still unable to return home, and they continue to dream about the person they left behind.
Overall, the song is about the cost of living a nomadic lifestyle and the difficulty of settling down once it's been abandoned. It's also about the need to let go of the past in order to move forward.
Line by Line Meaning
I've got no need for open roads
I do not require open roads as I do not possess much and can carry everything I own on my back.
'Cause all I own fits on my back
I have very little possessions to carry with me as they all fit on my back.
I see the world from rusted trains
I view the world from the windows of old, rusty trains.
And always know I won't be back
I am constantly aware that I will not return to the places I visit.
'Cause all my life is wrapped up in today
I focus solely on the present moment and do not dwell on the past or future.
No past or future here
There is no time beyond the present moment for me.
If I find my name's no good
If I discover my identity is not respected or welcomed, I disappear quietly.
I just fall out of line
I step back and remove myself from situations if they are not agreeable or aligned with my values.
But I miss you
I long for someone I have left behind on my travels.
But there's comin' home
There is no returning to my place of origin.
There's no comin' home
Returning to where I come from is not possible.
With a name like mine
My identity and reputation make it difficult to settle somewhere permanently.
I still think of you
I frequently reminisce about someone from my past.
But everyone knows
It is well-known among everyone that I cannot return home.
Yeah everyone knows
All who know me are aware of this fact.
If you care, let it go
If someone truly cares for me, they must accept that I cannot return and let me go.
I've seen more places than I can name
I have traveled to uncountable locations over the years.
And over time they all start to look the same
As time passes, most places begin to look no different from one another.
But it ain't that truth we chase
The truth we are seeking is not related to physical locations.
No, it's the promise of a better place
Instead, we are in search of a better future.
But all this time, I been chasin' down a lie
However, I have been pursuing an unattainable goal all along.
And I know it for what it is
I am fully aware of this truth.
But it beats the alternatives
It is still preferable to continue pursuing this goal rather than giving up altogether.
So I'll take the lie
Therefore, I will continue to believe in a better future, despite knowing it may not be possible.
There's no goin' home
Returning to my place of origin is not an option for me.
I still dream of you
Even though I am unable to return home, I still have dreams about someone from my past.
If you can, let it go
If it is possible, the person I dream of should let me go and move on.
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, Peermusic Publishing
Written by: BENJAMIN P COOPER
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@dura2566
I couldn't find the lyrics in the comments so I figured I'd post them here for myself!
I've got no need for open roads
'Cause all I own fits on my back
I see the world from rusted trains
And always know I won't be back
'Cause all my life is wrapped up in today
No past or future here
If I find my name's no good
I just fall out of line
But I miss you
But there's comin' home
There's no comin' home
With a name like mine
I still think of you
But everyone knows
Yeah everyone knows
If you care, let it go
I've seen more places than I can name
And over time they all start to look the same
But it ain't that truth we chase
No, it's the promise of a better place
But all this time, I been chasin' down a lie
And I know it for what it is
But it beats the alternatives
So I'll take the lie
I still miss you
There's no goin' home
There's no goin' home
With a name like mine
I still dream of you
But everyone knows
Yeah everyone knows
If you can, let it go
@jin3851
"Ghost Towns"
I've got no need for open roads
'Cause all I own fits on my back
I see the world from rusted trains
And always know I won't be back
'Cause all my life is wrapped up in today
No past or future here
If I find my name's no good
I just fall out of line
But I miss you
But there's no comin' home
There's no comin' home
With a name like mine
I still think of you
But everyone knows
Yeah everyone knows
If you care then let it go
I've seen more places than I can name
And over time they all start to look the same
But it ain't that truth we chase
No, it's the promise of a better place
But all this time, I've been chasin' down a lie
And I know it for what it is
But it beats the alternatives
So I'll take the lie
I still miss you
There's no goin' home
There's no goin' home
With a name like mine
I still dream of you
But everyone knows
Yeah everyone knows
If you can, let it go
@sikolflow
Miss you my precious son. It's been a hard day, buddy, and this song says it all.
For you, Brooks Christian Greenlee
I cried aloud into the night as I sat before the grave
Seeking holy answers for the son I could not save
Asking the Lord to light the way
Keeping my journey from going astray
I told him of my burdens and the sadness in my heart
I’d never felt so alone or so very far apart
Why did you take my child, Lord? I just can’t understand
No longer can I touch his face or hold his precious hand
I'm angry, God, missing him and drowning in my sorrow
Please help me heal my yesterday and face each new tomorrow
It was then I heard his voice and felt a presence near
How I wanted to hold him as I shed another tear
Dad, I'm safe now and my spirit is flying free
I'm singing in Heaven’s choir, so please don't cry for me
I was chosen by the Father above, and now I'm in His care
When you need me, look inside your heart, I promise to be there
No one can take away our bond with one another
For I will always be your precious child, as you will be my father
So if you can’t find your way, or the road to home seems so very far
Just look to the twinkling night and I will be your guiding star
@borg_cube
Wade Greenlee This moved me so much, I had to look up your sons name on google, and I read some news-reports and obituaries about what happened. This is just soul-crushing, and I'm deeply sorry for your loss.
I have a son myself now, he's about 1.5 years and is just learning to speak, running around like a little tornado around the house picking up and examining everything with the cutest laugh you can imagine. I sometimes have thoughts about what it would do to me if I ever lost him, or if someone took him away from me like what happened to your Brooks. I shove those thoughts away quickly, because I can' handle it.
I've heard some parents whom have lost their kid trying to explain how it is like. Most say their whole existence gets turned upside down, feelings of their soul getting ripped into pieces because its all backwards; parents aren't supposed to outlive their children. It destroys something essential in their being. It's just horrible to listen to.
Even though the wound will probably never heal, I hope you find comfort in your faith. I wish you all the best for the future. You've experienced a parent worst nightmare. No good man deserves such a punishment. My best to you and your family.
Lots of love from a friend in Norway.
@pedrocardoso9554
Thanks "Into the night" to this series for letting me know this magnificent sound 🍀
@dianadebrom6093
Ya .. i see
@alexbullett9151
rip Rik
@wbishop1330
@Alex Bullett "I'm not scared!"
@burakt5532
Same here.
@stephaniebarreiro2304
Yes man ...me too
@Daveyx09
This...is one of the greatest songs that I've accidentally stumbled upon
@samuelj.rivard
same for me lol
@barnarddasilva2912
me too!
@bamblok9803
try banner by lights (acoustic version)