The band was formed in the late 1980s by songwriting brothers Dave Panting (guitar and mandolin) and Geoff Panting (keyboards and accordion) and Ian McKinnon (highland pipes and tin whistle). Since then, Rawlins Cross has been at the vanguard of the fusion of Celtic traditional music with the rhythms of rock, pop and worldbeat music. Equally at ease with a soulful Highland Air (MacPherson's Lament) or a raucous party song (Colleen, Wild Rose, Reel 'n' Roll), Rawlins Cross never fails to electrify its faithful fans. Rawlins Cross is always a “fan favorite” on the North American and European music festival circuit consistently earning return engagements.
The band burst onto the East Coast recording scene in late '89 with its first indie recording, A Turn of the Wheel and a video for the single Colleen. Just weeks after its release, Colleen scored a top ten radio slot on Toronto's influential CFNY station and Rawlins Cross was on its way.
In 1992, the band released Crossing The Border, which further developed the ground-breaking fusion of highland bagpipes, mandolin and accordion with a rocking rhythm section. A year later the band recorded Reel 'n' Roll, which would prove to be its best-selling commercial success and launch a national radio hit with the title track. With the solid rhythm section of Halifax bassist Brian Bourne and Ontario-based drummer Howie Southwood, Rawlins Cross enlisted PEI singer Joey Kitson to complete its signature sound.
Already one of the top concert draws in the region, and with a growing fanbase across Canada and in Europe, Rawlins Cross released Living River in 1996, which garnered two Juno Award nominations. The band toured Canada three times that year and signed a licencing deal for its music in Europe.
Rawlins Cross performed live on the nationally-televised East Coast Music Awards before an audience of two million viewers. The band expanded its international audience by headlining the 9th Annual St. Patrick's Day Celebration Festival in Germany and also representing Canada at the Expo Cumbre de las Americas in Santiago, Chile.
Two more albums followed: Celtic Instrumentals in 1997, a retrospective collection and the studio album Make It On Time, which would prove to be the band's last album for more than a decade.
Following a six-year hiatus, Rawlins Cross reunited in the fall of 2008 and released its seventh recording, Anthology.
In November 2010, they released their eighth album, Heart Head Hands. Their next recording, Rock Steady, was recorded at Codapop Studios (in Halifax, Nova Scotia) and released in December 2017 with the single, "Hold You Tonight".
www.rawlinscross.com
Instrumentation
Joey Kitson — lead vocals, harmonica
Dave Panting — mandolin, guitar, banjo, harmonica, bouzouki, background vocals, songwriting
Geoff Panting — accordion, keyboard, background vocals, songwriting
Ian McKinnon — bagpipe, tin whistle, bodhran, trumpet, percussion, jaw harp
Brian Bourne — Chapman Stick, bass, background vocals
Howie Southwood — drums
Discography
Anthology (2008)
Make it on Time (1998)
Celtic Instrumentals (1997)
Living River (1996)
Reel 'N' Roll (1993)
Crossing the Border (1992)
A Turn of the Wheel (1989)
Open Road
Rawlins Cross Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Counting the old memories you have stowed.
But if you could be what you could be, you'd be just as good as free,
I think it's time you hit the open road
Chorus:
Open road, carry me
And take me where I can be free
To the end of the open road
The future sits beside you, whisper in your ear
Telling you that now it's time to go
But I don't know how far you'll get before sunset
I just know it's time you hit the open road
Chorus
Leave the past and let it wait, do not hesitate
Take your time and time will take your load
There's nothing here for you but the memories and the blues
I think it's time you hit the open road
Chorus x2
Open road...
In the song "Open Road" by Rawlins Cross, the singer is encouraging someone to take a chance and leave their old memories behind them. The opening line "If you want to you could stay, dream your life away, Counting the old memories you have stowed" is letting the listener know that they have a choice. They can stay where they are and continue to dwell on the past, or they can hit the road and start a new adventure. The second line "But if you could be what you could be, you'd be just as good as free" is saying that if the listener decides to pursue their potential, they will find freedom.
The chorus "Open road, carry me, And take me where I can be free, Lead me where I've got to go, To the end of the open road" is the singer's call to action. They are telling the listener to take a chance and be free on the open road. The future is beckoning them to go and explore the world around them, and the singer doesn't know where the listener will end up, but he knows it's time for them to hit the road.
As the song goes on, the singer assures the listener that leaving the past behind will be beneficial, despite the unknown path ahead. In the line "There's nothing here for you but the memories and the blues" he is letting the listener know that there is nothing left for them in their current situation, and it's time to move on.
Overall, "Open Road" is a song about taking chances and living life to the fullest. The song encourages listeners to be free and explore new paths and destinations while shedding the weight of the past.
Line by Line Meaning
If you want to you could stay, dream your life away, Counting the old memories you have stowed.
You have the option to stay and reminisce about old times but if you want to truly live, you must go out and explore the world.
But if you could be what you could be, you'd be just as good as free, I think it's time you hit the open road
You have the potential to be anything you want and experience true freedom so it's time to go out and discover your true self.
Open road, carry me And take me where I can be free Lead me where I've got to go To the end of the open road
The open road represents the journey to freedom and self-discovery. It will take you wherever you need to go to find true happiness and fulfillment.
The future sits beside you, whisper in your ear Telling you that now it's time to go But I don't know how far you'll get before sunset I just know it's time you hit the open road
The future is calling and urging you to take the leap and hit the open road. While you don't know what the future holds or how much time you have, it's important to start the journey now.
Leave the past and let it wait, do not hesitate Take your time and time will take your load There's nothing here for you but the memories and the blues I think it's time you hit the open road
Don't hold onto the past or worry about the future. Take your time and let life unfold organically, and eventually, everything will fall into place. It's time to let go of the memories and emotions that are holding you back and start fresh on the open road.
Chorus x2
The chorus reinforces that the key to happiness and freedom is to embark on the journey of self-discovery along the open road.
Contributed by Julia P. Suggest a correction in the comments below.