A performance by The Milk Carton Kids is a quiet and intricate affair. The duo have enjoyed intently listening audiences across the country and abroad in their respective solo careers, but an even greater sense of urgency and demand of attention is palpable now that they've come together as The Milk Carton Kids. Their songs are written together, but you won't know there is more than one author. Their history together spans only one short year, but you won't know that either. They stand close together when they play, facing each other and using microphones instead of plugging their guitars in. And if they looked more alike, they'd fool you that they were brothers.
Their songs disguise the youth of the members of the band. Befittingly, so do the old guitars they play and old clothing they wear. But to be sure, The Milk Carton Kids have something new to present: harmonies & minimalist instrumentation which are a clear reference to times passed, but with an eye intently on the future; a perspective on coming-of-age in the eye of a present-day storm; and the chronicling of an American struggle for simplicity, at least musically. To present it they use two guitars and two voices, they labor over the arrangements, they record themselves live, and they release their music on their own label, and for free.
As solo artists they have 10 releases between them. As a band their career is off to an auspicious start. Starting from a highly regarded position among their peers, they've opened for the art-piano-pop critical darling Vienna Teng, Grammy nominated friend and fan Sara Bareilles, and now will take to the entire U.S. and Canada this summer supporting one of the consummate songwriters of their generation, Joe Purdy. Despite the decision to stick to acoustic guitars in their own show, both Ryan and Pattengale are multi-instrumentalists and will also comprise Purdy's backing band, joining him on bass, pedal steel guitar, piano, and harmonies.
Their first collaborative release, RETROSPECT, is a live album due out March 15th, 2011, that represents the culmination of the past year of live performance. A collection of songs from each of their solo careers, written separately but reinterpreted and performed as the duo now called The Milk Carton Kids, RETROSPECT will be released under the name "Kenneth Pattengale & Joey Ryan".
The first official release of The Milk Carton Kids, entitled PROLOGUE, comprised of original songs written by the duo for this project. It was released in 2011 on their own Milk Carton Records.
High Hopes
The Milk Carton Kids Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I know they got it wrong without a doubt
The war ain't over there, it's here with me
The battle of the bloody century
What is going on here? What becomes the lot of us?
I thought I would complain, dear
When joining with the great circus
But I've got high, I've got high
I got high alright
Settle up your bill, the raining shouts
The patter of forsaken voices loud
Lined throughout the pockets of my vest
A green-backed skeleton holds in the rest
Your symphony of mercy falls upon no deafer years
I'd look you in the eyes but I woudn't recognise your fears
But I've got high, I've got high
I've got high hopes tonight
I got high alright
The Milk Carton Kids' song, High Hopes, is a powerful and moving ballad with deep meaning. The song is about a soldier who receives a letter stating that his unit is being shipped out. It is clear from his perspective that not only is the war happening elsewhere, but it is also within himself. The lyrics suggest that the soldier is struggling with feelings of fear, uncertainty, and disillusionment. The battle seems insurmountable, yet he still clings to the hope that he can overcome it. He feels like joining the circus, but he has high hopes that things will get better.
The second part of the song takes a different direction. The soldier returns home, but he is not the same person he was before. He is haunted by the memories of war and the lives lost. He is weighed down by the guilt and the feeling that he has betrayed his fellow soldiers. He is struggling to make sense of the world around him, and the outpouring of sympathy from others doesn't seem to help. Despite this, he clings to his high hopes, convinced that he can overcome his struggles.
The overall message of the song is one of hope and resilience in the face of adversity. The soldier is facing incredible challenges both on the battlefield and after his return, but he refuses to give up. He continues to believe that there is hope for a better future, even when everything seems bleak.
Line by Line Meaning
The letter said it all: we're shipping out
We received a letter confirming that we are being deployed overseas
I know they got it wrong without a doubt
I am convinced that there has been a mistake or misunderstanding
The war ain't over there, it's here with me
Although the war is being fought overseas, I am still feeling its effects at home
The battle of the bloody century
This war is one of the bloodiest and most significant conflicts in modern history
What is going on here? What becomes the lot of us?
I am questioning what the future holds for us and how this situation is going to pan out
I thought I would complain, dear
I had thought that I would be complaining about my situation, but now I realize that I have bigger things to worry about
When joining with the great circus
When joining the military and going off to fight
But I've got high, I've got high
Despite everything, I am still feeling hopeful
I've got high hopes tonight
I am feeling particularly optimistic at this moment
I got high alright
This feeling of hopefulness is definitely real
Settle up your bill, the raining shouts
Pay up what you owe, the sounds of war are all around us
The patter of forsaken voices loud
The sounds of people suffering and dying are all around us
Lined throughout the pockets of my vest
I have money stored in my pockets for emergencies
A green-backed skeleton holds in the rest
I only have a small amount of money left after paying what I owe
Your symphony of mercy falls upon no deafer years
Your kind and compassionate words are not falling on deaf ears, but are appreciated
I'd look you in the eyes but I wouldn't recognize your fears
I am so far removed from everyday life that I wouldn't be able to understand the fears of those not involved in the war
Writer(s): Joseph Edward Ryan, Kenneth A. Pattengale
Contributed by Mia M. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
Style Bernard
I have to say. If there is anything defining that holds their music together it's Kenneth's fill riffs. It quite obvious, in this song, that he acquires a high level of technique on the fret board.
Jordin Poeschl
I listened to this song until Bandcamp wouldn't let me listen to it anymore.
rrroop
Neutral Milk Carton Hotel Kids