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.
Laredo
The Milk Carton Kids Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
you turned your back on the tracks while I held on to those words you said
just let it go, let it go, let it go, let it go whichever way
how dare you run away from all that promise
it's apropos of all the things that we have left behind us, all we'll ever know
just let it go, let it go, let it go, let it go whichever way
wild as the dream I'll never catch and you would sooner chase
just let it go, let it go, let it go, let it go whichever way
I don't know if it's over
right now, this is all that I can say
just let it go, let it go, let it go, let it go whichever way
i'll write the same old song of sorrow the same way
you know the one where this old town can't show them shelter and I can't get away
just let it go, let it go, let it go, let it go whichever way
i see that shallow sheltered promise i proposed falling gently passed a trembling crescent right off your nose
just let it go, let it go, let it go, let it go whichever way
I don't know if it's over
right now, this is all that I can say
just let it go, let it go, let it go, let it go
just let it go, let it go, let it go, let it go whichever way
we lost the train through old Laredo yesterday
you turned your back on the tracks while I held on to the words you said
just let it go, let it go, let it go, let it go
just let it go, let it go, let it go, let it go whichever way
The Milk Carton Kids’ “Laredo” is a melancholic, introspective song about a failed relationship. The opening line, “we lost the train through old Laredo yesterday,” sets the tone for the rest of the song. The train is a symbol of the couple’s relationship, which they lost while passing through Laredo, a town located on the US-Mexico border. The singer is still holding on to the words his partner said to him, but his partner has already turned her back on their relationship, telling him to let it go.
The song highlights the pain and confusion that come with a breakup. The singer accuses his partner of running away from their promise, but admits that they have both left things behind. He can’t help but be honest about his feelings, even though he knows that his partner’s kisses no longer feel like they used to. He compares her to a wild dream that he will never be able to catch, and realizes that he may have to let her go, whichever way that may be.
Overall, “Laredo” is a powerful song that captures the complex emotions of a failed relationship. It highlights the pain, confusion, and uncertainty that come with letting go of someone you love.
Line by Line Meaning
we lost the train through old Laredo yesterday
We missed the opportunity that passed by us yesterday in Laredo.
you turned your back on the tracks while I held on to those words you said
While I was trying to hold onto the words you said, you gave up and walked away.
just let it go, let it go, let it go, let it go whichever way
Forget it and let it go, and whatever happens, just accept it.
how dare you run away from all that promise
How could you break all the promises we made and run away?
it's apropos of all the things that we have left behind us, all we'll ever know
It's fitting because everything we had together has now become a part of our history and our past.
your kisses haven't felt like this is honest, your breath is held at bay
Your kisses don't feel sincere, and it seems like you are holding back something.
wild as the dream I'll never catch and you would sooner chase
You are chasing wild dreams that are impossible to grasp, while leaving me behind.
I don't know if it's over, right now, this is all that I can say
I'm not sure if our relationship is really over, and at this moment, that's all I can say.
i'll write the same old song of sorrow the same way
I'll keep on writing the same sad song about the loneliness and emptiness I feel inside.
you know the one where this old town can't show them shelter and I can't get away
You know the one where I feel like I'm stuck in this town with no escape, and I can't find any comfort or shelter.
i see that shallow sheltered promise i proposed falling gently passed a trembling crescent right off your nose
It seems like the empty promises I offered you have finally fallen apart and disappeared, right in front of your eyes.
just let it go, let it go, let it go, let it go whichever way
Just forget about it and move on, allowing fate to take its course, whichever way it goes.
we lost the train through old Laredo yesterday
We lost our chance at happiness in Laredo, when we missed that train yesterday.
just let it go, let it go, let it go, let it go
Just forget about the past and move on, letting go of what was lost.
just let it go, let it go, let it go, let it go whichever way
Just forget about it and move on, allowing fate to take its course, whichever way it goes.
Contributed by Allison O. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
Aaron Herkert
I like the part where he says to let it go.
Hrittik Bhattacharjee
Nick Drake never left us :')