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.
Monterey
The Milk Carton Kids Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I can hear the road call out my name
A journey made
Mercy paid
An old refrain
To light the way
I can see the North Star
I can see the North Star
I can see the North Star from this bed
Beneath the sky
The night betrayed
Rescued by
The Milky Way
Summon out the rain clouds
Someone should hear how loud we sing
Blinded by the notion of fog in an ocean all around
Oh Monterey
How can I say
I'll always stay
And slip away
I can show the world, Ma
I can wake the world out from her sleep
I can show the world, Ma
I don't fear the world from my two feet
A prayer to keep
To hide away
Our love will read
The ash and clay
Of Monterey
Oh Monterey
How can I say
I'll always stay
And slip away
Oh Monterey
The Milk Carton Kids' song "Monterey" speaks of a journey, of leaving things behind and setting out to find something new. The lyrics are an expression of the singer's desire to go on a journey and find his way, with the music being the perfect accompaniment for this longing.
The first lines of the song reflect the singer's desire to venture out from his current location and explore the world. He is tempted by the "call of the road" and feels an old refrain that "lights the way" to his destination. He can see the stars shining above him and his journey is aided by the night sky. The singer has a deep connection with nature and finds solace in the beauty of the stars.
The second verse adds to this sense of yearning with the line "Summon out the rain clouds/ Someone should hear how loud we sing." Here, he urges others to join him on his journey and to be lifted up by their joyous singing. But there is a sense of terror too- he is "blinded by the notion of fog in an ocean all around" and this fog in the ocean surrounds his thoughts- he doesn't know what he'll find out there.
All in all, the song wants to tell us that life is an odyssey, a never-ending journey to discover both the beauty and dangers of the world. It's also a call to action; asking us to summon our strength and courage to embark on that journey.
Line by Line Meaning
I can hear the road call
The singer is feeling called to go on a journey.
I can hear the road call out my name
The call to go on a journey feels personal to the singer.
A journey made
The singer has decided to embark on a journey.
Mercy paid
The artist has made amends or said goodbye to someone(s) before leaving.
An old refrain
The journey is not something new or unexpected, but a common experience for the artist.
To light the way
The end goal or destination of the journey is a guiding light for the singer.
I can see the North Star
The singer is able to find direction and guidance in the journey by looking towards the North Star.
I can see the North Star over head
The artist is looking up to the sky to find direction.
I can see the North Star from this bed
The artist is visualizing looking up to the sky from their current location (in bed).
Beneath the sky
The artist is acknowledging their place within the universe.
The night betrayed
The darkness of the night can be deceptive, leading the singer further astray.
Rescued by
Despite this deception, the Milky Way becomes a guide for the artist.
The Milky Way
The bright and visible Milky Way galaxy becomes a source of direction for the singer.
Summon out the rain clouds
The singer wants to draw attention to something significant.
Someone should hear how loud we sing
The singer believes there is something important to be shared or experienced by others.
Blinded by the notion of fog in an ocean all around
Others may have trouble recognizing or understanding the value of the place (Monterey) they are in due to the overwhelming feeling or experience.
Oh Monterey
Monterey holds personal significance and is the focus of the artist's attention.
How can I say
The singer has difficulty expressing their feelings for Monterey.
I'll always stay
The singer wishes to remain in Monterey forever.
And slip away
Despite this desire, the artist knows they will have to eventually leave Monterey.
I can show the world, Ma
The artist wishes to share their experience in Monterey with others (specifically their mother).
I can wake the world out from her sleep
The artist believes there is great value in the experience of Monterey, and wishes to awaken others to this idea.
I don't fear the world from my two feet
The singer is confident and unafraid to explore the world on their own.
A prayer to keep
The artist has a personal hope or wish for their time in Monterey.
To hide away
Despite their wish to share their experience with others, the singer knows that there is something special about keeping this place to themselves.
Our love will read
Through the singer's personal experience and connection with Monterey, they will be able to better understand not only the place itself, but the people and world around them.
The ash and clay
The singer will derive meaning not just from the beauty of Monterey, but also from the history and stories it holds.
Of Monterey
Again, Monterey is a personal and meaningful focus for the artist.
Oh Monterey
The song ends just as it began, with a personal and reflective call out to Monterey.
Contributed by Anthony H. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
RickS714
I hope to see more videos from the new album. I love these guys. You can tell who's singing which part, but their voices together are it's own voice. Amazing music and talent in my humble opinion.
Ginny Bee
Beautiful artistically mesmerizing. Thank you for the poetry and heart of your work. Truly something I treasure!
likable72
reminds me of my youth with chad and jeremy, everly brothers and simon and garfunkle.times when music deeps into your soul and transcends you into a world of tranquility and peace but melancholically arrested to that point in time.
Adam Deaton
A rare treat. What cowboy music of legend must have been like if you were 1 of the boys sitting around the camp fire.
Steve Kuhn
There is still music to listen to. Thank-you....................
bradh716
This is fantastic.
Sue Cavanaugh
Damn I love it when I can't tell who's singing which part.
imnasnainaec
They do blend amazingly! I think Joey has a slightly smoother, steadier sound (the higher part in this song).
Fabian Unterkofler
Just wonderful! And somehow you remind me of Paul McCarntey and John Lennon...you 2 look like them :)
e vicars
These guys are great. I'd love to see them live. I especially love their song Bridge Over Troubled Waters ...