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.
YOUNGER YEARS
The Milk Carton Kids Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I think of all the sufferin' I saw
The soakin' of the pavement
Sprawled upon a land without a law
Everythin' I loved
Everythin' I found what I hoped for
Frightened and surrounded
Who else is there to turn to anymore?
Oh, I held out my arms
Oh, I held out my arms
Held out my arms
Ho-wah-ho
Ho-ho-ho, ho, ho-ho
There was a time I spoke the truth
But my younger years were wasted on my youth
Somewhere I awakened
With a crack to a poundin' on the roof
Sure I heard the sound
As evidence, or better yet as proof
I was naked as the day I was born
'Neath the fullness of the moon
Oh, I held out my arms
Oh, I held out my arms
Held out my arms
Ho-wah-ho
Ho-ho-ho, ho, ho-ho
Far away I hear singin'
Far away a song
The blinding light of morning came
Flooding through the window like a friend
Like a wild revelation
Like a shining invitation to attend
Spoken as a prayer
Unbroken by despair I make amends
The love inside our hearts
Is the only kind of savior we've been sent
Oh, I held out my arms
Oh, I held out my arms
Held out my arms
Ho-wah-ho
Ho-ho-ho, ho, ho-ho
The Milk Carton Kids' song "Younger Years" speaks of personal growth and finding hope amidst difficult times. The first verse describes the weight of suffering and lawlessness seen from above the plains of Omaha. The singer speaks of feeling frightened and surrounded, with no one to turn to. The chorus, "Oh, I held out my arms," seems to be a plea for comfort or a call for help. The second verse speaks of the singer's younger years being wasted on their youth, but awakening with a newfound clarity. The imagery of being naked beneath the full moon symbolizes vulnerability and openness. The third verse speaks of a blinding light of morning, coming in like a friend, and like a revelation or invitation to attend. The singer makes amends for past mistakes and acknowledges that the love inside our hearts is the only kind of savior we've been sent.
Overall, the song appears to be about the struggles and lessons of growing up, finding inner strength, and striving towards a better future. The final lines "The love inside our hearts / Is the only kind of savior we've been sent" seem to suggest that love and empathy, both for oneself and others, can be a source of healing and salvation.
Line by Line Meaning
Above the plains of Omaha
As I look over the plains of Omaha
I think of all the sufferin' I saw
I remember all the pain and sorrow I witnessed
The soakin' of the pavement
The rain pouring onto the streets
Sprawled upon a land without a law
In this land without order, everything was chaotic
Everythin' I loved
All the things I held dear
Everythin' I found what I hoped for
Everything I searched for, I found
Frightened and surrounded
Feeling scared and alone
Who else is there to turn to anymore?
There's no one else to rely on
Oh, I held out my arms
I reached out in desperation
There was a time I spoke the truth
I used to be honest in my words
But my younger years were wasted on my youth
However, I didn't fully appreciate my honesty in my youth
Somewhere I awakened
I had an awakening moment
With a crack to a poundin' on the roof
A loud noise woke me up
Sure I heard the sound
I heard the noise clearly
As evidence, or better yet as proof
I knew it was real and not my imagination
I was naked as the day I was born
I was vulnerable like when I was born
'Neath the fullness of the moon
Under the bright full moon
Far away I hear singin'
I hear distant singing
Far away a song
A song from far away reaches my ears
The blinding light of morning came
The bright light of morning shines through
Flooding through the window like a friend
It enters the room kindly like a friend
Like a wild revelation
It's a shocking moment of enlightenment
Like a shining invitation to attend
I feel invited to experience something beautiful
Spoken as a prayer
I say it like a prayer
Unbroken by despair I make amends
Without losing hope, I make things right
The love inside our hearts
Our capacity for love
Is the only kind of savior we've been sent
It's what can save us from our troubles
Held out my arms
Repeating the action of reaching out in hope
Writer(s): Joseph Edward Ryan, Kenneth A Pattengale
Contributed by Julia V. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
Mariam Pakbaz
"Younger Years"
Above the plains of Omaha
I think of all the suffering I saw
The soaking of the pavement
Sprawled upon a land without a law
Everything I loved, everything I found or I hoped for
Frightened, I'm surrounded
Who else is there to turn to anymore?
Oh I held out my arms
Oh I held out my arms
Held out my arms
There was a time I spoke the truth
But my younger years were wasted on my youth
Somewhere I awakened
With a crack to a pounding on the roof
Sure I heard the sound
As evidence, or better yet as proof
I was as naked as the day that I was born
Beneath the fullness of the moon
Oh I held out my arms
Oh I held out my arms
Held out my arms
Far away I hear singing
Far away, a song
The blinding light of morning came
Flooding through the window like a friend
Like a wild revelation
Like a shining invitation to attend
Spoken as a prayer
Unbroken by despair I make amends
The love inside our hearts
Is the only kind of savior we've been sent
Oh I held out my arms
Oh I held out my arms
Held out my arms
---
probably the most beautiful lyrics ever written holy wow
Abid Morshed
Above the plains of Omaha
I think of all the sufferin' I saw
The[soakin' of the pavement
Sprawled upon a land without a law
Everythin' I loved, everythin' I found what I hoped for
Frightened and surrounded
Who else is there to turn to anymore?
Oh I held out my heart
Oh I held out my heart
Held out my heart
There was a time I spoke the truth
But my younger years were wasted on my youth
Somewhere I awakened
With a crack to a poundin' on the roof
Sure I heard the sound
As evidence, or better yet as proof
I was naked as the day I was born
'Neath the fullness of the moon
Oh I held out my heart
Oh I held out my heart
Held out my heart, oh oh, oh
Far away I hear singin'
Far away a song
The blinding light of morning came
Flooding through the window like a friend
Like a wild revelation
Like a shining invitation to attend
Spoken as a prayer
Unbroken by despair I make amends
The love inside our hearts
Is the only kind of savior we've been sent
Oh I held out my heart
Oh I held out my heart
Held out my heart, oh, oh, oh
Hugo Kleinhans
I'm absolutely taken by the instrumentation. Understated, yet so unbelievably beautiful. Well done, guys.
Kallasticot
It reminds me of Simon and Garfunkel beautiful and haunting melodies, and the harmony of their voices...
FragileBitch
I know, Right!?
starsandsilver1
One of my favourite tunes...a modern classic.
Mariam Pakbaz
"Younger Years"
Above the plains of Omaha
I think of all the suffering I saw
The soaking of the pavement
Sprawled upon a land without a law
Everything I loved, everything I found or I hoped for
Frightened, I'm surrounded
Who else is there to turn to anymore?
Oh I held out my arms
Oh I held out my arms
Held out my arms
There was a time I spoke the truth
But my younger years were wasted on my youth
Somewhere I awakened
With a crack to a pounding on the roof
Sure I heard the sound
As evidence, or better yet as proof
I was as naked as the day that I was born
Beneath the fullness of the moon
Oh I held out my arms
Oh I held out my arms
Held out my arms
Far away I hear singing
Far away, a song
The blinding light of morning came
Flooding through the window like a friend
Like a wild revelation
Like a shining invitation to attend
Spoken as a prayer
Unbroken by despair I make amends
The love inside our hearts
Is the only kind of savior we've been sent
Oh I held out my arms
Oh I held out my arms
Held out my arms
---
probably the most beautiful lyrics ever written holy wow
funchenstein
Holy crap! The most beautiful song I have heard in 2018.
Dean Hooker
So impressed when I go to your shows. Thank you for all the times I have seen you and I look forward to the next time!
Joanne Stazio
Dean Hooker Me too!
Love their shows.❤️🎼
Robin Eliason
This is gorgeous! I can't wait for the new album.
ulisses couto
Canção linda !!!