Tim Barry is a solo folk singer who was the vocalist in the Richmond, VA me… Read Full Bio ↴Tim Barry is a solo folk singer who was the vocalist in the Richmond, VA melodic hardcore band Avail. He released an album titled "Rivanna Junction" on the label Suburban Home Records in the fourth quarter of 2006. In 2008, Tim recorded a album titled Manchester. Recently he has recorded 28th & Stonewall, again on Suburban Home Records.

On and On
Tim Barry Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

How many days can you stay away,
Before someone knows that you're gone?
How long can you stay,
Before you miss moving on?

Songs, spinning wheels, and cracked windshields,
White lines and sage
Open mouths and empty ears

Years they pass like days

My god, my god
When it's time to move on
And on and on
When is nothing enough?

How much loss can you take before you break?
How much hunger 'til you starve?
How much excess 'til there is nothing at all?
How much freedom can you hold?

My god, my god
When it's time to move on

And on and on
When is nothing enough?

Overall Meaning

The opening lines of Tim Barry's song "On and On" invite the listener to consider questions of personal endurance and how long one can remain absent before being noticed. The song speaks to themes of freedom, loss, and the search for meaning.

The repetition of "on and on" throughout the song creates a sense of perpetuity, a cycle that is difficult to break. The lyrics "How long can you stay / Before you miss moving on?" suggest a restlessness and a fear of being stuck in one's current situation. The mention of "songs, spinning wheels, and cracked windshields" conjures up images of a life on the road, where time and experiences blur together. The phrase "open mouths and empty ears" speaks to the loneliness and lack of connection that can come with this kind of lifestyle.

The chorus contains the repeated plea of "my god, my god," seemingly directed at a higher power, as the singer questions when it's time to move on and how much is enough. This section of the song speaks to the universal fear of stagnation and the desire to keep pushing forward, even in the face of exhaustion and uncertainty.

Line by Line Meaning

How many days can you stay away,
Asking how many days can he be missing before being noticed.

Before someone knows that you're gone?
Pondering if anyone will take note of his absence.

How long can you stay,
Wondering how long he can stay in one place.

Before you miss moving on?
Asking if he'll feel the urge to move again soon.

Songs, spinning wheels, and cracked windshields,
Describing the objects that accompany him on his journeys.

White lines and sage
Painting a picture of the scenery he travels through.

Open mouths and empty ears
Referring to people who listen but do not really hear him.

Years they pass like days
Noting how time seems to fly by.

My god, my god
An expression of surprise or shock.

When it's time to move on
Acknowledging the moment when he must leave.

And on and on
Repeating that the journey must continue.