At a time when cynicism and moral outrage are quite common in modern music, Young Rising Sons choose to focus on the brighter side of life. According to lead singer/guitarist Andy Tongren, the Red Bank, New Jersey band’s debut single “High” was created with the intention of writing a “soulful pick-me-up, an honest account of life’s ups and downs, all with a glimmer of hope.” Tongren adds that the recently released “High” is the perfect example of the “feel good disposition” that shapes Young Rising Sons’ view on life and music.
Tongren matter-of-factly rationalizes the band’s approach of writing with the listener in mind, “music is here to make people feel something, so why not try and make people feel good?” Tongren describes “High” as a “song about letting go and enjoying the better times in life.”
Staying true to that mantra, Tongren and band-mates Dylan Scott (lead guitar), Julian Dimagiba (bass), and Steve Patrick (drums) firmly believe that the best music is inspired by personal experiences. As a result, the video for “High” was filmedright in their own backyard. “It made sense to shoot “High” in Red Bank, by the Ocean,” explains Tongren. “We wanted to film it where we spend our time together.”
Like most young buzzing bands on the rise, Young Rising Sons have benefitted from the counsel of more experienced industry experts. Shep Goodman and Aaron Accetta of Dirty Canvas Music, home of American Authors and The Karma Killers, discovered Young Rising Sons in 2013. Shep and Aaron recently brought the band to Interscope Records where they will release their debut EP this summer.
After playing together for several years, Young Rising Sons have grown into their current sound. “We grew up with The Beatles, The Temptations, and Bruce Springsteen,” says Tongren. “I believe our songs walk the line between avant-garde and pop, blending influence from those acts.”
Simple Life
Young Rising Sons Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Away from from mankind
Built something from nothing
Not owning even a dime
He left so much behind
And when I discovered my grandfather's life
My mountains, they turned into hills
I found a simple life
I found what I was missing
Right underneath my chin
And I'll keep my eyes wide open
Letting daylight in
I decided long ago that I'd be more like him
Whether rain, the sun, the sleet, or snow
It's a simple life I'd live
If I was poor, or rich, or young, or old
It all hangs on a string
When my day has come I hope they say
It's the simple life I lived
It's the simple life I lived
I found an old box in the attic one night
His dogtags from wars that he fought
Packed neatly inside
He kept it all inside
The photos and letters revealed so much truth
The folded up flag made me cry
'Cause I never knew
Here's to a simple life
I found what I've been missing
Right underneath my chin
And I'll keep my eyes wide open
Letting daylight in
I decided long ago that I'd be more like him
Whether rain, the sun, the sleet, or snow
It's a simple life I'd live
If I was poor, or rich, or young, or old
It all hangs on a string
When my day has come I hope they say
It's the simple life I lived
It's the simple life I lived
Everytime I feel defeat
I'll rememeber everything
All the words that you taught me'
They'll live on forever
And so I decided long ago
As life starts closing in
I'd raise a glass and toast to all
That it's a simple life you live
I decided long ago that I'd be more like him
Whether rain, the sun, the sleet, or snow
It's a simple life I'd live
If I was poor, or rich, or young, or old
It all hangs on a string
When my day has come I hope they say
It's the simple life I lived
It's the simple life I lived
The lyrics of Young Rising Sons’s song "Simple Life" reflect the desire for a more modest, unburdened way of living. The song begins by speaking about a man who lived in the mountains, who possessed nothing and who had no money to his name. This person, however, built something from nothing and left a legacy that his grandson could follow. As the grandson discovers more about his grandfather's life, he realizes that the simple life his forebear led was not just admirable but also enviable. He comes to understand that happiness arises not from a life of abundance but from living in the moment with all its flaws and blessings. Through the song, the grandson pledges to follow his grandfather's footsteps, embracing life as it is, not as he wishes it to be, and understanding that the simple life he would live is all he needs.
The lyrics of "Simple Life" are inspiring and profound, highlighting the importance of living a modest and genuine life. The song embodies the idea that the most enriching experiences come not from material wealth but from living in the present with gratitude and appreciation. This message resonates with listeners and is a call to live differently, to seek out the things that truly matter in life, and to pursue a life of peace, happiness, and self-fulfillment.
Line by Line Meaning
He lived in the mountains
He resided in the hills far from society
Away from mankind
He was secluded from people
Built something from nothing
He constructed something without any possessions
Not owning even a dime
He had no money and no assets
He left so much behind
Despite his lack of possessions, he left an impact on those around him
And when I discovered my grandfather's life
Upon learning about his grandfather's life
My mountains, they turned into hills
The things that once seemed large in his life became less significant
That I could climb
He found that he could overcome obstacles in his life
I found a simple life
He discovered that it's possible to have a fulfilled life without material possessions
I found what I was missing
He realized what he needed to be content
Right underneath my chin
The answer was always close by
And I'll keep my eyes wide open
He will remain aware and observant
Letting daylight in
He will allow new ideas and information into his life
I decided long ago that I'd be more like him
He decided to adopt his grandfather's values and way of life
Whether rain, the sun, the sleet, or snow
Through all kinds of weather and circumstances
It's a simple life I'd live
He wants to live a life without unnecessary complications
If I was poor, or rich, or young, or old
He wants to live a simple life regardless of his circumstance or age
It all hangs on a string
The course of his life could change at any moment
When my day has come I hope they say
At the end of his life he hopes to be remembered as
It's the simple life I lived
Someone who led a contented existence with few material possessions
I found an old box in the attic one night
He discovered a box of his grandfather's belongings
His dogtags from wars that he fought
His grandfather had kept tags that identified him in the war
Packed neatly inside
The tags had been carefully preserved
He kept it all inside
His grandfather didn't share his experiences with many people
The photos and letters revealed so much truth
The photos and letters he found shed light on his grandfather's life
The folded up flag made me cry
Discovering the folded flag made him emotional
'Cause I never knew
He had no idea the extent of his grandfather's experiences
Here's to a simple life
This is a toast to living a fulfilled life without needing much
Every time I feel defeat
Whenever he feels beaten down
I'll remember everything
He will remember his grandfather's lessons and experiences
All the words that you taught me
He will recall the advice his grandfather gave him
'They'll live on forever
His grandfather's words will always be with him
And so I decided long ago
And since then he has chosen
As life starts closing in
As his life nears its end
I'd raise a glass and toast to all
He will lift a drink in celebration of everyone
That it's a simple life you live
Recognizing the value of a modest existence
Contributed by Mateo S. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
David Niemeyer
on High
Cause way up in the sky there's no such thing as blind so tell me is this low or is it the high
David Niemeyer
on High
Cause all we need is love but love needs sacrifice but it's sure worth the price if you get it right
David Niemeyer
on High
Soft spoken like a disease
David Niemeyer
on High
Heart broken into pieces it ain't a way we should live
David Niemeyer
on High
Without the low there is no high.....shoot my breath to the highest high....
hopesmize
on High
Hi i think the lyrics of 'Just let it close your eyes.' is actually 'let it go enjoy the ride' and 'Without the loitering high high.' is actually 'without a low there aint a high'
I'm not sure but thats what it sounds like!