Punch-Up Music

A music site featuring Chicago based musician Lorin M Klugman.

Cover Art for Song: On The Open Frontier

Listen On Youtube

On The Open Frontier -- Feb 1, 2021

Song I started composing decades ago. I had recorded the basic melody on a cassette recorder. That cassette is stuck in my ancient tape recorder. Hence, I resurrected the song from memory.

Originally arranged with just acoustic guitar and voice. The bass line lead to a reggae influenced beat. After several iterations, I arrived at the current arrangement and instrumentation.

The original song lyrics were simple. A commentary on balancing work, rest, and personal life. All the time not being certain of what the holds. While knowing it is always best to just keep moving (E.G. on the open frontier).

I added lyrics in 2021. Maintaining the original concept, newer verses comment on the exhaustion of dealing with dishonest "double-speak". Double-speak takes a commonly used word and applies a seldom used definition. Again, the double-speak arrives "on the open road frontier". Some can see where it leads and others can not.

 
Recording
All software used is Free and Open Source (FOSS).
 
Lyrics

Words, words mean anything
Too many things aren't right
For you just to say, what we want

We, we have found the time
Cause what we heard are rhymes
Their empty frame rolls by, and I say

[ Chorus ]
I see the sun, before your eyes
I see the world, it's rolling by
I work and work, all night and day
You turned around, You turned to say

Signs, signs can show the way
A simple quest at play
Uncertain of the edge, that we made

Thoughts, I thought another time
Symbolic gestures pray
On last year's parade, so today

[ Chorus ]

Now time, time to take that walk
Throw away worthless talk
Now to travel time, I know, a way

Steps, steps I saw you there
My hands waved to say
Empty finite sounds, beating down

[ Chorus ]

Out on, open road frontier
A simple fate was near
A race to follow time, oh the time
Here, here we had not thought
A final time to say
So cold just like the rain, once again

[ Chorus ]

What did I say, where was it all
Were I to know, that we would be gone
Gone Away, gone with the time

[ Chorus ]

Words, words mean anything
Too many things aren't right
For you just to say, what we want

We, we have found the time
Cause what we heard are rhymes
Their empty frame rolls by, and I say

[ Chorus ]