Story Behind The Song

An emotional snapshot, as all songs are, this song was at once easy and difficult to write, about those moments where we've been climbing the ladder to success, but discover it's up against the wrong wall. I think the composition is one of my best, with interesting/unusual chords and careful structure. I wanted to play the oboe as a boy, but my family couldn't afford one, so I had to settle for a borrowed clarinet, which I never liked and eventually quit playing. Those instruments somehow seemed right to feature together in this song.

Lyrics

Move On - words and music by Tim Erskine


I stopped in place to take my bearings
under the naked light of day
Just when I thought I?d found my compass
looked and saw I?d lost my way
I?d lost my way

I wanted fair compensation
took a day out in the sun
But here, I?ve wound up a loser
just when I thought I?d won
I thought I?d won

I just want to feel
how I thought I would feel at this age
I imagined I?d be happy
not filled with this smoldering anguish and rage

I have a fine old collection
of all the chestnuts that I?ve found
but my toolbox looks empty
whenever the night comes around
when night comes around

My dreams were so beautiful ?
they left a gulf so wide
that real life paled in comparison
I couldn?t be bothered with the details
Whatever I had each day ?
I pushed aside

I just want to feel
how I thought I would feel at this age
I imagined I?d be happy
not filled with this smoldering anguish and rage

And on a dead-still summer?s evening
I lie, confronted with the truth
that it?s time to move on now
I?ve seen the last of my youth
the last of my youth

Move on