In November 2004 Five Times August’s song “Better With You” was featured in MTV’s hit show Laguna Beach. The series’ music supervisor had found the song at random via online web portal CDBaby.com. By the end of the year that exposure had snowballed into an underground following for the one-man band, catapulting Myspace listens and iTunes sales. By Spring ’06 Five Times August was a national touring artist, performing solo acoustic shows across the country (to date FTA has performed in 43 of the 50 states). More song placements soon followed, with features on networks ranging from The CW and MTV to ABC, FOX and Lifetime, among many others. In 2007 Five Times August became the first unsigned act in history to accomplish national distribution through Wal-Mart stores.
It doesn’t stop there. Most recently you may have heard Five Times August in a national GMC commercial promoting their big summer savings event. Also, if you own any of HBO’s 2009 DVD releases, you’ll most likely be hearing the song “Do It Again” in a quick ad before the menu pops up.
“Life As A Song” is a twelve-track collection of Five Times August’s most popular songs in recent years. Based on fan favorites and the most licensed songs, Skistimas went back into the studio with Grammy Award winner Andy Zulla (Kelly Clarkson, Jessica Simpson, Rod Stewart) to polish and shine each song for more commercial success, re-recording many of the tune’s instrumentation and vocals from the ground up. “It’s an album of growth and change,” Skistimas says about the quazi “best of” album. “At the start of the album you’ll find me where I was as a songwriter, more innocent and raw. By the end you’ll see I’m not the same songwriter anymore, there’s a deeper outlook on life in the newer songs.”
The album includes new mainstream versions of underground college cult-hits like “Up To Me” and “Better With You” (the latter has sold 58,000 digital singles to date). Alongside those fan favorites, the album also includes a few new songs, one being the stand out piano ballad “Break,” which shadows influence from Nilsson’s classic hit “Without You.” Brad explains “the beauty of this album is that even though a lot of my fans may know the songs already, it’s going to be a brand new listening experience for them. They are going to hear these songs as if for the first time.” Skistimas’ mind rests knowing songs like “Wherever” and “The Lighting” finally sound like he had always envisioned.
Brad is furthering the expansion of Five Times August with a new concrete touring band. After spending the last three years touring solo, Skistimas is changing gears on the road, transitioning his intimate set list into a full on concert experience. Five Times August will be on several national tours surrounding the release of “Life As A Song,” in stores October 13th, 2009.
The Way You Do
Five Times August Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
As I sit here and concentrate on reasons I'm alone
And I'm just saving
A little space to hold my grace on seasons made of stone
So maybe I'm just a photograph for her to laught at
Seems that I don't want her back, I do
Hard to think I'm in the middle of a maze
But still I feel a little real killing time
Seems to me a little too hard
I jumped the gun and I ran too far
And slowly I feel too
I feel the way you do
So move a little fast and make me the last
I feel a little down and want you around
And suddenly another me feels a little loss for words
Oh then I'll see
This ain't the place that I want to be
So sorry if I fail to see your view
Seems to me a little bit crazy
Hard to think I'm in the middle of a maze
But still I feel a little real killing time
Seems to me a little too hard
I jumped the gun and I ran too far
And slowly I feel too
I feel the way you do
Oh then I'll see
This ain't the place that I want to be
So sorry if I fail to see your view
Seems to me a little bit crazy
Hard to think I'm in the middle of a maze
But still I feel a little real killing time
Seems to me a little too hard
I jumped the gun and I ran too far
And slowly I feel too
I feel the way you do
In "The Way You Do," Five Times August sings about a failed relationship and the feelings that come with it. The song begins with an admission that the singer's partner is not waiting for him anymore. He laments about being alone and how the time he spent with her is now just a memory. He tries to rationalize the situation, thinking that maybe he is just a photograph for her to laugh at. But deep down, he still wants her back.
The chorus goes on to describe how the singer feels lost and disoriented in this situation. He describes it as being in the middle of a maze, where everything seems a little crazy and hard to understand. Even though he knows he has run too far and made some mistakes, he can't help but feel that he and his partner are on the same page. He wants to move on and forget about what has happened, but a part of him feels that he is losing out on something special.
Overall, "The Way You Do" is a heartfelt song that deals with the pain of a failed relationship. It captures the feelings of confusion, regret, and longing that come with the end of a romantic connection.
Line by Line Meaning
She's not waiting
She is not waiting for him to make a move or take action.
As I sit here and concentrate on reasons I'm alone
He is pondering why he is alone and focusing on his own thoughts.
And I'm just saving, A little space to hold my grace on seasons made of stone
He is reserving his energy to maintain composure during difficult times and struggles.
So maybe I'm just a photograph for her to laugh at, Seems that I don't want her back, I do
He may feel like a joke to her, but he still wants to be with her despite any setbacks.
Seems to me a little bit crazy, Hard to think I'm in the middle of a maze, But still I feel a little real killing time, Seems to me a little too hard, I jumped the gun and I ran too far, And slowly I feel too, I feel the way you do
He is feeling lost and confused, and he has made impulsive choices that have led him to this point. He understands and empathizes with the feelings of his desired partner.
So move a little fast and make me the last, I feel a little down and want you around, And suddenly another me feels a little loss for words
He wishes to be prioritized and included in her life, and when he thinks of her he becomes flustered and speechless.
Oh then I'll see, This ain't the place that I want to be, So sorry if I fail to see your view
He acknowledges that he is not content with his current situation and apologizes for not understanding her perspective.
Seems to me a little bit crazy, Hard to think I'm in the middle of a maze, But still I feel a little real killing time, Seems to me a little too hard, I jumped the gun and I ran too far, And slowly I feel too, I feel the way you do
He is still struggling to make sense of his feelings and situation, and he can relate to her experiences and emotions.
Oh then I'll see, This ain't the place that I want to be, So sorry if I fail to see your view
He reiterates that he does not want to remain in his current situation, and he apologizes for not fully understanding her perspective.
Seems to me a little bit crazy, Hard to think I'm in the middle of a maze, But still I feel a little real killing time, Seems to me a little too hard, I jumped the gun and I ran too far, And slowly I feel too, I feel the way you do
He continues to grapple with his inner turmoil, feeling lost and unsure of what to do, but he empathizes with her struggles and emotions.
Contributed by Victoria D. Suggest a correction in the comments below.