John Ondrasik was born in the San Fernando Valley in Los Angeles. He grew up there in a musical family, with his mother teaching him the piano from the age of two. As a teenager, he learned how to play the guitar as well and started to write music. While he also learned to sing opera briefly, he quickly decided that he would like to be a piano playing popular musician along the lines of Elton John and Billy Joel. Ondrasik adopted the name "Five for Fighting" which is an expression in ice hockey when a player is sent from the rink by the referee for a major penalty. The name was used for the reason that it would be more memorable than his real name.
In 1997, his first album, 'Message for Albert', was released by EMI. Although not quite breaking through commercially, fans of modern singer-songwriter music provided a warm audience for Ondrasik. After the success of 'America Town', Capitol Records re-released this debut album to give it a more mainstream audience.
In 2000, Ondrasik signed with the aforementioned Columbia Records and released 'America Town' on September 26, 2000. At first, it made little impact until track "Superman (It's Not Easy)" became an American anthem after the September 11 attacks. Ondrasik performed the song at 'The Concert for New York Cit'y in late 2001.
"Superman (It's Not Easy)" started climbing the charts reaching the top 20 of the Billboard Hot 100 and number one on the Billboard Adult Top 40. While 'America Town' itself failed to make the top 50 of the Billboard 200 album charts, its consistent sales led to it going platinum. "Superman (It's Not Easy)" was also an international hit reaching number one on a composite adult international chart (based on performance in the U.S., Canada, Germany, France, the United Kingdom and Australia). Ondrasik's second single, "Easy Tonight", would make the top 20 of the world adult chart as well as going top 20 in New Zealand.
His third album, 'The Battle for Everything', debuted at number 20 on the Billboard 200 in February 2004. Its first single, "100 Years", was another top 40 hit on the Billboard Hot 100 and again reached number one on the World Adult Top 40. It also was number one on a composite world airplay chart and top 10 on a composite world modern rock chart. (based on USA, Germany, United Kingdom, Finland, Sweden, Canada and Australia).
The Five for Fighting song "100 Years" was used in a ubiquitous JP Morgan Chase commercial, and more recently in an episode of Scrubs. The song was also used in the last scenes of the final episode of JAG.
Lately, Ondrasik's sixth album, 2013's 'Bookmarks', came out after a four year gap between his last release. The album has received critical praise from a variety of publications such as Allmusic, where the reviewer lauded how Five for Fighting produced " sturdy tunes wrapped up neatly in a shiny, appealing gloss". Released by the label Universal, his work also hit the #54 slot on the Billboard 200, with his fans happily looking forwards to his future endeavors.
See more at: http://www.fiveforfighting.com/
Down
Five for Fighting Lyrics
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What you got cooking
I can see but I can't find the light
Please forgive me
If I don't have a smile to smile tonight
Don't you know
And I don't care if you know that I'm hurting cause
I wont let you get me down
I wont let you get me down
This time around
I see you're happy
Out there laughing
Must be nice to have your sweet revenge
I might be crazy
But I think I won this in the end, the end
Don't you know I can build my own house
You can try, but you can't throw me out because
I wont let you get me down
I wont let you get me down
They say you don't get what you want
But you get what you need
I don't know who they are
Or how they believe it
The truths in the tears
The fire and the fears
I'm standing on
I wont let you get me down
I wont let you get me down
I wont let you get me down
I wont let you get me down
This time around
The lyrics to Five for Fighting's song "Down" are a reflection of the singer's resilience in the face of adversity. The song opens with an almost flirtatious line, "Hey good looking, what you got cooking?" that is quickly undercut by a sense of darkness and sadness, "I can see but I can't find the light. Please forgive me if I don't have a smile to smile tonight." The singer is acknowledging that while things may appear fine on the surface, there is deep pain and hurt underneath.
The chorus becomes a defiant mantra: "I won't let you get me down, this time around." It's clear that whoever or whatever has caused the singer's pain, they refuse to let it take them down. The second verse takes on a more bitter tone, with the singer acknowledging that someone who hurt them is now "happy, out there laughing" and "having their sweet revenge." But the singer asserts their own strength and autonomy, declaring "Don't you know I can build my own house, you can try but you can't throw me out."
The bridge of the song contains some of the most powerful lyrics: "The truths in the tears, the fire and the fears, I'm standing on." Here the singer is acknowledging that their pain and trauma are the building blocks of their strength and resilience. They refuse to be beaten down by their struggles, but instead use them as fuel to keep going.
Overall, "Down" is a powerful anthem of resilience and determination. It's a reminder that even in the darkest of times, we have the strength to overcome and rise above.
Line by Line Meaning
Hey good looking
Addressing someone in a casual and flirtatious manner
What you got cooking
Asking if they have any interesting plans or secrets they want to share
I can see but I can't find the light
Having some insight into their behavior, but still feeling a sense of confusion or doubt
Please forgive me
Apologizing for not being in a good mood or not being able to provide a happy appearance
If I don't have a smile to smile tonight
Explaining why their demeanor might seem off or somber
Don't you know
Challenging the listener’s perception or understanding of the situation
Life ain't pictures and words
Reminding that life is more complex and nuanced than what can be simply summarized or superficially portrayed
And I don't care if you know that I'm hurting cause
Being honest that they are going through pain, regardless of other people’s opinions or judgments
I wont let you get me down
Expressing determination and resilience to not let external factors impact their inner strength
This time around
Emphasizing that this sense of determination may not have always been present or consistent
I see you're happy
Noticing that someone else seems to be enjoying themselves or succeeding
Out there laughing
Observing their behavior of being carefree and joyous
Must be nice to have your sweet revenge
Suggesting that their happiness may be related to a negative or vengeful event
I might be crazy
Acknowledging that this thought or belief may not be rational or widely accepted
But I think I won this in the end, the end
Being satisfied or content with the eventual outcome or resolution
Don't you know I can build my own house
Claiming that they are capable of achieving success and stability on their own
You can try, but you can't throw me out because
Asserting that attempts to weaken or remove their position will not succeed
They say you don't get what you want
Referencing a common belief or saying
But you get what you need
Suggesting that there may be a greater plan or purpose behind what one perceives as setbacks or disappointments
I don't know who they are
Acknowledging that this is not a fact or proven concept
Or how they believe it
Challenging the reasoning or perspective behind this belief
The truths in the tears
Recognizing the value or significance of emotions and experiences that may be seen as painful or vulnerable
The fire and the fears
Describing the intensity and depth of these inner struggles and battles
I'm standing on
Positioning oneself as rooted and grounded in these experiences and emotions
I wont let you get me down
Reiterating the commitment and determination to not let external influences affect their inner resilience
I wont let you get me down
Repeating this message for emphasis and assurance
I wont let you get me down
Concluding with reaffirming the message and expressing confidence in their ability to overcome challenges
This time around
Repeating this phrase to convey that this state of mind or action is specific to the current situation
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd.
Written by: JOHN ONDRASIK
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
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