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/
Heaven Knows
Five for Fighting Lyrics
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In this famous goodbye
There's Angels landing on the shore
So lay down with me
Let the river run dry
It's Sunday in the six-day war
Stars are going to shine tonight
Tell me where the good men go
Before I wash away
Walk me down the old brick road
So I can die where I met you
Hold me like we're going home
Turn your tears to rain
Bury me beautiful
Heaven knows how I loved you
There's a children's choir in perfect parade
Singing like they found the Lord
I can't say it they'll let me in
But we can dance the way we did
High above up the seventh floor
Smile darling don't be sad
Stars are going to shine tonight
Tell me where the good men go
Before I wash away
Walk me down the old brick road
So I can die where I met you
Hold me like we're going home
Turn your tears to rain
Bury me beautiful
Heaven knows how I loved you
And how I loved you
Father hear your Son
Do the good die young
Did I raise you up, raise you up
Make you Proud
Let the sun go out
Tear the bridges down
I'm on my way, on my way
I'm going home
Home
Tell me where the good men go
Before I wash away
Walk me down the old brick road
So I can die where I met you
Hold me like we're going home
Turn your tears to rain
Bury me beautiful
Heaven knows how I loved you
Tell me where the good men go
Before I wash away
Walk me down the old brick road
So I can die where I met you
Hold me like we're going home
Turn your tears to rain
Bury me beautiful
Heaven knows how I loved you
Heaven Knows
The lyrics to "Heaven Knows" by Five for Fighting are full of imagery and emotion, reflecting on the value of love and the fleeting nature of life. The song uses the metaphor of a river running dry, suggesting that time is running out, and that the singer wants to make the most of the time they have left with their loved one. The line "It's Sunday in the six-day war" refers to a conflict in the Middle East in which Israel triumphed over its enemies, implying that the singer wants to cherish what little time they have left because life is full of uncertainty and conflict.
The chorus of the song repeats the plea to "Tell me where the good men go" and ends with the phrase "Heaven knows how I loved you", which suggests that the singer is searching for answers as to why life is so unpredictable and why bad things happen to good people. The children's choir singing in "perfect parade" represents the purity and innocence of youth and the hope that comes with it, while the line "I can't say it they'll let me in" implies that the singer feels like an outsider or that their life has been marked by imperfections.
Overall, "Heaven Knows" is a poignant and reflective song that speaks to the universal experiences of love, loss, and the search for meaning in life.
Line by Line Meaning
There's no time to waste
We can't afford to waste any more time.
In this famous goodbye
This is a momentous farewell that will be remembered.
There's Angels landing on the shore
There are heavenly beings arriving on the beach.
So lay down with me
Let's rest together for a while.
Let the river run dry
Let's stay here until the river is completely dry.
It's Sunday in the six-day war
Even during times of conflict, there are moments of peace and rest.
Smile darling don't be sad
I want to see you happy and not sorrowful.
Stars are going to shine tonight
There is hope yet for a brighter future.
Tell me where the good men go
I want to know where the virtuous and honorable people end up.
Before I wash away
Before I perish or fade away.
Walk me down the old brick road
Take me on a sentimental journey through the familiar place where we met.
So I can die where I met you
I want to pass away in the same location where we first encountered each other.
Hold me like we're going home
Embrace me tightly as we prepare to embark on our final journey.
Turn your tears to rain
Let your sorrow and pain be washed away into the earth.
Bury me beautiful
Lay me to rest in a place of beauty and tranquility.
Heaven knows how I loved you
I loved you with all my heart and soul, and even heaven is aware of it.
There's a children's choir in perfect parade
A group of young singers is performing in sync and harmony.
Singing like they found the Lord
Their song sounds like they have discovered inner peace and salvation.
I can't say it they'll let me in
I am not allowed to reveal what I really think or feel to gain acceptance.
But we can dance the way we did
We can relive happier moments when we danced together.
High above up the seventh floor
We are on the upper floors, looking out on the world from a higher perspective.
Father hear your Son
God, please listen to me.
Do the good die young
Is it true that the virtuous tend to die young?
Did I raise you up, raise you up
Have I done my best to bring you up and help you succeed?
Make you Proud
I hope I have made you proud of who I've become.
Let the sun go out
Let the world come to an end.
Tear the bridges down
Sever all ties and connections with the past.
I'm on my way, on my way
I am leaving for good.
I'm going home
I am returning to my eternal home.
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Spirit Music Group, Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd.
Written by: DEREK FUHRMANN, JOHN ONDRASIK, GREGG WATTENBERG, JAMIE KENNEY
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
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