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/
Tuesday
Five for Fighting Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
In a week like any week
Monday lying down
Half asleep
People doing what people do
Loving, working and getting through
No portraits on the walls
Then Tuesday came and went
Like a helicopter overhead
The letter that she left
Cold addressed in red
Tuesday came and went one
One September
When will she come again
The thing about memories
They're sure and bound to fade
Except for the stolen souls
Left upon her blade
Is Monday coming back
That's what mondays do
They turn and turn around
Afraid to see it through
Tuesday came and went
Like a helicopter overhead
The letter that she left
Cold addressed in red
Tuesday came and went one
One September
When will she come again
Tuesday came and went one
One September, when?
Cold and dressed in red
How could I forget
Tuesday came and went
Like a helicopter overhead
Will she come again
The lyrics of Five for Fighting's song "Tuesday" tell the story of a seemingly ordinary week that becomes forever marked by a traumatic event that happens on Tuesday. The first verse highlights the monotony of every day people's lives as they go about their business, without any significant events taking place. The second verse marks the event that changes everything - a letter left by someone, coldly addressed in red, that suggests a sudden and tragic departure. The chorus repeats the theme of a helicopter overhead, which could signify a news report or a rescue mission, and serves as a metaphorical representation of the event and how it has affected the singer's life.
The bridge then delves into the nature of memories and their uncertain nature, as well as the fear of moving forward that can often hold people back. The final chorus emphasizes the impact of the event on the singer, as they cannot forget the day that it happened and wonder if it will ever occur again. The lyrics are powerful in their simplicity and use of metaphor to convey the intense emotions that come with a life-changing event.
Line by Line Meaning
One year like any old other year
This year was not extraordinary and was similar to all other years.
In a week like any week
This week was just like any other week.
Monday lying down, half asleep
People were tired after the weekend and were not fully awake on this Monday.
People doing what people do, loving, working and getting through
People were just living their lives, working and loving, and making it through the week.
No portraits on the walls, of seventh avenue
The surroundings were not remarkable, with no art or decorations on the walls of Seventh Avenue.
Then Tuesday came and went, like a helicopter overhead
Tuesday passed by quickly and without any memorable moments, like a helicopter that quickly flies by and disappears.
The letter that she left, cold addressed in red
A letter was received, with a cold and unemotional tone, and a red envelope symbolizing importance or urgency.
The thing about memories, they're sure and bound to fade
Memories are not always reliable and will eventually fade over time.
Except for the stolen souls, left upon her blade
The artist recalls a traumatic event, where someone's soul was taken away abruptly and painfully.
Is Monday coming back, that's what Mondays do
The artist wonders if things will return to normal, as Mondays typically do, and people will continue with their usual routines.
They turn and turn around, afraid to see it through
People might feel stuck in cyclical patterns or routines and may be afraid to break out of them.
Tuesday came and went one, one September
The artist remembers a particular Tuesday in September, but it was still unremarkable and nothing out of the ordinary happened.
When will she come again
The singer is left waiting and wondering when something exciting or meaningful will happen again.
Cold and dressed in red, how could I forget
The singer vividly recalls the red envelope they received, as it was an unusual and memorable detail about an otherwise forgettable incident.
Will she come again
The singer is still waiting for something exciting or significant to happen again.
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd.
Written by: JOHN ONDRASIK
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
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