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/
Wise Man
Five for Fighting Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
You talk about one
You talk about reason and the nature of unity
You talk about rust
Good voice of freedom through your light of diversity
You are news confusion
I can feel
I can feel
Wise man do you believe in love?
Wise man do you believe in the things that I'm thinking of?
Yeah! Woo!
So talk about truth
Talk about justice in the world of impurity
Talk about wars oooh
And the glory as a kingdom would rule
Ahhh kings, yeah!
See some dissolution
I can feel
I can feel
I can feel
Wise man do you believe in love?
Wise man are you sure of the power from above?
Wise man who do you see in me?
Me, yeah...
Ooooh
Wise man do you believe in love?
Wise man can you show me the power from above?
Wise man who do you see in me?
In me, yeah...
Talk about one
Talk about one
Talk about one
Talk about one
Talk about one
Talk about one
The song "Wise Man" by Five for Fighting is a powerful commentary on the complexities of the world, with a focus on the ideas and beliefs that shape our way of life. The lyrics invoke a powerful sense of questioning and introspection, as the singer tries to understand the wisdom of a wise man who seems to embody all of the ideals that he holds dear.
Throughout the song, the singer addresses a "wise man" who appears to have all of the answers, but who also seems to be struggling with his own beliefs and doubts. The singer asks the wise man about his beliefs in love and the power of a higher force, and questions whether or not these ideas can really bring about change in the world. At the same time, however, the singer seems to be looking for answers himself, and is trying to understand the complexities of the world around him.
Ultimately, the song seems to be about the search for meaning and purpose in life, and the difficulty of trying to reconcile our beliefs and our actions. It's a powerful commentary on the human experience, and one that is sure to resonate with listeners of all ages and backgrounds.
Line by Line Meaning
You talk about one
You speak of unity and the importance of oneness.
You talk about reason and the nature of unity
You discuss the logic behind the concept of being united.
You talk about rust
You mention decay and the effects of wear and tear.
Good voice of freedom through your light of diversity
Through your appreciation for different ideas and opinions comes the freedom to speak your mind.
You are news confusion
You bring about confusion with your latest news.
I can feel
I can sense the vibes you give off.
Wise man do you believe in love?
Do you, a wise man, truly believe in the power of love?
Wise man do you believe in the things that I'm thinking of?
Do you also believe in the same ideas that I believe in?
So talk about truth
Bring up the subject of honesty and the virtue of being truthful.
Talk about justice in the world of impurity
Discuss the importance of fairness in a world that is often corrupt.
Talk about wars oooh
Bring up the topic of war and its effects.
And the glory as a kingdom would rule
Also highlight the idea of power and influence that comes with ruling a kingdom.
See some dissolution
Perceive the disintegration and decay of something.
Wise man are you sure of the power from above?
As a wise person, are you completely certain of the higher power that controls us all?
Wise man who do you see in me?
What kind of person do you believe I am?
Talk about one
Emphasize the theme of unity once again.
Talk about one
Continuously reiterate the importance of oneness.
Talk about one
Remind us to always remember the power of unity.
Talk about one
Highlight the lesson that no matter our differences, we are one as humans.
Talk about one
Re-emphasize the central message of this song: unity.
Contributed by Jackson A. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
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