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/
You'll Never Change
Five for Fighting Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Alterations
Filling up your mind
A little patience
Before you start to sand these corners
I'm warning you
I know you've put down
But as an actor
Darling read between the lines
Before you take up the role of the reformer
You'll never change
You'll never change
Change me
You know I have this deep desire
For how you're wired
Intrigues me to no end
And I'm willing to do what I can do
Push the boundaries
Hang your picture
Mix your mixture
But don't expect to fix the color, the color of my eyes
You'll never change
You'll never change
Change me
Is it so wrong to be strong
Change
Change
You'll never change
You'll never change
Change me
I know you have big plans ahead
In the beginning of the song, the singer acknowledges that their partner has grand aspirations for their own life. However, he warns them to be patient before they begin making any drastic changes. He cautions that trying to change someone else can be a difficult and even fruitless task. The singer admits that he, too, is fascinated by his partner's way of being and is willing to try new things for them, but ultimately they cannot change who he is at his core. The repeated chant "you'll never change, change me" reflects his insistence that their partner cannot make him something he is not. He is proud of his own strength, and asserts that there is nothing wrong with it.
The song conveys a message of individuality and resistance against conformity. The singer acknowledges that change can be a positive thing, but only when it comes from within oneself. He emphasizes that everyone has their own unique qualities, and this is what makes us interesting and valuable. It is important to recognize and celebrate our differences rather than trying to make everyone the same. The song also touches on the theme of power struggles in a relationship, where one partner may try to change the other in order to gain control. The singer is asserting his independence and refusing to be molded into someone he is not.
Line by Line Meaning
I know you have big plans ahead
I understand that you have aspirations and goals that you want to achieve in the future.
Alterations
Modifications and adjustments that you want to make in yourself or me.
Filling up your mind
Pondering deeply and having more to think about the changes that you want to make.
A little patience
Waiting for the right time to change and being patient with the situation before making any adjustments.
Before you start to sand these corners
Think twice before you start changing the essence of things or try to make something different from what it is.
I'm warning you
I caution you to be careful with trying to change who I am or who you are because it may not be possible or realistic.
You know I have this deep desire
You know that I have a longing or a strong attraction to certain things about you.
For how you're wired
I find the way you think and behave fascinating and unique.
Intrigues me to no end
It captivates me to a great extent and I can't stop thinking about it.
And I'm willing to do what I can do
I am willing to help and support you in your goals, but I recognize that I may not be able to change some things.
Push the boundaries
I am willing to try new things and think outside the box to help support the changes you want to make.
Hang your picture
I am happy to display and showcase things that are important to you in our home or relationship.
Mix your mixture
I am open to trying and experimenting with new things and ways.
But don't expect to fix the color, the color of my eyes
Do not expect to transform my core and unique traits that define who I am.
Is it so wrong to be strong
Is it not okay to be firm in who I am and what I believe in?
Change
The process of altering parts of myself or aspects of our relationship.
You'll never change
You will not be able to change who I am or certain aspects of myself.
Change me
An invitation to try and alter my beliefs or personality, though it may not be possible.
Lyrics © Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd.
Written by: JOHN ONDRASIK
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
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