The band's name was taken from the name of a lawn-ornament store in Wayne, New Jersey, not far from Montclair, New Jersey. That city is the hometown of the band's bassist and cofounder Adam Schlesinger (the store has since gone out of business). According to Songfacts, there were prominent fountains there.
The concept of the band was formed by Schlesinger and Chris Collingwood. The two first met as freshmen at Williams College and began playing music together in various groups. The two eventually went their separate ways with Collingwood forming the Mercy Buckets in Boston and Schlesinger forming Ivy in New York City. The duo initially set out to work together in the early 90s under various band monikers (including ones named "Pinwheel" and "The Wallflowers"), and recorded a full album's worth of demos in 1993. Although never released, the "Pinwheel" demos are widely bootlegged by fans and display a very different (yet still earnest) version of the pair's songwriting, though several songs from this period would be re-tooled and appear on later releases.
After failing to get their project off the ground, the two met up once again during the mid-90s and formed Fountains of Wayne. A demo eventually landed the two a deal with Atlantic Records and in 1996 they released their self titled debut. The album spawned the singles Radiation Vibe and Sink To The Bottom which received airplay, but it was Schlesinger's song entitled That Thing You Do! which became a hit being used as the lead track for the Tom Hanks film of the same name. "That Thing You Do!" also brought Schlesinger an Oscar nomination and an RIAA gold certification for the hit soundtrack.
Along with guitarist Jody Porter and drummer Brian Young, the band toured the world extensively behind the album playing alongside bands such as The Smashing Pumpkins and The Lemonheads.
In 1999, the band returned with their second album, Utopia Parkway, a loosely-based concept album about life in the American suburbs in the late 1990s. Unfortunately, a much-changed radio climate left little room in playlists for Fountains of Wayne's snarky power-pop, and the album, along with its three singles Denise, Red Dragon Tattoo, and Troubled Times, sank without much notice. The following year, the band was mostly quiet, contributing a song each to a soundtrack and a compilation (Too Cool for School to the "Scary Movie" soundtrack and California Sex Lawyer to the third installment of the International Pop Overthrow series). They were dropped by Atlantic soon thereafter.
The band spent much of the early 2000s in seclusion, occasionally rejoining to record or play an occasional gig, but mostly Schlessinger was focusing on work with Ivy and Collingwood founded an alt.country band near his Western Massachusetts home called The Gay Potatoes. In addition, the band wrote and performed the theme song to the popular Comedy Central program "Crank Yankers," and contributed a cover of The Kinks "Better Days" to a tribute album. The song was also later featured prominently in a scene of the 2004 remake of "The Manchurian Candidate." During this time, the band's stature only grew in indie pop circles, raising expectations high for the release of their next album.
Welcome Interstate Managers, Fountains of Wayne's third record and first for Virgin, was released in June of 2003. Preceeded by the single and video for the Cars-ish Stacy's Mom, the song became a surprise top 20 hit on the strength of its video--a send-up of 1980s teen comedies like "Fast Times at Ridgemont High"--which starred Rachel Hunter as Stacy's Mom. The video went into heavy rotation on MTV, pushing the album to become Fountains of Wayne's most successful with sales exceeding 400,000 units.
Like most bands who have a major hit driven by a clever video, follow-up singles did not fare as well. Despite a similarly-clever video for Mexican Wine, the single failed to take off after MTV banned the video due to a scene where two underage girls lip-synch the words to the chorus, a reference to drinking tequila. Third single Hey Julie initially made only a minor dent on AAA and Hot AC format stations, but it was later featured in "Scrubs" and other TV shows and grew in stature over time, becoming something of a sleeper hit. During this time, the band also wrote a series of short, almost They Might Be Giants-styled songs for a short-lived VH1 TV series titled "Hey Joel!," which was written by critic Joel Stein. The show was canceled before it aired in the United States and the songs were never released.
The song named "Red Dragon Tattoo" was also featured in the 2004 series "Kingdom Hospital", based on a novel by Stephen King, that aired on BBC.
In 2005, the band issued the 2-disc Out-of-State Plates, a compilation rounding up the band's various import-only B-sides as well as several new songs. Maureen was released as a single yet received little attention.
The band's fourth proper album, titled Traffic and Weather, was released April 3, 2007. One abandoned track from these sessions, a novelty throwaway titled Monster House that was written for the movie of the same name but not used, was leaked in advance of the album's release via the band's MySpace page. "Traffic and Weather" met with typically strong reviews but fewer sales than its predecessor, although the single and video for Someone to Love made a minor impact.
In early 2009, the band embarked on a small tour where they began to debut some new songs from an as-yet-untitled fifth album. Progress was slow, however, and other than some scattered shows the band dropped almost entirely out of view for two years. In late 2010, the band announced that they were now without a label but that they had completed their as-yet-untitled fifth album, which they were hoping to release sometime in 2011 once they found a new label. During this time they gave away one new free song via their website. Song of the Passaic was written for an NPR segment using a poem about New Jersey's famed, industrial Passaic River.
In May 2011, the band has announced that their fifth album, Sky Full of Holes will be released on August 1st, 2011 on Lojinx in Europe, August 2nd, 2011 on YepRoc in North America and on Warner in Japan. Two singles were released in advance of the album itself: Richie and Ruben in May 2011, followed by Someone's Gonna Break Your Heart the following month. Like their previous releases, the album garnered critical praise from a variety of publications. Jill Menze of 'Billboard' called the release "excellent", describing it as "a new minimal sound with a poppy, folk-leaning flair."
After a six-month tour in support of the album, the band quietly went defunct in favor of side projects. Although they never officially broke up, the band has been completely inactive since sometime in 2012.
On April 1st, 2020, co-founder Adam Schlessinger passed away due to complications from COVID-19 at the age of 52.
Bright Future In Sales
Fountains of Wayne Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Waiting for my bus to come
Seven scotch-and-sodas at the office party
Now I don't remember where I'm from
I think I had a black wallet
In my back pocket
With a bus ticket
And if I make it home alive
I'm gonna get my shit together
'Cause I can't live like this forever
You know I've come too fay
And I don't want to fail
I got a new computer
And a bright future in sales
Yeah, yeah
A bright future in sales
Yeah, yeah
Heading for the airport on a misty morning
Gonna catch a flight to Baltimore
Try to kill an hour with a whiskey sour
If there's time I might have just one more
I gotta do some quick reading
For the big meeting
But my head is spinning
And I can't quite open my eyes
As long as I don't have to drive
I'm gonna get my shit together
'Cause I can't live like this forever
You know I've come too far
And I don't want to fail
I got a new computer
And a bright future in sales
Yeah, yeah
A bright future in sales
Yeah, yeah
I had a line on a brand new account
But now I can't semm to find
Where I wrote that number down
I try to focus, I'm staring at the screen
Pretending like I know
What all these little flashing lights mean
I gotta do some quick reading
For the big meeting
But my head is spinning
And I can't quite open my eyes
I gotta get my shit together
'Cause I can't live like this forever
You know I;ve come too far
And I don't want to fail
I got a new computer
And a bright future in sales
Yeah, yeah
A bright future in sales
Yeah, yeah
The song "Bright Future In Sales" by Fountains of Wayne describes a man who is in a state of disorientation and confusion as he waits for his bus to come at the Port Authority after a drunken office party. He is uncertain of his whereabouts and cannot recall where he is from. The man used to be a mess and is trying to turn his life around, as he is now sober and has a new computer. He sees himself having a bright future in sales. However, despite his best attempts, he struggles to focus and is still grappling with his personal demons.
The song speaks to the universal experience of trying to make positive lifestyle changes and turning a new leaf. Despite his desire to be responsible and successful, the man in the song is still trapped in a cycle that is hindering his growth. The lyrics reflect the inner turmoil and uncertainty of making these changes, but also show the hope and determination that comes with attempting to rebuild oneself.
Line by Line Meaning
Sleeping on a planter at the Port Authority
I am so tired and stressed that I passed out on a public bench for lack of energy to go home.
Waiting for my bus to come
Although I want to leave, I don't know when my bus is coming and have no control over the situation.
Seven scotch-and-sodas at the office party
I drank a lot of alcohol at a work event to relieve stress and cope with life.
Now I don't remember where I'm from
I am so overwhelmed that I have lost touch with my identity, my purpose, and my origin.
I think I had a black wallet
I am uncertain if even the simplest of things, like the color of my wallet, are still with me or not.
In my back pocket
I usually keep my wallet in my back pocket, but I am too disoriented to remember if it is still there or not.
With a bus ticket
I have a ticket to go somewhere, but I am not sure where exactly or why I want to go there.
And a picture of my baby inside
I carry a sentimental object with me to remind me of my loved ones, but it doesn't seem to be enough to make me happy or grounded.
And if I make it home alive
I am so depleted that I am worried I might not even make it home in one piece.
I'm gonna get my shit together
I need to find a way to regain control of my life, be more responsible and productive, and stop feeling so lost and hopeless.
'Cause I can't live like this forever
I am aware that my current lifestyle, filled with anxiety, confusion, and drinking, is unsustainable and might lead to my downfall.
You know I've come too far
Even though I don't remember where I'm from, I know I have traveled a long way, metaphorically, to build a career and support my family.
And I don't want to fail
I have high expectations for myself and want to keep climbing the corporate ladder, making more money, and achieving success.
I got a new computer
I have invested in new technology to help me work more efficiently, stay organized, and impress my colleagues.
And a bright future in sales
I believe that if I work hard enough and use my skills wisely, I can become a top-performing salesperson and achieve great things in my job.
Heading for the airport on a misty morning
I am always moving, always traveling, always chasing something new and exciting, even if it requires waking up early or dealing with bad weather.
Gonna catch a flight to Baltimore
I am going to an unfamiliar place, which might involve meeting new people, attending a conference, or pursuing a business opportunity.
Try to kill an hour with a whiskey sour
I still use alcohol as a coping mechanism, as a way to relax my nerves, take the edge off, and socialize with others.
If there's time I might have just one more
I know I should pace myself and not drink too much, but I fear missing out, wasting time, or being too sober around others.
I had a line on a brand new account
I was close to landing a big customer, which could have boosted my reputation, commissions, and career prospects.
But now I can't semm to find
I have lost valuable information, contacts, or details that could have helped me secure the deal, and I am frustrated and stressed.
Where I wrote that number down
I have probably forgotten or misplaced a critical piece of paper or electronic file that contained the client's contact information, and I am kicking myself for it.
I try to focus, I'm staring at the screen
I am trying my best to concentrate, stay focused, and get work done, but my mind is clouded, and my eyes are tired and strained.
Pretending like I know
I am faking confidence, pretending to be on top of things, even though I feel lost, confused, and out of my depth.
What all these little flashing lights mean
I am surrounded by technology that I don't fully understand or control, and it makes me feel even more overwhelmed and intimidated.
I gotta get my shit together
I am repeating my earlier mantra, trying to motivate myself, and convince myself that I can still improve and overcome my challenges.
You know I;ve come too far
I am reminding myself that I have already invested a lot of time, effort, and money into my career, and I don't want to waste it all or disappoint myself or others.
Lyrics © Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd.
Written by: Adam Schlesinger, Christopher Brendan Collingwood
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind