O.A.R. (Of A Revolution) is an alternative rock band which formed in Rockvi… Read Full Bio ↴O.A.R. (Of A Revolution) is an alternative rock band which formed in Rockville, Maryland, United States in 1996. The band consists of Marc Roberge (vocals, guitar), Chris Culos (drums, percussion), Richard On (guitar, backing vocals), Benj Gershman (bass), and Jerry DePizzo (saxophone, guitar, backing vocals). The band has released seven albums: "The Wanderer" (1997), Soul's Aflame (2000), "Risen" (2001), "In Between Now and Then" (2003), "Stories of a Stranger" (2005), "All Sides" (2008), and King (2011).

After gaining a following as a popular live act on college campuses, the band has gained popular success since signing to Lava Records in 2005, with their singles "Love and Memories" and "Shattered (Turn the Car Around)" gaining mainstream radio airplay. Speaking with Songfacts in an interview, Roberge explained "Love and Memories" was inspired by the Jim Carrey and Kate Winslet movie, The Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind.

The members of O.A.R. first came together in Rockville, Maryland in the basement of drummer Chris Culos' childhood home in 1996. As a young group of musicians, they were the prototype of the modern, self-starting band--taking charge of their fate by working the internet and building an identifiable sound. The band’s music, a rock/reggae fusion, consisted of songs that were fully accessible, yet teasingly elusive. Attracting fans all across the country, the band members toured relentlessly, pushing their album sales through boundless dedication and word-of-mouth appeal, never waiting for the industry to catch up. O.A.R. owes much of their success to piracy and Napster, the mp3 sharing engine. Around 2000, O.A.R.'s popularity greatly increased among college students because their song "Crazy Game of Poker" was a huge hit on Napster.

By the time the band had reached their 10 year anniversary together, they had sold over 1.2 million albums and performed in front of over 1 million people. Their studio record, Stories of a Stranger, produced radio favorites “Love and Memories” and “Heard the World” as well as mtvU’s Most Downloaded Video of 2006, “Lay Down.” The band followed up the successful release with a live double disc CD and DVD set, Live From Madison Square Garden, recorded during the band’s second sold-out performance at the prestigious arena.

Early in 2008, the band members holed themselves up in a studio in Los Angeles to work on their next project, All Sides. The album was released on July 15th.

The Heaven Songfacts reports that the first single from O.A.R.'s seventh studio album, King was released on June 7, 2011 on Wind-Up Records.

. For more information about O.A.R., go to www.ofarevolution.com.

Destination
O.A.R. Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

Woo
Uh-huh
Destination: New York
Neo number: 73672 (73672)
Department 6 7-B
Style
Number
FH4 7-2

Two
Two
Destination (you)
Destination, my expiration
7, 3, 6, 7, 0, 2 (R)
One
7, 3, 6, 7, 0, 2
Department number 7-60
The item name
Five pieces
Bridge set
Class
576
The quantity
The quantity
Oh, the quantity is one
One cent
One cent, you
Made in China
Made in China
It was made in china (Taiwanese, American)
Made in China
Everything is made in China
Guess not everything is made in China (steal your shoes make it out)
Got memories like
China, China (Chinese, Taiwanese, American)
China
Chinatown
Made in China
Here in Chinatown I've lost my sense of tact (China)
I'm on the ground
Here in Chinatown I'm awaiting
Here in Chinatown I'm waiting while I'm waiting on the ground (7, 6, 2)
Here in Chinatown I'm waiting for
Net worth (that clown)
I met in the subway last weekend (net weight)
25.2 kilograms
That clown
Was made of everything I wanted
That clown I met
On the subway had the
Most beautiful frown
Everyone I know has told me not to
Pursue it (1, 2, 3)
Destination
Made in China (Chinatown I'm waiting for that loner clown)
Made in China
It was made in China (made in Chinatown)
Made in China (that woman had the most beautiful frown)
Everything is made in China
Made in China, made in China
Made in China (Chinatown)
Destination: New York (most beautiful clown I ever saw)
It was made
In China
China
China
China, it was made in China
In China
In China
I'll meet you in China
Here in Chinatown
I'll meet you in China
Here in Chinatown the most beautiful clown has that frown

Here in China (Here in Chinatown, here in Chinatown)
Chinatown (destination)

Overall Meaning

The lyrics of O.A.R.'s "Destination" are quite cryptic and open to interpretation, but there are a few themes that seem to emerge. The first part of the song features a series of numbers and codes, perhaps representing a list of items or destinations. The repeated refrain of "made in China" suggests that the items in question are manufactured there, and the reference to Chinatown further reinforces this idea. The middle section of the song seems to shift into a more personal narrative, with the singer reminiscing about a clown they met on the subway with a beautiful frown. This could be interpreted as a metaphor for someone who appears happy on the surface but is struggling internally. The connection to China continues throughout, with the suggestion that the clown was also "made in China." The song ends with a repeat of the refrain and a final mention of New York as the ultimate destination.

Line by Line Meaning

Woo
Expressing excitement, enthusiasm or celebration

Uh-huh
Agreeing or acknowledging something said previously

Destination: New York
The desired end point or goal, specifically New York City

Neo number: 73672 (73672)
A specific identifier, possibly a code or tracking number

Department 6 7-B
A specific location or department

Style
A specific fashion or aesthetic

Number
A quantity or amount

FH4 7-2
A specific code or identifier

Two
The number 2 or possibly a reference to two things

Destination (you)
A desired end point, specifically the listener or someone being addressed

Destination, my expiration
An end point or goal that may signify the end of the artist's life

7, 3, 6, 7, 0, 2 (R)
A specific code or identifier

One
The number 1 or a singular item

7, 3, 6, 7, 0, 2
A specific code or identifier

Department number 7-60
A specific location or department

The item name
A specific name or identifier for an object

Five pieces
A quantity of 5 items or possibly a specific type of item

Bridge set
A specific type of item or game

Class
A specific category or group

576
A specific number or identifier

The quantity
The number or amount of a specific item

Oh, the quantity is one
A confirmation that there is only one of a specific item

One cent
The amount of one penny or a small amount of money

One cent, you
A reference to a small amount of money being owed to the listener

Made in China
A statement of origin, indicating the item was manufactured in China

It was made in china (Taiwanese, American)
Clarifying that the item was made in China, even though it may have been mistaken for being made in Taiwan or America

Made in China
A statement of origin, indicating the item was manufactured in China

Everything is made in China
A statement or realization that many items are manufactured in China

Guess not everything is made in China (steal your shoes make it out)
A realization that not all items are made in China, particularly when shoes may be stolen and resold as knock-offs

Got memories like
Describing the artist's memories

China, China (Chinese, Taiwanese, American)
Reflecting on the artist's memories of China or items associated with China

China
A reference to China or a specific item made in China

Chinatown
A specific neighborhood or area, possibly where the artist is located

Made in China
A statement of origin, indicating the item was manufactured in China

Here in Chinatown I've lost my sense of tact (China)
Describing the singer's current location, where they feel unaccustomed to the culture or customs

I'm on the ground
Describing the singer's physical position, likely sitting, lying down or fallen

Here in Chinatown I'm awaiting
Describing the artist's current state, waiting for something or someone

Here in Chinatown I'm waiting while I'm waiting on the ground (7, 6, 2)
Describing the artist's current physical position while waiting in Chinatown, possibly with an identifying code

Here in Chinatown I'm waiting for
Describing the singer's current state, waiting for something or someone

Net worth (that clown)
A reference to an individual's overall wealth, possibly the clown being referred to

I met in the subway last weekend (net weight)
Recalling how the artist met the clown, likely with a play on words of net worth and net weight

25.2 kilograms
A specific measurement, likely used to refer to the weight of an object or item

That clown
A reference to a specific individual

Was made of everything I wanted
Describing how the singer desired the clown, possibly for specific qualities or traits

That clown I met
Referring to the specific individual the artist previously mentioned

On the subway had the
Referring to the individual's appearance, likely their facial expression

Most beautiful frown
Describing the individual's facial expression in a unique or unconventional way

Everyone I know has told me not to
Describing how others have advised the singer against something

Pursue it (1, 2, 3)
Advocating for pursuing something despite what others have advised, possibly with a reference to a count or a specific item

Destination
A desired end point or goal

Made in China (Chinatown I'm waiting for that loner clown)
Reflecting on the previous mentions of items made in China and the singer waiting in Chinatown while also waiting for a specific clown

Made in China
A statement of origin, indicating the item was manufactured in China

It was made in China (made in Chinatown)
Clarifying that the item was made in China, even though it may have been confused as being made in Chinatown

Everything is made in China
A statement or realization that many items are manufactured in China

Made in China, made in China
Repeatedly highlighting that items are made in China

Made in China (Chinatown)
Reflecting on the previous mentions of items made in China and the singer's location in Chinatown

Destination: New York (most beautiful clown I ever saw)
The ultimate goal or desired end point in New York City, potentially reiterating the artist's admiration for the clown they previously mentioned

It was made
A statement of origin, indicating the item of discussion was manufactured somewhere

In China
Clarifying that the item mentioned earlier was made in China

China
Reflecting on the significance of China or Chinese items

China, it was made in China
Clarifying that an item previously mentioned was, in fact, made in China

In China
Reflecting on the location or origin of a particular item

I'll meet you in China
Making a point to meet in China at some point in the future

Here in Chinatown
Referencing the artist's current location in Chinatown

I'll meet you in China
Making a point to meet in China at some point in the future

Here in Chinatown the most beautiful clown has that frown
Reflecting on the previous mention of a clown and its appearance while also noting the artist's current location in Chinatown

Here in China (Here in Chinatown, here in Chinatown)
Repeating the location of China and Chinatown, potentially for emphasis or clarification

Chinatown (destination)
Referencing Chinatown as a specific location or destination

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TRACKS