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.
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O.A.R. Lyrics
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What you see going by is a shadow.
You've got to live in front of your eyes.
In a typical way we stray, checking back with the past.
In a typical day we'll stay to see what's gonna last.
But I didn't mind at all.
I didn't mind at all
I didn't mind at all
Well there was a place we'd chase through the woods in my juvenile days.
What a typical waste of space, what a wonderful place to stay.
But I could have cried but I just left my soul to fly.
And I could have chilled at will, but I didn't know how to die.
But I didn't mind at all.
I didn't mind at all
I didn't mind at all
I didn't mind at all
No, I've been woken, and I have been broken.
But this time it's gonna change
For,
I've been lazy, and I been crazy.
Has been stolen,
But from,
From this day on I swear to you true.
From this day on I swear to you.
Well there was at time when I could have flown out of the room.
Yet I didn't care just where I was going after noon.
Though I didn't know and I chose to live my life so fair.
And I could have died, but I chose to live here instead
But I didn't mind at all.
I didn't mind at all
I didn't mind at all
I didn't mind at all
I've been woken, and I have been broken
But this time its gonna change
For, I've been lazy and I have been crazy
But this time it's not hazy at all
Cause I've been,
I've been chose my heart has been stolen
But from,
From this day on, I swear to you true.
From this day on, I swear to you true.
I say now way back when you and all your friends
Had some good times we should do this again we'd say
Hey, hey, hey we should do this again, we'd say.
But in the mean meanwhile, I'll just walk the mile.
I won't look back won't forget your smile
Oh no, hey hey hey we should do this again, we'd say.
But I swear to you true.
From this day on I swear to you true I swear I do I.
No.
I won't give you back.
No.
Won't give you back.
No.
Won't give you back.
No.
Can't give you back.
No.
I won't give you back my baby.
Said I can't give you back.
No.
Said I won't give you back.
No.
I swear to you true.
From this day on I swear to you true.
I swear.
I do, I.
God, I do.
My baby, I swear to you true.
I swear, I do.
The lyrics of "Here's to You" by O.A.R. bring memories of the good old days when everything was simple, and life was full of adventures. The song speaks about a person who's reflecting on life, where they came from, and how they got where they are. The first verse sets the mood as the person sees life passing by as a shadow and reminds us to live in the moment. The second verse speaks of a time when the person used to chase through the woods in their youthful days. They mention it was a typical waste of space, but it was a wonderful place to stay. They could have cried but instead chose to let their soul fly.
In the chorus, the person confesses that they've been woken and broken before but this time, they're going to change. They admit they've been lazy, crazy, and their heart has been stolen. The bridge suggests that they won't give up and will hold onto special memories of friends and good times. Finally, they swear to their baby, that from that day on, their lifestyle will be true to their heart.
Line by Line Meaning
Well there was a time when life caught you by surprise.
Life can be completely unpredictable.
What you see going by is a shadow.
What you see in front of you is fleeting and temporary.
You've got to live in front of your eyes.
It's important to live in the present moment rather than looking back at the past or worrying about the future.
In a typical way we stray, checking back with the past.
We often look back on our past experiences to make sense of our present circumstances.
In a typical day we'll stay to see what's gonna last.
We tend to focus on what will be permanent in our lives.
But I didn't mind at all.
Despite the chaos of life, the singer is at peace with their circumstances.
Well there was a place we'd chase through the woods in my juvenile days.
There was a location the singer used to visit when they were younger.
What a typical waste of space, what a wonderful place to stay.
The location was remarkable but it didn't contribute much value to the artist's life.
But I could have cried but I just left my soul to fly.
The artist could have expressed sadness but instead found release in letting go of their worries.
And I could have chilled at will, but I didn't know how to die.
The artist could have pursued a carefree lifestyle but was unsure how to live without direction.
No, I've been woken, and I have been broken.
The singer has experienced hardship and their life has been tumultuous.
But this time it's gonna change For, I've been lazy, and I been crazy.
The artist is ready for a transformation and recognizes they've made mistakes in the past.
Has been stolen, But from, From this day on I swear to you true.
Something important has been taken away from the singer, but they commit to a new way of living.
Well there was at time when I could have flown out of the room.
There was a moment when the singer could have walked away from a situation.
Yet I didn't care just where I was going after noon.
The singer wasn't concerned with the direction their life was taking.
Though I didn't know and I chose to live my life so fair.
Despite their uncertainty, the artist made an effort to live a life of honesty and integrity.
And I could have died, but I chose to live here instead
The artist could have given up on life, but instead chose to keep living.
No. I won't give you back. No. Won't give you back. No. Won't give you back. No. Can't give you back. No. I won't give you back my baby. Said I can't give you back. No. Said I won't give you back.
The singer refuses to let go of something or someone important to them.
Said I can't give you back. No. I swear to you true. From this day on I swear to you true. I swear. I do, I. God, I do. My baby, I swear to you true. I swear, I do.
The singer is making a promise to remain committed to the person they care about.
Hey, hey, hey we should do this again, we'd say. But in the mean meanwhile, I'll just walk the mile. I won't look back won't forget your smile Oh no, hey hey hey we should do this again, we'd say.
The artist recalls happy memories and cherishes them, but recognizes that they must move forward in life without dwelling in the past.
But I swear to you true. From this day on I swear to you true I swear I do I.
The artist makes a commitment to remain true to their word and stay loyal to the person they care about.
Lyrics © REACH MUSIC PUBLISHING
Written by: MARC ANDREW ROBERGE, RICHARD JOE ON
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Sooz Morales
<3 I love this so, so very much.