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.
Night Shift...Stir It Up
O.A.R. Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I got a lady runnin' through my head
Ran out of money, looking for a night shift
It's 3 a.m. and I want to go to bed
I know this lady, way down in my country
She is so pretty that my eyes throw disguises at me
An we will sit and wonder 'bout our future
Well I've been working five days full time
Ain't got no money but everything is goin' fine
I've been tired in my head,
I've been tired in my head...
It's 3 a.m. and I wanna go to bed
I got a lady running through my head
Ran out of money, looking for a night shift
It's 3 a.m. and I want to go to bed
I know this lady with eyes as brown as can be
Now we would sit and stare directly through me
And that laugh would take me to my future
Throughout my past, there ain't shit left for me
Well I've been working five days full time
I've got no money but everything is goin' fine
But I've been tired in my head
Well I've been tired in my head...
Its 3 a.m. and I wanna go to bed
I got a lady runnin' through my head
Ran out of money, looking for a night shift
It's 3 a.m., I want to go to bed...
I feel my lady yea
I feel my lady yeaaa
I feel my lady tonight my baby come to me
And make my mind
Remind me where I can be
So I can plan out my future
But I've been thinking five days full time
I've got no money but everything is goin' fine
I've been tired in my head
I've been tired in my head...
Its 3 a.m. and I wanna go to bed
I got a lady runnin' through my head
Ran out of money, looking for a night shift
It's 3 a.m., I want to go to bed she want in my head
Just want to rest my head to bed
She won't let me go
Oh I want to go
(Ladies and gentleman please welcome to the stage, from bob marleys band, Mr.
Jr Marvin!)
Stir it up
Little darlin stir it up
We can stir it up
Little darlin stir it up
It's been a long long time
Since I've got you on my mind
Well our work here stir it together every minute
Now lets see what we can do honey just me and you
So we can stir it up
Little darling stir it up
We can stir it up
Little darlin stir it up
Stir it up say yeaaa
I know this lady, way down in my country
She is so pretty that my eyes throw disguises at me
Now we will sit & we dream about our future
Now I'm thinkin' baby doll you look great to me
We can stir it up
Little darlin' stir it up
We can stir it up
Little darlin' stir it up
Stir it up say ladadada
We can stir it if you like if you want my baby
We can stir all night if you want my lady
We can stir it all 'round the town
You and me my baby upside down
You keep my head spinnin' around and round
I love the way you do that thing, you doing it right
And all I want to know do I stir it up with you tonight
Quench me when I'm thirsty
Won't you cool me down
When I'm hot
Your reast in me my darling is so tasty
And you can surely stir my pot see'MON
Stir it up
Little darlin' stir it up
Stir it up
Little darlin' Stir it up
Stir it up
Oh my baby won't you stir it up with me
My life is not complete unless you stir it up with me
I will meet you round the time
The song Night Shift... Stir It Up by O.A.R. is about a man who is up late at night, unable to sleep because he is thinking about a woman he loves. Despite being out of money and in need of work, he continuously thinks of her and their likely future. The man describes the woman as someone who is beautiful and has beautiful eyes that stare directly through him. Although he has been working every day, he does not have any money, but everything is still going fine. He is just tired, both physically and mentally. He talks about wanting to rest his head and simply sleep, but she will not let him rest. The title itself implies that he may be doing night shifts to earn money.
The song features a guest appearance by Jr. Marvin from Bob Marley's band, who also joins the band in the chorus of the Bob Marley classic song "Stir It Up." This inclusion could be a nod to the Rastafarian culture that Bob Marley was a major proponent of, as well as the reggae beats that influenced O.A.R's sound.
Furthermore, the song Night Shift... Stir It Up has its personal elements, as O.A.R. vocalist Marc Roberge had been battling insomnia during the recording of the band's album, In Between Now and Then. The song has a calm and soothing melody that transports the listener into the singer's world and, in a way, highlights the issues that the band members were having on the night shift.
Overall, the song is about a man's love for a woman, despite his tiredness and lack of funds. It speaks to how love can keep one going, even in difficult situations.
Line by Line Meaning
It's 3 a.m. and I wanna go to bed
The singer is tired and wants to go to sleep, but something is keeping them awake.
I got a lady runnin' through my head
The singer can't stop thinking about someone.
Ran out of money, looking for a night shift
The singer needs to work to make money but can only find a job working late at night.
I know this lady, way down in my country
The artist knows a woman who lives far away, perhaps in their hometown.
She is so pretty that my eyes throw disguises at me
The artist finds this woman very attractive and can't help but think about her.
An we will sit and wonder 'bout our future
The singer and this woman think about what their future might look like together.
But now I'm thinkin' that today sounds fine to me
The singer is content to enjoy the present moment and isn't worried about the future.
Well I've been working five days full time
The artist has been working five days a week, all day.
Ain't got no money but everything is goin' fine
Despite not having much money, the artist is doing okay.
I've been tired in my head,
The artist is mentally exhausted.
I feel my lady yea
The singer feels a strong connection to the woman they can't stop thinking about.
And make my mind
The artist wants to clear their mind and focus on this woman.
Remind me where I can be
The singer wants to be reminded of what's important in life and where their future might lead.
Stir it up
The singer wants to mix things up and try something new with their life and/or relationship.
Little darlin stir it up
The singer is addressing the person they are thinking about and asking them to make a change with them.
We can stir it up...Little darlin stir it up
The artist is trying to convince the person they're thinking about to take action and make a change together.
It's been a long long time....Now lets see what we can do honey just me and you
The artist is acknowledging that it's been a while since they've thought about their future, but they want to make changes and try new things with the person they're thinking about.
quench me when I'm thirsty...And you can surely stir my pot see'MON
The singer is asking the person they're thinking about to comfort and excite them, both emotionally and physically.
Oh my baby won't you stir it up with me...I will meet you round the time
The singer is begging the person they're thinking about to take action and make a commitment to them.
She won't let me go...Oh I want to go
The artist is in conflict with their feelings and desires, unsure of what they truly want.
Stir it up say yeaaa
The artist is encouraging the person they're thinking about to take action and make a change.
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
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