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.
On Top the Cage
O.A.R. Lyrics
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Kids thinking about nothing, cause there's
Absolutely nothing to do.
The door ain't wide just open, open to the sky
On top the cage keep hopin', sayin cause on top
The cage just try, on top the cage
Help out your brother to the light at peace is a
With help from our mother we shine so bright and
March to the father's land
I said we take the spot and we take it up top and
The key fits in the lock
You come with me on this lifting walk, and you
Know you never come back
Because on top the cage is the harmony that bars
And chains never chime
Wherever we go it's not far for me, better befriend
Old man time.
I stood on top of this cage one night, all night long
From here the view was proud
I could see all these beautiful clouds
So I told people come out of your cage
Time to break lock forever
Join together march on top hold my hand, say
Goodbye to never
You can be my man if you want to hang out here
Just me and my girl on top of this world and we sit
There and we stare
At the clouds, green hills, and the mountaintops,
And the river to the side
You can come too, if you want, you don't have to hide
The lyrics of O.A.R.'s "On Top the Cage" paint a picture of a narrator standing on top of a cage, observing the world below from a bird's-eye view - "the clouds on top the blue." The kids are bored below, but the singer is full of hope and determination. The door to the cage is open to the sky, implying that freedom and happiness are there for the taking if they just reach for it. The singer encourages his brothers and sisters to lend a helping hand to each other, marching forward to a brighter future with the help of their mother Earth and Father sky.
The singer feels a sense of pride and achievement being on top of the cage, proclaiming "we take the spot and we take it up top" - indicating that they are on the path to success, and once they reach the top, they can unlock their full potential. There is a sense of harmony and peace "on top the cage," where they can escape the chains and bars of society and fully appreciate the beauty of the world around them. The singer invites others to join them, breaking free from their cages and never looking back - to "join together march on top hold my hand, say goodbye to never."
Overall, the lyrics of "On Top the Cage" are optimistic and empowering, encouraging listeners to break free from the limitations of society and reach for their full potential, with the help of their community and the natural world.
Line by Line Meaning
I look out below me the clouds on top the blue
I am at a high place and can see the blue sky with white clouds beneath me
Kids thinking about nothing, cause there's Absolutely nothing to do.
Children are not thinking about anything because they have nothing to do
The door ain't wide just open, open to the sky
The door is open, leading to the outside sky, but is not very wide
On top the cage keep hopin', sayin cause on top The cage just try, on top the cage Helping out your brother to the light at peace is a Helping hand
We should strive to reach the top, which is like being on top of a cage, and help others reach it too, because it brings peace and happiness
With help from our mother we shine so bright and March to the father's land
Our mother can help us shine in life and guide us to our destination
I said we take the spot and we take it up top and The key fits in the lock
We should aim for the top and make sure we have the right tools to get there
You come with me on this lifting walk, and you Know you never come back
If you join me on this journey to the top, you will experience a transformative change and will never be the same again
Because on top the cage is the harmony that bars And chains never chime
Being on top of the cage symbolizes freedom and harmony, where there are no oppressive chains or bars
Wherever we go it's not far for me, better befriend Old man time.
We should not feel too far from our destination, and should learn to accept the passage of time to gain wisdom
I stood on top of this cage one night, all night long From here the view was proud
I once stood on top of the cage and felt proud of the scenic view
I could see all these beautiful clouds So I told people come out of your cage Time to break lock forever Join together march on top hold my hand, say
After seeing the beautiful clouds, I encouraged others to break free from their confinement and join me in reaching the top, holding hands as we march forward
Goodbye to never You can be my man if you want to hang out here Just me and my girl on top of this world and we sit There and we stare
We bid farewell to our previous way of living and invite others to join us on top of the world, where we can relax and appreciate the beautiful view
At the clouds, green hills, and the mountaintops, And the river to the side You can come too, if you want, you don't have to hide
We can enjoy the lovely view of the clouds, hills, mountains, and river together, and those who want to join us are welcome without having to hide
Lyrics © REACH MUSIC PUBLISHING
Written by: BENJAMIN AARON GERSHMAN, CHIRSTOPHER CULOS, MARC ANDREW ROBERGE, RICHARD ON
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind