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.
Risen
O.A.R. Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
A minute passed and I'm on my feet
I never knew life could taste so good
I need a little minute, just a moment to breathe
No matter where I go, no matter who I see
Well I'm reminded of my earlier days
No matter where I roll, no matter what I know
Well I'm reminded of my earlier ways
Wouldn't it be the best damn day
If we all took time to breathe?
Just one stolen paragraph
In the book's written history
Don't you sometimes wonder why
People are afraid to smile?
Don't look down we're gonna come around
And it always come to
back, crack of time eventually
Just ascend with me
I'm not quite sure when I woke up
The night flew by as I lay asleep
Who ever knew that life could feel so good?
I need another minute
Just a moment to breathe
No matter where I go, no matter who I see
Well I'm reminded of my earlier days
No matter what I know, no matter where I roll
Well I'm reminded of my earlier ways
But now I keep asking myself
Wouldn't it be the best damn day
If we all took time to breathe?
Just one stolen paragraph
In the book's written history
Don't you sometimes wonder why
People are afraid to smile?
Don't look down we're gonna come around and it always come to back,
crack of time eventually
Wouldn't it be the best damn day?
Wouldn't it be a wonderful day?
Wouldn't it be a glorious day?
If we all took time to smile,
Made just a minute for you and me
Wouldn't it be the best damn day?
The lyrics to O.A.R.'s "Risen" seem to convey a sense of gratitude and reflection on life. The singer is in a happy state, unsure of how they got there, but grateful nonetheless. They mention how life can taste so good, and they need a moment to breathe amidst all the excitement. They are reminded of their earlier days and ways no matter where they go or who they see, but they keep asking themselves if it wouldn't be the best day if everyone just took a moment to breathe and smile together.
The lyrics suggest that people are afraid to smile, and the singer wonders why this is so. They urge the listener not to look down, as things will eventually come back around. The song seems to be a call to action, asking people to take a moment to breathe, smile, and acknowledge the good things in life.
The repeated line, "Wouldn't it be the best damn day?" seems to be a rhetorical question, as the singer does not provide an answer. Instead, they leave it up to the listener to ponder the idea and possibly take action in their own life to make it a reality.
Line by Line Meaning
I'm not quite sure how I got here
Uncertainty about current situation
A minute passed and I'm on my feet
Quickly recovering from a setback
I never knew life could taste so good
Finding happiness in unexpected ways
I need a little minute, just a moment to breathe
Feeling overwhelmed and needing a break
No matter where I go, no matter who I see
Having a sense of nostalgia in different places
Well I'm reminded of my earlier days
Thinking about the past and how it shaped the present
No matter where I roll, no matter what I know
Feeling like the past follows in the present
Well I'm reminded of my earlier ways
Reflecting on past behavior and actions
But now I keep asking myself
Having a moment of introspection
Wouldn't it be the best damn day
Hoping for a good day
If we all took time to breathe?
Suggesting the importance of self-care and mindfulness
Just one stolen paragraph
The impact of small changes in history
In the book's written history
The course of human events
Don't you sometimes wonder why
Questioning societal norms and behavior
People are afraid to smile?
Noticing a lack of joy and positivity in others
Don't look down we're gonna come around
Keeping faith in a better future
And it always come to back, crack of time eventually
Believing that everything evens out in the end
I'm not quite sure when I woke up
Feeling disoriented about time passing
The night flew by as I lay asleep
Feeling like time passes too quickly
Who ever knew that life could feel so good?
Finding unexpected happiness
I need another minute
Still feeling overwhelmed and needing more time
No matter what I know, no matter where I roll
The past continues to have an impact on the present
Wouldn't it be the best damn day
Hope for a good day
If we all took time to smile
Emphasizing the importance of small acts of kindness
Made just a minute for you and me
Making time for personal connections
Wouldn't it be the best damn day?
Finalizing the hope for a good day
Lyrics © REACH MUSIC PUBLISHING
Written by: MARC ANDREW ROBERGE, RICHARD JOE ON
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind