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.
Toy Store
O.A.R. Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
At least better than what ya thought
So many aisles to venture down
So many choices you thought
Then a man come walkin down the aisle
With a smile as wide as the rain
But mom she's gotta go away again
Yeah, la la la la
You ask yourself why you can't stay just five more minutes alone
And walk away
You know it, mom knows it, so whatcha want
She says, one toy today, she says
Why only one or another or none at all
How come every time I trip I never fall
Then a man he come walkin down the aisle with a smile as wide as the rain
But mom she gotta go away again and I'm runnin with the pain
Yah la la la la
Yah la la la la
You ask yourself why you can't stay just five more minutes alone
And walk away
You know it, mom knows it, so whatcha want
She says, one toy today
So many aisles to venture down
And there's nothin lookin nice
How come every time I look once, I have to look twice
But mom she's comin round the bend
And I'm buyin another toy
And she said son just come along with me
But I'm runnin with the boys
Yah la la la
Yah la la la
You ask yourself why you can't stay just five more minutes alone
And walk away
You know it, mom knows it, so whatcha want
She says, one toy today, she says
The song "Toy Store" by O.A.R. is about a child who goes to a toy store with his mom in hopes of finding a better toy than what he already has. The child is excited about the many choices available in the toy store, but he is also sad because his mom has to leave him alone while she goes away for a while. In the midst of his confusion and sadness, a man with a smile as wide as the rain walks down the aisle, and the child becomes distracted by the toys once again. The child buy a toy with his mom and they leave the store.
The lyrics of the song explore the child's desires and emotions as he navigates the toy store with his mom. He struggles with the decision of choosing which toy to buy, and feels both excitement and sadness as he interacts with the people around him. The child is ultimately grateful for the toy he is able to buy, but he also struggles with the fact that he has to leave the store and return to reality. The lyrics suggest that the child is trying to escape from his problems by losing himself in the toy store, but that he ultimately has to face reality.
Overall, the song provides an interesting perspective on childhood, desire, and the challenges of growing up. It captures the emotions and experiences of a child as he navigates the confusing and exciting world of the toy store.
Line by Line Meaning
Hoping to find something better
The singer is searching for something better than what they currently have.
At least better than what ya thought
The singer is hoping to find something that exceeds their expectations.
So many aisles to venture down
There are many paths the singer could take in their search.
So many choices you thought
The artist is overwhelmed by the number of options available to them.
Then a man come walkin down the aisle
The artist encounters someone else in the store.
With a smile as wide as the rain
The person the singer encounters appears very happy and friendly.
But mom she's gotta go away again
The singer's mother is unable to stay with them in the store.
And I'm runnin with the pain
The artist is upset by their mother leaving, and feels like they are rushing through the experience.
You ask yourself why you can't stay just five more minutes alone
The artist wishes they could spend more time in the store without their mother.
And walk away
The artist considers leaving the store without buying anything.
She says, one toy today, she says
The mother limits the singer to buying only one toy.
Why only one or another or none at all
The artist questions why they can't have more than one toy, or none at all.
How come every time I trip I never fall
The singer feels frustrated with their lack of luck in the store.
Then a man he come walkin down the aisle with a smile as wide as the rain
Another person in the store appears happy and friendly.
So many aisles to venture down
The singer still has many options to explore.
And there's nothin lookin nice
The artist is not finding anything they like in the store.
How come every time I look once, I have to look twice
The artist is not sure if they like something at first glance, which slows down their search.
But mom she's comin round the bend
The singer's mother is approaching them again.
And I'm buyin another toy
The singer has decided to buy another toy before leaving the store.
And she said son just come along with me
The mother urges the artist to leave the store with her.
But I'm runnin with the boys
The artist is still excited about the toys they have bought and wants to stay in the store a little longer with other boys.
Yah la la la
A nonverbal expression of excitement.
You ask yourself why you can't stay just five more minutes alone
The singer still wishes they could spend more time in the store by themselves.
And walk away
The artist feels conflicted about leaving the store.
You know it, mom knows it, so whatcha want
The singer acknowledges that their mother understands their desire to stay longer, but still wants to know their final decision.
She says, one toy today
The mother is firm in her decision to limit the singer's purchases.
Lyrics © REACH MUSIC PUBLISHING
Written by: MARC ANDREW ROBERGE, RICHARD ON
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind