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.
Whose Chariot? Then
O.A.R. Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Along the way a sunrise.
And under these overpasses,
A towering mountain does rise.
Don't cross the river not over there,
There'll be a mystery revealed,
And I bet you dare.
And if I am to seek this place you can see,
At night the stars cry,
I gaze upon a lake of backyard,
And under these overpasses,
A towering mountain does lie.
Don't cross the river not over there,
There'll be a mystery revealed,
That were meant to share.
So if I am to seek this place you can see,
Who's chariot to follow so I, can be free?
Oh No, here we are again.
Oh No, here we are again.
My momma told me,
"Don't go 'cross that river,
Because you might not make it back,
The beast gonna eat your heart."
She said, "Don't go out there,
Stay upon your track.
This money has torn my family apart,
And I cannot buy it back."
So of course I built my boat,
And I was half upon my way.
When I got to the other side,
The water came rushing down,
Washed me away.
Who's Chariot? Who's Chariot? Who's Chariot?
Chariot? Who's Chariot? Whose Chariot?
Chariot? Chariot? Who's Chariot?
Chariot? Chariot?
Freedom, Freedom, Who's Chariot?
Freedom, Freedom, Who's Chariot?
Freedom, Freedom, Who's Chariot?
Who's Chariot? Take me home!
Take me home.
Oh No, said I'm out that door again,
I left my house, my money,
And my dearest friend.
I'm not going back jack.
I cross the river got a little
Bit of business that I'm doing today.
You didn't feel me,
You can't really see no good,
I made my life out a stack of wood.
I've been moving cross the river today,
But Who's Chariot?
Take me home! Take me home.
Whose chariot? Take me home.
Hallaluyah! Coming home.
Chariot, gotta, where will you take me.
Chariot will ya, will ya take me.
Chariot will ya, will ya take me.
Oh Chariot would ya pick me up, take me.
Oh Chariot, gotta, oh will you take me!
Chariot just pick me up and take me!
Oh Chariot, come and get me.
Who's Chariot? Take me home!
Take me home.
The lyrics of O.A.R.'s song Whose Chariot? revolve around the idea of seeking freedom through a journey that is full of risks and uncertainties. The song starts by describing a pattern sunrise that is sweeping along the way, accompanied by a towering mountain rising under the overpasses. As the lyrics progress, there is a warning not to cross the river because there is a mystery that will be revealed. It ends with the question of whose chariot to follow in order to attain freedom.
Throughout the song, there are references to a river that separates the singer from the destination. The singer's mother warns against crossing it, but the singer builds a boat to make the journey anyway. The lyrics emphasize the importance of seeking freedom at any cost. Despite being warned of the risks and uncertainties, the singer is determined to make the journey to find freedom.
Overall, the song conveys a sense of adventure, determination, and the desire for freedom. It expresses the idea that sometimes in life, we have to take risks and embark on a journey to attain what we want.
Line by Line Meaning
A pattern sunrise, swept
A sweeping sunrise pattern along the way.
Along the way a sunrise.
A sunrise is seen today along the path.
And under these overpasses,
Also under these bridges,
A towering mountain does rise.
A mountain stands tall.
Don't cross the river not over there,
Avoid crossing the river in that place
There'll be a mystery revealed,
There is a revealing mystery
And I bet you dare.
And I bet you are brave enough to try.
And if I am to seek this place you can see,
If I am to look for this visible place
Who's chariot to follow so I, can be free?
Whose chariot should I follow to attain freedom?
At night the stars cry,
The stars weep at night
I gaze upon a lake of backyard,
I stare at a backyard lake.
And under these overpasses,
Also under these bridges,
A towering mountain does lie.
A mountain lies towering
Don't cross the river not over there,
Avoid crossing the river in that place
There'll be a mystery revealed,
There is a revealing mystery
That were meant to share.
That's meant for sharing.
So if I am to seek this place you can see,
So if I am to look for this visible place
Who's chariot to follow so I, can be free?
Whose chariot should I follow to attain freedom?
Oh No, here we are again.
Oh no, we're back here again.
Oh No, here we are again.
Oh no, we're back here again.
My momma told me,
My mother told me,
"Don't go 'cross that river,
"Don't cross that river,
Because you might not make it back,
You might not come back,
The beast gonna eat your heart."
The beast will eat your heart."
She said, "Don't go out there,
She said, "Don't go there,
Stay upon your track.
Stay on your own path.
This money has torn my family apart,
This money has divided my family,
And I cannot buy it back."
And I can't reverse it."
So of course I built my boat,
So, of course, I built my boat,
And I was half upon my way.
And I was halfway there.
When I got to the other side,
When I got to the other side,
The water came rushing down,
Water rushed down,
Washed me away.
And carried me away."
Who's Chariot? Who's Chariot? Who's Chariot?
Whose chariot? Whose chariot? Whose chariot?
Chariot? Who's Chariot? Whose Chariot?
Chariot? Whose chariot? Whose chariot?
Chariot? Chariot? Who's Chariot?
Chariot? Chariot? Whose chariot?
Chariot? Chariot?
Chariot? Chariot?
Freedom, Freedom, Who's Chariot?
Freedom, freedom, whose chariot?
Freedom, Freedom, Who's Chariot?
Freedom, freedom, whose chariot?
Freedom, Freedom, Who's Chariot?
Freedom, freedom, whose chariot?
Who's Chariot? Take me home!
Whose chariot? Take me home!
Take me home.
Take me home.
Oh No, said I'm out that door again,
Oh no, I'm leaving again,
I left my house, my money,
I left my house, my money,
And my dearest friend.
And my closest friend.
I'm not going back jack.
I'm not going back, man.
I cross the river got a little
I crossed the river and have a little
Bit of business that I'm doing today.
Bit of business that I'm doing today.
You didn't feel me,
You didn't understand me,
You can't really see no good,
You can't really see clearly.
I made my life out a stack of wood.
I made my life out of a pile of wood.
I've been moving cross the river today,
I've been moving across the river today,
But Who's Chariot?
But whose chariot?
Take me home! Take me home.
Take me home! Take me home.
Whose chariot? Take me home.
Whose chariot? Take me home.
Hallaluyah! Coming home.
Hallelujah! Coming home.
Chariot, gotta, where will you take me.
Chariot, where will you take me?
Chariot will ya, will ya take me.
Chariot, will you take me?
Chariot will ya, will ya take me.
Chariot, will you take me?
Oh Chariot would ya pick me up, take me.
Oh, chariot, would you pick me up and take me?
Oh Chariot, gotta, oh will you take me!
Oh, chariot, will you take me?
Chariot just pick me up and take me!
Chariot, just pick me up and take me!
Oh Chariot, come and get me.
Oh, chariot, come and get me.
Who's Chariot? Take me home!
Whose chariot? Take me home!
Take me home.
Take me home.
Lyrics © REACH MUSIC PUBLISHING
Written by: BENJAMIN AARON GERSHMAN, CHRISTOPHER DAVID CULOS, JERALD L. DEPIZZO JR., MARC ANDREW ROBERGE, RICHARD JOE ON
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind