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.
aNYway
O.A.R. Lyrics
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Crawled into my house, took my cat away
Don't let your brain tell your mind that it must say
That nothing ever came from a mouse anyway
Anyway
Never say that nothing ever came from a gnat anyway
Flew into my ear and then he done flown away
That nothing ever came from a gnat anyway
Anyway, anyway, anyway
Something always comes from the music anyway
Came into my life and it stole me blues away
Oh, my stereo is my best friend every day
And this music is my blood, it's my blood
It always comes and goes, but it never floods
Something always comes, something always goes
Something always comes from the music
Something always comes from the music anyway
Anyway, anyway, anyway
Don't ya feel that this music flows
Don't ya feel like it's life
Well I do, well I certainly do
I can't live without this music in my blood
Well it gets me up when I'm feeling down
And I cannot sleep when this music is around
I live to move
And I know that there's something there
Filling me up, this music
A wise man once said
A wise man once said when he told me
One good thing about music
When it hits you, you feel no pain
Something always comes and it always goes
It will be there to the end after everything is gone
The music
Ah, it will, to the end
Something always comes, something always goes
Something always comes and it goes
Something always comes from the music anyway
Anyway, anyway, anyway
The song "Anyway" by O.A.R. begins with an unusual statement that 'something comes from a mouse, anyway' and then goes on to explain how a mouse took away the singer's cat. The message in the lyrics seems to be that even the smallest things can have an impact on our lives. Similarly, a gnat that causes aggravation is mentioned, highlighting the idea that even something as small as a gnat can have an impact.
However, the song then takes a turn towards a more positive message by stating that "something always comes from the music anyway". The singer explains that music has given comfort, "stolen his blues away", and has become a significant part of his life. He goes into detail about how music is always there when he needs it and how it makes him feel. The final lines of the song contain a quote from Bob Marley, "When it hits you, you feel no pain". This line reinforces the idea that music is a healing force and can be a source of comfort in difficult times.
Overall, the song highlights the impact that small things in life can have on us, while also showing the positive impact that music can have on our lives. The lyrics encourage listeners to appreciate the simple things and find solace in music.
Line by Line Meaning
Never say that nothing ever came from a mouse anyway
Do not underestimate the potential of small things.
Crawled into my house, took my cat away
Something insignificant (like a mouse) can cause big changes and disruptions in life.
Don't let your brain tell your mind that it must say
That nothing ever came from a mouse anyway
Do not let negative thoughts and assumptions hinder you from seeing the possibilities in things.
Never say that nothing ever came from a gnat anyway
Flew into my ear and then he done flown away
Always causing aggravation so can't you ever say
That nothing ever came from a gnat anyway
Anyway, anyway, anyway
Even the most annoying and insignificant things can have an impact on our lives, and we should acknowledge that fact.
Something always comes from the music anyway
Came into my life and it stole me blues away
Oh, my stereo is my best friend every day
And this music is my blood, it's my blood
Music can have a powerful effect on our emotional state and can be a source of comfort and inspiration.
It always comes and goes, but it never floods
Something always comes, something always goes
Something always comes from the music
Something always comes from the music anyway
Anyway, anyway, anyway
Music is a constantly changing and evolving art form that will always be a part of our lives in some way.
Don't ya feel that this music flows
Don't ya feel like it's life
Well I do, well I certainly do
I can't live without this music in my blood
Music can feel like an essential part of life that flows through our veins and sustains us.
And I cannot sleep when this music is around
I live to move
And I know that there's something there
Filling me up, this music
Music can be energetic and invigorating, and can make us feel alive and inspired.
A wise man once said when he told me
One good thing about music
When it hits you, you feel no pain
Music has the power to transcend physical and emotional pain and make us feel better.
Something always comes and it always goes
It will be there to the end after everything is gone
The music
Ah, it will, to the end
Music will always be a timeless and enduring art form that will outlast all other forms of entertainment.
Something always comes, something always goes
Something always comes and it goes
Something always comes from the music anyway
Anyway, anyway, anyway
Music is a constant presence in our lives that can make us feel a wide range of emotions, and will always be a source of inspiration and entertainment.
Lyrics © REACH MUSIC PUBLISHING
Written by: BENJAMIN AARON GERSHMAN, CHRIS CULOS, JERRY DE PIZZO, MARC ANDREW ROBERGE, RICHARD JOE ON
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind