Although the band started out playing at Christian music festivals, they shun the label of "Christian rock," with singer and guitarist Jon Foreman saying, "For us, it's a faith, not a genre. We've always been very open and honest about where the songs are coming from. For us, these songs are for everyone. Calling us `Christian rock' tends to be a box that closes some people out and excludes them. And that's not what we're trying to do. Music has always opened my mind -- and that's what we want." They started out on Charlie Peacock's label "re:think" and spent several years appearing at Christian festivals and enjoying Christian radio hits. Most of their early tours were with Christian bands and both of the band's new members were borrowed from Christian bands.
Switchfoot did not see success outside of the Christian rock scene until they were featured alongside singer Mandy Moore on the A Walk To Remember soundtrack. The band's first true commercial success came in 2003 with the release of their fourth major label (and first mainstream label) offering, The Beautiful Letdown. The album went on to sell more than 2 million albums and Switchfoot became the most popular rock band to be associated with Christian music.
They were featured on the British Edition of the Spiderman II soundtrack along with the likes of Taking Back Sunday and Dashboard Confessional to name a few, in 2004 with the song 'Meant To Live'.
In 2005 Switchfoot released "Nothing Is Sound". The album went gold within 3 months and received much critical acclaim.
Switchfoot's highly anticipated album, titled "Oh! Gravity." was released on December 26th, 2006.
On November 10th, 2009, Switchfoot released their first album produced under their own label, lowercase people. "Mess of Me", a single from the album released months before the CD, has enjoy chart-topping radio plays since its release.
In 2010 Switchfoot released their album, "Hello Hurricane".
On September 27th, 2011, to much anticipation and excitement, Switchfoot released their newest album, "Vice Verses".
Sites:
www.switchfoot.com
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04. Company Car
Switchfoot Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
When he said I'd put up a fight to be someone,
A fight to be me but see now,
I'm down,
Under the pavement of capital hills,
And lowercase people
As time rolls by my dreams have become,
That which is attainable
I've got the company car,
I'm the one swingin' at 2 below par,
Yeah I've become one with the ones that I never believed in,
I've got the company car...
Hey, I'm the king,
Of things,
I've always dispised
I'm the gingerbread man that's been eaten alive
I'm half baked,
I'm fake,
Ya see I've got hotels on Park Place and Boardwalk and 200 bucks
I pass go, but oh, life's taken it's toll
Have I won Monopoly, to forfit my song but see
I've got the company car,
I'm the one swingin' at 2 below par,
Yeah I've become one with the ones that I never believed in,
I've got the company car...
Yah all the kings horses have their hooves on the walls,
their takin' pictures of the man who's lost all of his
Masks of pretension,
he's got 2 faces left,
His is the one that he hides,
On the left.. behind that smile..
Hiding tears,
And fear,
That burns like an engine,
That drives him away from the ones that he loves
Mike was right, hey Mike, we're one and the same,
we're the faceless combantants in the lonliest game..
Oh but say,
I'll wave as I'm drivin by,
With that smirk in my eye
Yellin hey, I'm something man, check me out
I've got the company car,
I'm the one swingin' at 2 below par,
Yeah I've become one with the ones that I never believed in,
I've got the company car...
In Switchfoot's song 04. Company Car, the lyrics explore the inner turmoil of the singer who has become disillusioned with their success. Through the motif of a "company car," the singer portrays the material comforts that come with status and wealth but reveals that these luxuries have come at a cost. The song begins with a reference to Mike's warnings about the singer's ambition to become someone - the kind of person that society deems successful. The singer acknowledges that they have "put up a fight" to reach this level of achievement but has ended up feeling down "under the pavement of capital hills." The reference to lowercase people creates a sharp contrast between the singer's position and their perception of others.
As the song progresses, the singer details their success, but instead of feeling a sense of achievement, they express a sense of loss. They have achieved the things they thought were once impossible but find that those dreams no longer hold the same value. The singer feels as though they have become one of the people they never believed in, highlighting their internal struggle between success and authenticity. The image of the "gingerbread man that's been eaten alive" is a metaphor for the singer's gradual assimilation into the corporate world.
The use of Monopoly as a metaphor in the second verse demonstrates the singer's position as a player in a game that only offers a superficial sense of control. Despite passing go and obtaining wealth, the singer feels that life has taken its toll on them. The bridge describes how the singer's outward appearance contrasts with the inner turmoil they are experiencing. The "smirk in my eye" suggests a sense of false confidence. The song concludes by referencing the loneliness that the singer feels despite their success and how they are ultimately just like Mike - one of the "faceless combatants" who are fighting a losing battle against the constraints of modern society.
Line by Line Meaning
Mike, was right,
I remember what my friend Mike once told me.
When he said I'd put up a fight to be someone,
Mike believed that I would work hard to achieve my goals and become someone special in life.
A fight to be me but see now,
I wanted to be myself, but now I realize that I have lost my identity.
I'm down,
I feel depressed and hopeless.
Under the pavement of capital hills,
I am stuck in the corporate world, surrounded by people who care more about money and success than anything else.
And lowercase people
I am also surrounded by people who are not as powerful or influential as those at the top.
As time rolls by my dreams have become,
As I grow older, my dreams have become more practical and achievable.
That which is attainable
I am now more focused on achieving goals that are within my reach, rather than pursuing unrealistic dreams.
Not what I'm looking for
However, deep down, I know that these practical goals are not what I truly desire.
I've got the company car,
Despite my inner turmoil, I have achieved a level of success and status that comes with a company car.
I'm the one swingin' at 2 below par,
I have become a skilled and successful employee, exceeding expectations in my job.
Yeah I've become one with the ones that I never believed in,
However, in my pursuit of success, I have become part of the corporate world that I once looked down upon.
Hey, I'm the king,
I feel like I am at the top of the world.
Of things,
I have achieved success in all areas of my life.
I've always dispised
However, deep down, I have always disliked these things.
I'm the gingerbread man that's been eaten alive
I feel like I have lost my true identity and become a mere shell of my former self.
I'm half baked,
I am not fully developed or mature in my thoughts and feelings.
I'm fake,
I am not being true to myself or others.
Ya see I've got hotels on Park Place and Boardwalk and 200 bucks
I am successful in the game of Monopoly, but it means nothing in real life.
I pass go, but oh, life's taken it's toll
I may have achieved success, but it has come at a great cost to my mental and emotional well-being.
Yah all the kings horses have their hooves on the walls,
Even those in positions of power and success cannot escape the harsh realities of life.
their takin' pictures of the man who's lost all of his
Others are observing and documenting my downfall.
Masks of pretension,
I wear a facade of success and confidence, but it is not genuine.
he's got 2 faces left,
I have lost my true self, and am left with only false personas.
His is the one that he hides,
I hide my true self from the world and even myself, ashamed of who I have become.
On the left.. behind that smile..
Beneath my smiling exterior lies great pain and sadness.
Hiding tears,
I am concealing my innermost emotions from everyone around me.
And fear,
I am gripped with fear and anxiety about my future and true identity.
That burns like an engine,
My fear and anxiety are intense and all-consuming, causing great emotional distress.
That drives him away from the ones that he loves
My inner turmoil has caused me to distance myself from the people I care about most.
Mike was right, hey Mike, we're one and the same,
My friend Mike was right about me all along, and we share the same struggles and fears.
we're the faceless combantants in the lonliest game..
We both feel alone and disconnected in the cold, competitive world in which we live.
Oh but say,
However, despite our shared experiences, I am still determined to maintain my false persona of success and confidence.
I'll wave as I'm drivin by,
I will continue to flaunt my success and status, even as I inwardly suffer.
With that smirk in my eye
I will even find pleasure in the pain and struggles of others.
Yellin hey, I'm something man, check me out
I will continue to draw attention to my achievements and success, hoping to maintain my facade of confidence and happiness.
I've got the company car,
Once again, I remind myself of my success and status.
I'm the one swingin' at 2 below par,
I am still skilled and successful in my job, despite my inner turmoil.
Yeah I've become one with the ones that I never believed in,
Despite my past reservations about the corporate world, I am now firmly entrenched within it.
I've got the company car...
My success and status continue to define me, even as I struggle with my true identity.
Lyrics © OBO APRA/AMCOS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Hey
on Life And Love And Why Aka 3/4 Chant
Hey
Jon
on Life And Love And Why Aka 3/4 Chant
Life and love and why still one of my favorites