I think much like another song “Anti-Matter” (that's also on the same album as this song), this one is also is inspired by a horrifying van crash the band experienced on Nov 3, 2022. This, much like the other track, sounds like it's an extension what they shared while huddled in the wreckage, as they helped frontman Garrett Russell stem the bleeding from his head wound while he was under the temporary effects of a concussion. The track speaks of where the mind goes at the most desperate & desolate of times, when it just about slips away to all but disconnect itself, and the aftermath.
Lying in the park on a beautiful day
Sunshine in the grass and the children play
Sirens pass in fire engine red
Someone's house is burning down on a day like this
The evening comes and we're hanging out
On the front step and a car goes by with the windows rolled down
And that War song is playing
"Why can't we be friends?"
Someone is screaming and crying in the apartment upstairs
Funny the way it is
If you think about it
Somebody's going hungry and someone else is eating out
Funny the way it is
Not right or wrong
Somebody's heart is broken and it becomes your favorite song
The way your mouth feels in your lover's kiss
Like a pretty bird on the breeze or water to a fish
A bomb blast brings the building crashing to the floor
Hear the laughter while the children play war
Funny the way it is
If you think about it
One kid walks ten miles to school, another's dropping out
Funny the way it is
Not right or wrong
On a soldier's last breath, his baby's being born
Standing on a bridge
Watch the water passing underneath
It must have been much harder when there was no bridge, just water
Now the world is small
Remember how it used to be
With mountains and oceans and winters and rivers and stars?
Watch the sky, a jet plane so far out of my reach
Is there someone up there looking down on me?
A boy sees a bird, so close but every time
He'll never catch her but he can't stop trying
Funny the way it is
If you think about it
One kid walks ten miles to school, another's dropping out
Funny the way it is
Not right or wrong
On a soldier's last breath, his baby's being born
Funny the way it is
Not right or wrong
Somebody's broken heart becomes your favorite song
Funny the way it is
If you think about it
One kid walks ten miles to school, another's dropping out
Standing on a bridge
Watch the water passing underneath
It must have been much harder when there was no bridge, just water
Now the world is small
Remember how it used to be
With mountains and oceans and winters and rivers and stars?
Sunshine in the grass and the children play
Sirens pass in fire engine red
Someone's house is burning down on a day like this
The evening comes and we're hanging out
On the front step and a car goes by with the windows rolled down
And that War song is playing
"Why can't we be friends?"
Someone is screaming and crying in the apartment upstairs
Funny the way it is
If you think about it
Somebody's going hungry and someone else is eating out
Funny the way it is
Not right or wrong
Somebody's heart is broken and it becomes your favorite song
The way your mouth feels in your lover's kiss
Like a pretty bird on the breeze or water to a fish
A bomb blast brings the building crashing to the floor
Hear the laughter while the children play war
Funny the way it is
If you think about it
One kid walks ten miles to school, another's dropping out
Funny the way it is
Not right or wrong
On a soldier's last breath, his baby's being born
Standing on a bridge
Watch the water passing underneath
It must have been much harder when there was no bridge, just water
Now the world is small
Remember how it used to be
With mountains and oceans and winters and rivers and stars?
Watch the sky, a jet plane so far out of my reach
Is there someone up there looking down on me?
A boy sees a bird, so close but every time
He'll never catch her but he can't stop trying
Funny the way it is
If you think about it
One kid walks ten miles to school, another's dropping out
Funny the way it is
Not right or wrong
On a soldier's last breath, his baby's being born
Funny the way it is
Not right or wrong
Somebody's broken heart becomes your favorite song
Funny the way it is
If you think about it
One kid walks ten miles to school, another's dropping out
Standing on a bridge
Watch the water passing underneath
It must have been much harder when there was no bridge, just water
Now the world is small
Remember how it used to be
With mountains and oceans and winters and rivers and stars?
Lyrics submitted by cristinaish, edited by Mellow_Harsher
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So good to hear new studio material from Dave and the guys. Makes me even more excited for June 2.
As far as the meaning goes, a quick listen and glance at the material (+ the title) makes me think that it's about how life can be so different for any two people at any given moment. Sort of a bunch of dichotomies...the song inspired by someone's heartbreak ends up meaning so much (joy?) to a person who hears it and the other comparisons mentioned in the song. One part I really like is early in the song when it talks about children laughing while playing war, then later a soldier takes his last breath while his child is born. I feel like that makes a statement about how people, especially children, think war is a glorious game without realizing that it actually steals the life of a husband, wife, son, daughter, father, mother, etc. I expect great things from the rest of the album and can't wait for it to come!
I love the song already and I haven't even listened to it once. The album should be awesome, I can't wait. I am going to the first show after the album release in Hartford so it's kind of the album release party.<br /> <br /> But the album should be awesome, I have heard soem clips from it and what I've heard soun awesome. They have a saxophone solo that opens up the album the Leroi recoreded before he passed.
First off, I love this song - both for its ability to provide musical pleasure and its amazing lyrics. The words to the song delivers a message that we all know already - the world is ironic: good things and bad things happen simultaneously; yet we are helpless when it comes to preventing all the bad things from happening. As he points out, it's not right or wrong - it just happens. And no matter how disastrous the situation may be, we keep moving forward in our lives.
Amazing song.
This song is about how different people are affected by this world, or how they affect the world. How there are poor people who are going hungry while the rich people are spending money on one meal that could feed a family for a week, or how a child will bust their butt to get to school(walk 10 miles) and work hard, while another who takes education for granted. Also I think just looking at the title, Funny The Way it Is, there are some situations that's all you can say. Sometimes things happen to good people and you can't explain them. A burning house on a beautiful day, or a soldier dies and his baby is born the exact same time. It is not that either of those are funny, but what else can you say in a moment like that.
Loved DMB since forever...was frustrated that he did a song with the craptastic Kenny Chesney (just a personal opinion...) This song has redeemed him in my eyes, lol.
I love, love, love this song. It's a beautiful poem. The meaning is easy:
One thing I've learned about "fairness" in life - the point is there is no point. It's your job to find the beauty in it. Human struggle is part of being alive. People can be on different and opposite spectrums at any given moment. What you do with yourself - your actions and attitiude - can impact others in so many ways. The best we can do is to do the best we can.
I take this song to be mainly an observation of the juxtapositions that happen in life, and secondly random thoughts pondered such as the boy chasing the bird, the jet plane in the sky, and the bridge with the water passing underneath.
I absolutely love this song and the new DMB album! As for meaning on this song, I think it's about irony and just how things happen in the world and there's not a lot we can do about them. These things aren't right or wrong.. they're just kinda funny (not haha-funny, but ironically funny). I think the line "Somebody's heart is broken and it becomes your favorite song.." is a reference to his song "Halloween" - He wrote it about a break up with an ex-girlfriend and yet, it's the song that is repeatedly chanted for and desired to hear at all his concerts. It's his broken heart and our favorite song.
this song is AMAZING!!! as can be expected from dave matthews band. they rock the world.
ahhh can't wait to see them tomorrow at IZOD. Great lyrics, great song.
I agree with bawhite2. Hit it dead on.
However, I also think the "Somebody's heart is broken and it becomes your favorite song" part is a subtle nod to LeRoi. I'm guessing this song was written after his death. Therefore, while it's many people's favorite song right now, the bands heart was broken because of his death. So right now, we are listening to the bands heartbreak & loving it. Kinda makes you feel bad if you think about it.
definitely right on with it referring to LeRoi. i think it can be both, really. obviously Roi here, but a song like Bartender, Grace is Gone, etc. can also apply to the same line. good point though.
I agree with bawhite 2 and crounsa810. But I also like the part of the song where he says, "Funny the way it is, not right or wrong." I think he's saying that the fact that all these things are happening isn't right or wrong. It's just funny.
I heard on the radio that Leroi is playing in this song and it was made before his death...
Yes, on the list of players Le Roi Moore is listed as one of the people who played on this album and song... Musicians spend years working on albums at times and it takes a while to finally edit and finally release it so having somone who died a year earlier on the album wouldn't be suprizing especally since they named the album after him (his nickname was the Grugrux King) so it could also be a bit of a tribute to his last studio album...
Love...it!!!I can't wait to here all the other songs off this album...catchy song,I have listen to it like 50 times...and I really like it...To me it's about how someone hurt is someones happy,that saying another mans trash is another's tresure'....it's good thats for sure...
amazing song... i really like how crounsa810 interpreted that specific lyric. A lot of irony in this song but an eye opener. Everyone could relate to this somewhere.