The Way (Fastball song)

"The Way" is a song by the American alternative rock band Fastball. It was released on February 24, 1998, as the lead single from their second studio album, All the Pain Money Can Buy. It was written by the band's lead vocalist, Tony Scalzo, and was produced by the band and Julian Raymond. Scalzo was inspired to write the song after reading about the disappearance of an elderly couple who were found dead in their car many miles away from their original destination.

"The Way"
Single by Fastball
from the album All the Pain Money Can Buy
B-side"Are You Ready for the Fallout?"
ReleasedFebruary 24, 1998[1]
Recorded1997
GenreAlternative rock[2]
Length
  • 4:17 (album version)
  • 4:08 (radio edit)
Label
Songwriter(s)Tony Scalzo
Producer(s)
Fastball singles chronology
"Are You Ready for the Fallout?"
(1997)		 "The Way"
(1998)		 "Fire Escape"
(1998)

"The Way" peaked at number one on the US Billboard Modern Rock Tracks chart in April and remained there for seven weeks. It also reached number one in Canada on the week of June 15, 1998, and topped the RPM Alternative 30 chart for four weeks. Worldwide, the song peaked at number seven in Sweden, number 14 in Australia, number 15 in Norway, and number 16 in Iceland. The song was voted by VH1 as one of its "100 Greatest Songs of the '90s", ranking number 94.[3]

Background and writing

Fastball frontman Tony Scalzo came up with the idea for the song after reading articles which described the June 1997 disappearance of an elderly married couple, Lela and Raymond Howard from Salado, Texas,[4] who left home to attend the Pioneer Day festival at nearby Temple, Texas, despite Lela's Alzheimer's and Raymond recently recovering from brain surgery. They were discovered two weeks later, dead, at the bottom of a ravine near Hot Springs, Arkansas, hundreds of miles off their intended route.[5][6]

About the song, Scalzo said that "It's a romanticized take on what happened"—he "pictured them taking off to have fun, like they did when they first met."

Content

The song's lyrics revolve around an older married couple who decide to leave their life behind by packing their things and going driving, without telling their children about their plans. Their car breaks down during the trip, forcing them to continue on foot. The chorus expresses the idea that the couple are achieving happiness by losing touch with the world, even though they may never see their home again.[7]

The beginning of the song features a radio scanning through FM stations; among the songs played are Jewel's "Foolish Games", Roy Orbison's "You Got It", and Madonna's "Vogue."

Track listings

Charts and certifications

References
  1. "Australian-charts.com – Fastball – The Way". ARIA Top 50 Singles.
  2. "The 88 Best Alternative Rock Songs of 1998". Spin. p. 10. Retrieved September 18, 2020.
  3. "VH1 Original TV Shows, Reality TV Shows – VH1". VH1. Archived from the original on December 22, 2007.
  4. Perchick, Michael (July 27, 2017). "The Way: How a Salado couple's tragic story inspired a chart-topping song". WUSA. Retrieved December 24, 2019.
  5. Family remains mystified by disapperance [sic] AP Thursday, July 10, 1997. Archived December 20, 2013, at the Wayback Machine
  6. Salado couple shared passions for church, each other AP Monday, July 14, 1997. Archived December 20, 2013, at the Wayback Machine
  7. Fastball – The Way lyrics on MetroLyrics, retrieved September 23, 2013
  8. The Way (US CD single liner notes). Fastball. Hollywood Records. 1997. 569 946-2.CS1 maint: others (link)
  9. The Way (UK 7-inch vinyl sleeve). Fastball. Hollywood Records. 1997. 569 946-7.CS1 maint: others (link)
  10. The Way (Italian 12-inch vinyl disc). Fastball. Many Records. 1998. MN01812.CS1 maint: others (link)
  11. The Way (UK, European & Australian CD single liner notes). Fastball. Hollywood Records, Polydor Records (Australia). 1997. 569 947-2.CS1 maint: others (link)
  12. "Top RPM Singles: Issue 3592." RPM. Library and Archives Canada. Retrieved February 1, 2019.
  13. "Top RPM Adult Contemporary: Issue 3576." RPM. Library and Archives Canada. Retrieved February 1, 2019.
  14. "Top RPM Rock/Alternative Tracks: Issue 3536." RPM. Library and Archives Canada. Retrieved February 1, 2019.
  15. "Eurochart Hot 100 Singles" (PDF). Music & Media. Vol. 15 no. 41. October 10, 1998. p. 14. Retrieved March 6, 2020.
  16. "Offiziellecharts.de – Fastball – The Way". GfK Entertainment Charts. Retrieved February 1, 2019.
  17. "Íslenski Listinn Topp 40 (23.7.–30.7. 1998)". Dagblaðið Vísir (in Icelandic). July 24, 1998. p. 10. Retrieved October 3, 2019.
  18. "Dutchcharts.nl – Fastball – The Way" (in Dutch). Single Top 100.
  19. "Norwegiancharts.com – Fastball – The Way". VG-lista.
  20. "Official Scottish Singles Sales Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved February 1, 2019.
  21. "Swedishcharts.com – Fastball – The Way". Singles Top 100.
  22. "Swisscharts.com – Fastball – The Way". Swiss Singles Chart.
  23. "Official Singles Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved February 1, 2019.
  24. "Fastball Chart History (Radio Songs)". Billboard.
  25. "Fastball Chart History (Adult Alternative Songs)". Billboard.
  26. "Fastball Chart History (Adult Pop Songs)". Billboard.
  27. "Fastball Chart History (Alternative Airplay)". Billboard.
  28. "Fastball Chart History (Mainstream Rock)". Billboard.
  29. "Fastball Chart History (Pop Songs)". Billboard.
  30. "ARIA Top 100 Singles for 1998". ARIA. Retrieved December 19, 2020.
  31. "RPM's Top 100 Hit Tracks of '98" (PDF). RPM. Vol. 63 no. 12. December 14, 1998. p. 20. Retrieved March 23, 2019.
  32. "RPM's Top 100 Adult Contemporary Tracks of '98". RPM. Library and Archives Canada. Retrieved February 1, 2019.
  33. "RPM's Top 50 Alternative Tracks of '98". RPM. Library and Archives Canada. Retrieved February 1, 2019.
  34. "Årslista Singlar, 1998" (in Swedish). Sverigetopplistan. Retrieved August 2, 2020.
  35. "ARIA Charts – Accreditations – 1998 Singles". Australian Recording Industry Association. Archived from the original on August 10, 2020. Retrieved February 1, 2019.
  36. "Guld- och Platinacertifikat − År 1987−1998" (PDF) (in Swedish). IFPI Sweden. Retrieved February 1, 2019.
  37. "American single certifications – Fastball – The Way". Recording Industry Association of America. Retrieved February 1, 2019. If necessary, click Advanced, then click Format, then select Single, then click SEARCH. 
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