“The Way” by Fastball

This song is loosely based on the tale of two real-life individuals, Raymond and Lela Howard, an elderly couple who were both dealing with serious mental issues. Being residents of Texas, one day in 1997 they decided to attend an event called Pioneer Day in a nearby part of the state. In the process, they went missing and caught the attention of the media, upon which Tony Scalzo came up with this idealized account of their disappearance.

Thus “The Way” is based on a couple who, somewhat spontaneously, one morning opt to pack up and leave their family life, including their children, behind. In other words, their children aren’t even aware that they bounced, only discovering such upon waking up themselves. And the couple has set forth for an unspecified destination. That is they themselves don’t have a specific location in mind. They’re just on the road chillin’, talking and enjoying each other’s company. In fact they are so caught up in the excursion that external factors, such as the weather, hunger or even age, are not said to negatively affect them. In fact even when their car breaks down they continue down to road, headed off into the sunset so to speak, on foot.

Meaning of “The Way”

So basically, this song can be interpreted in one of two ways. Once again, considering that this is a “romanticized take on what happened” to the Howards, it can be deemed as espousing the idea of “leaving it all behind”. Or another way of looking at that statement is that the couple featured in the song cast off the cares of the world for what they perceived as the ideal life, which is freely roaming with each other. But on the other hand, the title itself is based on the singer questioning the overall wisdom of them making such a move “without ever knowing the way”. 

But all things considered, it is clear that he perceives the couple, as presented in the song, as being a pair of heroes who cast away their cares, burdens and apprehensions in the name of being happy, “today”.

What happened to Raymond and Lela?

Eventually, Raymond and Lela were in fact discovered – dead in a ditch and at a location that would indicate that they were lost. However, Scalzo had already finished writing “The Way” by then. Owing to this, the couple’s real-life tragic fate did not influence the song at all.

Facts about “The Way”

Hollywood Records released this song on 24 February 1998. It was the lead single from Fastball’s second album. And that album was titled “All the Pain Money Can Buy”.

“The Way” was written by the band’s frontman, Tony Scalzo. Meanwhile the entire band produced it along with Julian Raymond.

The director of the music video to this song was McG, who went on to work on quite a few major-motion pictures.

“The Way” topped two Canadian RPM charts (Top Singles and Rock Alternative). It also topped two US-based Billboard charts (Alternative Songs and Adult Alternative Songs).

The track also charted in about 10 other countries, including reaching a peak of 21 on the UK Singles Chart.

And it has been officially certified Gold in Australia. It also achieved this status in Sweden and the United States.