The Way (Fastball song)

"The Way" is a song by American alternative rock band Fastball. It was released on January 7, 1998, as the lead single from their second studio album, All the Pain Money Can Buy (1998). The song 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 intended destination.

"The Way"
Single by Fastball
from the album All the Pain Money Can Buy
B-side	"Are You Ready for the Fallout?" "Freeloader Freddy"
Written	1997
Released	January 7, 1998 (1998-01-07)[1]
Genre	Alternative rock[2][3]
Length	4:17 (album version) 4:08 (radio edit)
Label	Hollywood
Songwriter(s)	Tony Scalzo
Producer(s)	Julian Raymond Fastball
Fastball singles chronology
"Are You Ready for the Fallout?" (1997) "The Way" (1998) "Fire Escape" (1998)
Music videos
"The Way" on YouTube

"The Way" peaked at number one on the US Billboard Modern Rock Tracks chart in April 1998 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 and entered the top 20 in Australia, Iceland, and Norway. The song was voted by VH1 as one of its "100 Greatest Songs of the '90s", ranking it at number 94.^[4]

Background and writing

Fastball frontman Tony Scalzo came up with the idea for the song after reading articles that described the June 1997 disappearance of an elderly married couple, Lela and Raymond Howard from Salado, Texas,^[5] who left home to attend the Pioneer Day festival at nearby Temple, Texas, despite Lela's Alzheimer's disease 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.^[6][7] The authorities who investigated the accident believed that Lela, who was driving the car, was trying to locate a place where she had once vacationed.^[8]

Content

The song's lyrics revolve around a couple who decide to leave their lives behind by going out driving, without telling their children about their plans. Their car breaks down during the trip, and they 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. Singer Tony Scalzo explained the meaning by saying: “These people are gone, and their kids are all adults. It’s their lives; they’re probably just trying to get back that flavor of young love and adventure: 'Let’s go! We don’t have to tell anybody where we’re going; what business is that of theirs?'” ^[9]

The beginning of the song features a few seconds of a radio scanning through FM stations. Most of the content heard is advertisements, but a brief fragment of the song "Foolish Games" by Jewel is audible.^[8]

Track listings

UK 7-inch and cassette single; European CD single^[10][11][12]

1. "The Way" (radio edit) – 4:08
2. "Are You Ready for the Fallout?" – 3:15

UK, Australian, and Japanese CD single^[13][14]

1. "The Way" (radio edit) – 4:08
2. "Are You Ready for the Fallout?" – 3:15
3. "Freeloader Freddy" – 3:09

Charts

Weekly charts Chart (1998) Peak position Australia (ARIA)[15] 14 Canada Top Singles (RPM)[16] 1 Canada Adult Contemporary (RPM)[17] 8 Canada Rock/Alternative (RPM)[18] 1 Europe (Eurochart Hot 100)[19] 42 Germany (GfK)[20] 66 Iceland (Íslenski Listinn Topp 40)[21] 16 Netherlands (Dutch Top 40 Tipparade)[22] 18 Netherlands (Single Top 100)[23] 90 Norway (VG-lista)[24] 15 Scotland (OCC)[25] 23 Sweden (Sverigetopplistan)[26] 7 Switzerland (Schweizer Hitparade)[27] 36 UK Singles (OCC)[28] 21 US Radio Songs (Billboard)[29] 5 US Adult Alternative Songs (Billboard)[30] 1 US Adult Pop Airplay (Billboard)[31] 2 US Alternative Airplay (Billboard)[32] 1 US Mainstream Rock (Billboard)[33] 25 US Pop Airplay (Billboard)[34] 4

Year-end charts Chart (1998) Position Australia (ARIA)[35] 48 Canada Top Singles (RPM)[36] 4 Canada Adult Contemporary (RPM)[37] 51 Canada Rock/Alternative (RPM)[38] 3 Sweden (Sverigetopplistan)[39] 48 US Hot 100 Airplay (Billboard)[40] 12 US Adult Top 40 (Billboard)[41] 4 US Mainstream Rock Tracks (Billboard)[42] 78 US Mainstream Top 40 (Billboard)[43] 16 US Modern Rock Tracks (Billboard)[44] 8 US Triple-A (Billboard)[45] 4 Chart (1999) Position US Adult Top 40 (Billboard)[46] 100

Certifications

Region	Certification	Certified units/sales
Australia (ARIA)[47]	Gold	35,000^
Sweden (GLF)[48]	Gold	15,000^
United States (RIAA)[49]	Gold	500,000‡
^ Shipments figures based on certification alone. ‡ Sales+streaming figures based on certification alone.

Release history

Region	Date	Format(s)	Label(s)	Ref.
United States	January 7, 1998	Modern rock triple A radio	Hollywood	[1]
	February 24, 1998	Mainstream rock radio
United Kingdom	September 21, 1998	CD cassette		[50]
Japan	September 30, 1998	CD		[51]
United States	October 28, 2003	Digital download		[49]

Covers

In 2019, alt-country band Mike and the Moonpies recorded a cover of the song while playing a show to mark the 45th anniversary of the "Hole in the Wall" bar that gave both Mike and the Moonpies and Fastball their start.^[52]

References

1. Reece, Doug (April 25, 1998). "Hollywood Has a Hit with Rockers Fastball". Billboard. Vol. 110, no. 17. p. 92.
2. "The 88 Best Alternative Rock Songs of 1998". Spin. p. 10. Retrieved September 18, 2020.
3. Cosores, Philip (July 4, 2017). "Ranking: Every Alternative Rock No. 1 Hit from Worst to Best". Consequence of Sound. p. 8. Retrieved February 28, 2021.
4. "VH1 Original TV Shows, Reality TV Shows – VH1". VH1. Archived from the original on December 22, 2007.
5. Perchick, Michael (July 27, 2017). "The Way: How a Salado couple's tragic story inspired a chart-topping song". WUSA. Retrieved December 24, 2019.
6. "Family Remains Mystified by Disapperance [sic]". texnews.com. July 10, 1997. Archived from the original on December 20, 2013. Retrieved January 1, 2023.
7. Williams, Melissa (July 14, 1997). "Salado Couple Shared Passions for Church, Each Other". texnews.com. Archived from the original on March 15, 2014. Retrieved January 1, 2023.
8. Bell, Carrie (March 7, 1998). "The Modern Age". Billboard. Vol. 110, no. 10. p. 69.
9. Scalzo, Tony. "Fastball's Tony Scalzo Recalls the True, Tragic Tale That Inspired 1998's "The Way"". Spin. Spin. Retrieved January 8, 2025.
10. The Way (UK 7-inch single vinyl sleeve). Fastball. Hollywood Records. 1997. 569 946-7.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
11. The Way (UK cassette single sleeve). Fastball. Hollywood Records. 1997. 569 946-4.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
12. The Way (European CD single liner notes). Fastball. Hollywood Records. 1997. 569 946-2.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
13. The Way (UK & Australian CD single liner notes). Fastball. Hollywood Records, Polydor Records (Australia). 1997. 569 947-2.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
14. The Way (Japanese CD single liner notes). Fastball. Hollywood Records. 1997. POCP-7348.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
15. "Fastball – The Way". ARIA Top 50 Singles.
16. "Top RPM Singles: Issue 3592." RPM. Library and Archives Canada. Retrieved February 1, 2019.
17. "Top RPM Adult Contemporary: Issue 3576." RPM. Library and Archives Canada. Retrieved February 1, 2019.
18. "Top RPM Rock/Alternative Tracks: Issue 3536." RPM. Library and Archives Canada. Retrieved February 1, 2019.
19. "Eurochart Hot 100 Singles" (PDF). Music & Media. Vol. 15, no. 41. October 10, 1998. p. 14. Retrieved March 6, 2020.
20. "Fastball – The Way" (in German). GfK Entertainment charts. Retrieved February 1, 2019.
21. "Íslenski Listinn Topp 40 (23.7.–30.7. 1998)". Dagblaðið Vísir (in Icelandic). July 24, 1998. p. 10. Retrieved October 3, 2019.
22. "Tipparade-lijst van week 38, 1998" (in Dutch). Dutch Top 40. Retrieved March 27, 2023.
23. "Fastball – The Way" (in Dutch). Single Top 100.
24. "Fastball – The Way". VG-lista.
25. "Official Scottish Singles Sales Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved February 1, 2019.
26. "Fastball – The Way". Singles Top 100.
27. "Fastball – The Way". Swiss Singles Chart.
28. "Official Singles Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved February 1, 2019.
29. "Fastball Chart History (Radio Songs)". Billboard.
30. "Fastball Chart History (Adult Alternative Songs)". Billboard.
31. "Fastball Chart History (Adult Pop Songs)". Billboard.
32. "Fastball Chart History (Alternative Airplay)". Billboard.
33. "Fastball Chart History (Mainstream Rock)". Billboard.
34. "Fastball Chart History (Pop Songs)". Billboard.
35. "ARIA Top 100 Singles for 1998". ARIA. Retrieved December 19, 2020.
36. "RPM's Top 100 Hit Tracks of '98" (PDF). RPM. Vol. 63, no. 12. December 14, 1998. p. 20. Retrieved March 23, 2019.
37. "RPM's Top 100 Adult Contemporary Tracks of '98". RPM. Retrieved February 1, 2019 – via Library and Archives Canada.
38. "RPM's Top 50 Alternative Tracks of '98". RPM. Retrieved February 1, 2019 – via Library and Archives Canada.
39. "Årslista Singlar, 1998" (in Swedish). Sverigetopplistan. Retrieved August 2, 2020.
40. "The Year in Music 1998: Hot 100 Singles Airplay". Billboard. Vol. 110, no. 52. December 26, 1998. p. YE-46.
41. "The Year in Music 1998: Hot Adult Top 40 Singles & Tracks". Billboard. Vol. 110, no. 52. December 26, 1998. p. YE-96.
42. "Most Played Mainstream Rock Songs of 1998". Airplay Monitor. Vol. 6, no. 52. December 25, 1998. p. 34.
43. "Most Played Mainstream Top 40 Songs of 1998". Airplay Monitor. Vol. 6, no. 52. December 25, 1998. p. 45.
44. "The Year in Music 1998: Hot Modern Rock Tracks". Billboard. Vol. 110, no. 52. December 26, 1998. p. YE-84.
45. "Best of '98: Most Played Triple-A Songs". Airplay Monitor. Vol. 6, no. 52. December 25, 1998. p. 35.
46. "Most Played Adult Top 40 Songs of 1999". Airplay Monitor. Vol. 7, no. 52. December 24, 1999. p. 47.
47. "ARIA Charts – Accreditations – 1998 Singles" (PDF). Australian Recording Industry Association. Retrieved February 1, 2019.
48. "Guld- och Platinacertifikat − År 1987−1998" (PDF) (in Swedish). IFPI Sweden. Archived from the original (PDF) on May 17, 2011. Retrieved February 1, 2019.
49. "American single certifications – Fastball – The Way". Recording Industry Association of America. Retrieved February 1, 2019.
50. "Reviews – For Records Out on 21 September 1998: Single Reviews". Music Week. September 12, 1998. p. 10.
51. "Fastball Discography" (in Japanese). PolyGram. Archived from the original on January 28, 1999. Retrieved August 27, 2023.
52. Hudak, Joseph (May 30, 2019). "Hear Mike and the Moonpies' Nostalgic Cover of Fastball's Nineties Hit 'The Way'". Rolling Stone. Retrieved August 24, 2021.