This post is the beginning of a series that looks at the lyrics of Reese Roper of the bands Five Iron Frenzy and Roper.

The Christian Ska movement came like a whirlwind and lasted probably a few years before dying out with a vengeance. Basically all the teenagers listening to the Christian Ska bands, grew up and wanted more out of their music. One of the more popular bands to come out of this scene (and survive it) was Five Iron Frenzy. Focusing more on lyrics rather than just how much like the Bosstones they could sound like, Five Iron Frenzy was quickly recognized as one of the better bands of the movement.

Reese Roper, was responsible for some of the best lyrics to ever grace the Christian music scene, ever and without question (at least from my perspective) and that is why we are doing a series on the songs Mr. Roper has penned. Today’s song is no exception to this statement. The song “So Far, So Bad” is a “failed” attempt to talk about the issues with, not only the Christian music industry, but the recording industry as a whole. With lines like “Don’t worry about what this song might say, you’ll never hear it anyway” is just small samples of Reese’s lyrical genius. The song as a whole is catch and you can find yourself singing the chorus hours after repeat listens. But the song and Five Iron Frenzy is summed up in the line “I guess we dodged some passing fad, it looks like it’s so far so bad.”

So Far, So Bad
by Five Iron Frenzy
From the Album, The End is Near

We thought we’d write a song
about all of the problems inherent in the industry,
it was going to be an exposé written in unblemished symmetry.
We were going to have our glorious exit,
an admonition and an encore,
we were going to make a point to the whole world,
but no one wants to hear it anymore.

[Chorus]
Don’t worry what this song would say,
you’ll never hear it anyway.
They won’t play this song on the radio,
so far, so bad, that’s how it goes.
They’ll pull our records from the shelves,
so far, so bad, that’s how it goes.

The rhyme scheme to this song was mostly flawless,
it might have made good poetry.
It could have bridged the gap between the classes,
and overthrown the bourgeoisie.
It made a couple points about the future,
and how the past was kind of uncool,
and if you ever tried to play it backwards,
it told the kids to stay in school.

[Chorus]

I thought I’d write an epiphany,
how something good is changing me,
but I guess we dodged some passing fad,
it looks like it’s so far, so bad.
This song is rad.
You could ask your dad.
He won’t be mad.
This song is stupid.

[Chorus]