“Funny the Way It Is” was recorded by the Dave Matthews Band in their album Big Whiskey and the GrooGrux King. They hit number one on U.S. Billboard Album Adult Alternative. In this song Dave Matthews (who writes all the songs they do not cover) talks completely casually about the events going on in the world. He explains the good and bad events as opposites. In “Funny the Way It Is”, Dave Matthews uses neutralizing dramatic irony, thoughtful imagery, and nonchalant satire to convey the theme that the world is filled with opposites.
Dave Matthews shows us his world of opposites through neutralizing dramatic irony. To start off each chorus Matthews uses “Funny the way it is” as a way to make the listener anticipate a happy thought. Instead he gives a sad event and then a happy event. These events are all polar opposite and cancel each other out, leaving the listener unable to feel any emotion. “On a soldier’s last breath his baby’s being born” keeps one wondering whether to be happy or sad. Also it is ironic that “One kid walks 10 miles to school, another’s dropping out” and dramatically confusing to the listener. All these ideas come together to add the effect of meandering through the song, as if it is leading nowhere. But through his imagery, Matthews leads us somewhere.
Using thoughtful imagery, Dave Matthews portrays opposites in the world. Matthews asks questions about the world and how it works. He exclaims, “Watch the sky, the jet planes, so far out of my reach/ Is there someone up there looking down on me?” to express his wonder of a divine force watching him. Also, he thinks about past obstacles for mankind: “when there was no bridge just water” how did they get across? He reminisces about “Mountains and oceans and winters and rivers and stars” which were so such big wonders for man to get through. But “Now the world is small” and these are simple objects. His wonders and thoughts reflect mankind as able to put things behind them. Even though “Someone’s heart is broken…it becomes your favorite song”; therefore, it is acceptable for that heart to be broken. Matthews is explaining that all our differences, or opposites, are ignored because we are indifferent.
Utilizing nonchalant satire, Dave Matthews explain a world of opposites. Ultimately, Matthews is making fun of all the things that have opposites. He says, “Someone’s house is burning down on a day like this”, as it is a “beautiful day”. By giving a depressing scene happiness, he is poking fun at it. “Funny the way it is” that Matthews makes fun of all these bad situations. Matthews has an ‘oh well’ attitude as a “Boy chase a bird…/ He’ll never catch her”. He means to say that mankind will never change, so why should he feel bad. Instead of stopping to sob, he moves on. In the long run, this removes obstacles through his life, making it easier on himself. So he pairs each bad event with a good event to save time and time is important “if you think about it”.
Neutralizing dramatic irony, thoughtful imagery, and nonchalant satire convey the theme that the world is filled with opposites in Dave Matthews’, “Funny the Way It Is”. Matthews is all for making fun of mankind for being so indifferent to each other. He also explains that the ‘oh well’ persona is used often. Everybody seems the same to him. Dave Matthews leads us to go out and make a difference and to be someone different. He asks us to “remember how it used to be”.
