Formed in 2006, the band derived its name from the Wilco song, “I Am Trying to Break Your Heart,” and is led by band founder and lead vocalist/ guitarist BJ Barham. A new lineup was announced in April 2017 with new faces joining the ranks: Crooks drummer Joey Bybee, Damn Quails bass player Ben Hussey and guitarist Shane Boeker – all from Texas – along with Nashville pedal-steel player Adam Kurtz, who also fronts Music City's experimental Buck Owens tribute Buck N' Stuff. Bybee left in August 2018 and was replaced by Nashville-based drummer Matty Alger, who in turn left in February 2019. Kurtz left the band after the Mile Zero fest in January 2019, and Hussey left in July 2019.
Their first album, Antique Hearts, was released in 2006, followed by The Bible and the Bottle in 2008.
In 2012, American Aquarium released two albums: Live in Raleigh and Burn. Flicker. Die.
The band released their sixth original album, Wolves, in February 2015.[7] The band's fans helped raise $24,000 through a Kickstarter project to help fund the album's production, and the album was recorded in Asheville, North Carolina at Echo Mountain.
On November 25, 2016 "Live at Terminal West" was released by the band from a live show recording in November 2015 at Terminal West in Atlanta, Georgia.
Things Change was released on New West Records in 2018, followed by
Lamentations (on New West Records) in 2020.
The Luckier You Get
American Aquarium Lyrics
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The more you get done, boy, less you′ll regret
Write it down so you never forget
The harder you work, the luckier you get
When I turned 13, my old man sat me down
Said, "Boy, there's only two ways out of this town
A Greyhound bus that′s boot camp-bound
Put your nose is a book and keep your ear to the ground"
So I set off to college, but it weren't for me
So I got a guitar, started playin' for free
Wrote a couple hundred bad ones ′til I had two or three
I thought I was good enough folks might pay me to sing
The harder you work, the luckier you get
The more you get done, boy, the less you′ll regret
Write it down so you never forget
The harder you work, the luckier you get
Heard far less "yeses" than I have "nos"
Seen far less highs than I have lows
Rather get to the top steady and slow
Than get there too fast with nowhere to go
The harder you work, the luckier you get
The more you get done, boy, less you'll regret
Write it down so you never forget
The harder you work, the luckier you get
The harder you work, the luckier you get
The more you get done, boy, less you′ll regret
Write it down so you never forget
The harder you work, the luckier you get
American Aquarium's song "The Luckier You Get" is an anthem to the value of hard work, determination and persistence in achieving one's goals. The lyrics speak to the idea that success is not a matter of luck, but rather a product of hard work and effort. The first verse presents the central message of the song: "The harder you work, the luckier you get / The more you get done, boy, less you'll regret / Write it down so you never forget / The harder you work, the luckier you get." This refrain is repeated throughout the song, emphasizing the importance of perseverance and dedication.
The second verse tells the story of the singer's own journey to success. He tells us that his father advised him that there were only two ways out of their small town: joining the military or getting an education. The singer chose the latter, however, he found that college wasn't his calling. Instead, he found his passion in music, and started writing and performing songs. He acknowledges that he wrote "a couple hundred bad ones" before finally hitting on a few that he thought were good enough to share with others.
The chorus is repeated twice more in the song, and each time the singer stresses the importance of keeping focused on one's goals, working hard, and taking the time to reflect on what one has accomplished along the way. The song's message is simple, but powerful, and it speaks to the universal truth that success is earned through hard work and determination, not just luck.
Line by Line Meaning
The harder you work, the luckier you get
Success is achieved through hard work and perseverance
The more you get done, boy, less you'll regret
Being productive helps to avoid disappointment and regret
Write it down so you never forget
Document your experiences and lessons learned for future reference
When I turned 13, my old man sat me down
Narrator's father gave him advice on how to succeed
Said, 'Boy, there's only two ways out of this town
Father believed that leaving town was key to success
A Greyhound bus that's boot camp-bound
Military service can be a path to success
Put your nose is a book and keep your ear to the ground'
Study hard and stay aware of opportunities
So I set off to college, but it weren't for me
Narrator tried college but it didn't suit him
So I got a guitar, started playin' for free
Narrator pursued his passion for music
Wrote a couple hundred bad ones 'til I had two or three
Narrator improved his songwriting through practice
I thought I was good enough folks might pay me to sing
Narrator believed in his ability to make a career out of music
Heard far less 'yeses' than I have 'nos'
Narrator has faced more rejection than acceptance
Seen far less highs than I have lows
Narrator has experienced more lows than highs in his career
Rather get to the top steady and slow
Narrator values slow and steady progress over fast success
Than get there too fast with nowhere to go
Narrator doesn't want to reach success prematurely without a plan
Writer(s): Bradley Justin Barham
Contributed by Alex Y. Suggest a correction in the comments below.