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.
Brother Oh Brother
American Aquarium Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I'm writing you a letter it's been a long time
Tell mama that I love her tell her everything's fine
Oh brother oh brother oh brother of mine
My daddy lived by the gun and his daddy did to
Back when serving your country wasn't up to you
He said "some were born to talk boy and some were born to shoot"
My daddy lived by the gun and his daddy did too
And now I can drop a man from about two clicks
I wonder if he's proud of me yet
I've got my daddy's name stitched crossed my chest
And now my hands are tired and my feet are sore
And I'm sick of dodging bullets for another mans war
I've lost all sight of what I'm fighting for
My hands are tired and my feet are sore
Cause I've been fighting for an answer that's long been lost
Did God walk through the desert or die on the cross?
These Stars and Stripes my albatross
I've been fighting for an answer that's long been lost.
So I got my rifle steady and my aim is true
No matter what side I pledge allegiance to.
I'm just doing the job I get paid to do
I got my rifle steady and my aim is true.
Because my momma did her best to raise me well
She taught me bout heaven and she taught me bouta hell
Now where I'll end up man it's hard to tell
My momma did her best to raise me well.
But war can bring out the worst in a man
When your country's got your heart and the Devils got your hands
It'll make you do things you never had planned
A war can bring out the worst in a man.
Oh brother oh brother oh brother of mine
If you're reading this letter it's the end of the line
I ran outta luck, I ran outta time.
Oh brother oh brother oh brother of mine
(End)
American Aquarium's song Brother Oh Brother is a powerful and poignant reflection on the complicated nature of war and its impact on individuals and families. The song is written in first person and addressed to the singer's brother, who is likely a soldier fighting in a foreign war. The lyrics are full of contrasts between love and violence, duty and sacrifice, pride and regret.
The first verse sets the tone and establishes the theme of the song. The singer hasn't seen his brother in a long time, and he's sending a letter to update him on his life. He tells his brother to tell their mother that he loves her and that everything's fine, but the words that follow suggest that things are far from fine. The singer reveals that his father and grandfather were both gun-toting men who served their country, and it's heavily implied that he himself followed in their footsteps. The singer is proud of his family's history of service, but he's also grappling with the realities of war and the loss of purpose that comes with it.
The second verse further delves into the singer's inner turmoil. He has his father's name stitched across his chest, and he's skilled at taking out enemies from a distance. He wonders if his father would be proud of him, and it's clear that his desire for validation is a driving force in his life. However, the singer is also disillusioned with his role as a soldier. His hands are tired and his feet are sore from fighting a war that he no longer believes in. He's lost sight of what he's fighting for and feels like he's in a never-ending battle for an answer that may not even exist.
The third verse takes a more philosophical turn. The singer is resigned to the fact that war brings out the worst in people, even those who are fighting for a noble cause. He acknowledges the influence of his mother's teachings about heaven and hell, but he's unsure of where he will end up. He recognizes that war has the power to make people do things they never thought they would, and this realization is a stark reminder of the darkness that exists within all of us.
In the final verse, the singer seems to have accepted his fate. He tells his brother that if he's reading this letter, it's because the singer has run out of luck and time. There's a sense of resignation and acceptance in these words, as if the singer is ready to face whatever fate is in store for him. The song ends on a somber note, with the repeated refrain "oh brother oh brother oh brother of mine" underscoring the deep bond of love and connection that exists between siblings, even in the face of unspeakable tragedy.
Line by Line Meaning
Oh brother oh brother oh brother of mine
The song is addressed to the singer's brother who has a symbolic and respective significance in this track.
I'm writing you a letter it's been a long time
The singer is writing a letter to his brother whom he has not contacted for a long while.
Tell mama that I love her tell her everything's fine
The singer requests his brother to convey a message to their mother on his behalf, expressing love and that he is doing fine.
My daddy lived by the gun and his daddy did to
The singer reveals that his father was a violent man, who had a firearm and was always ready to use it. Likewise, the grandfather also had a similar personality trait.
Back when serving your country wasn't up to you
There was a time when being in the military was not optional, and it was compulsory to serve the country.
He said "some were born to talk boy and some were born to shoot"
The singer's father believed that some people were created for peaceful conversations, while others were born to take up arms.
So I got my daddy's name stitched crossed my chest
The singer has had his father's name sewn into his shirt, as a symbol of his loyalty and inheritance.
And now I can drop a man from about two clicks
The singer has become a skilled shooter, allowing him to take down an enemy from a distance of about two kilometers.
I wonder if he's proud of me yet
The singer questions whether his father would be proud of his achievement and skill at shooting.
And now my hands are tired and my feet are sore
The singer is exhausted both physically and mentally from the war.
And I'm sick of dodging bullets for another mans war
The singer is becoming tired of fighting battles that are not his own and are being fought on behalf of others.
I've lost all sight of what I'm fighting for
The singer has lost meaning and purpose in his contribution towards the war and is confused about why he is fighting.
Cause I've been fighting for an answer that's long been lost
The singer has been fighting in search of an answer or solution which he may never find.
Did God walk through the desert or die on the cross?
The singer is questioning his religious faith, and pondering whether God had abandoned him and the world in such times of war and hardship.
These Stars and Stripes my albatross
The American flag has become an obstacle and a burden for the singer, symbolizing the government and society responsible for the war.
I got my rifle steady and my aim is true
The singer is determined to hold his weapon steadily and hit the intended target accurately.
No matter what side I pledge allegiance to.
The singer's loyalty and patriotism are not biased towards a particular side in the war.
I'm just doing the job I get paid to do
The singer has no other choice but to fight the war as it is his profession, necessary for his survival and is his only source of income.
Because my momma did her best to raise me well
The singer believes that his mother brought him up as best as she could, teaching him right from wrong and ensuring his morals are in place.
She taught me bout heaven and she taught me bouta hell
The singer's mother instilled religious beliefs within him, teaching him about heaven and hell.
Now where I'll end up man it's hard to tell
The singer is unaware of his final destination and fate. He is uncertain if he will live or die, win or lose.
But war can bring out the worst in a man
The singer acknowledges that fighting in wars can change a person, extracting the negative attributes, and exposing a human's darker side.
When your country's got your heart and the Devils got your hands
The singer is conflicted, with his love and loyalty for his country conflicting with the wars' evil and immoral acts that he is participating in.
It'll make you do things you never had planned
War can force individuals to perform tasks and participate in horrific activities that they never thought they were capable of.
If you're reading this letter it's the end of the line
The singer is bidding his final goodbye, expressing his sentiments about the letter being the end of the line, therefore signifying that it could be his last goodbye.
I ran outta luck, I ran outta time.
The singer has exhausted all his time, and luck, being unfortunate and unable to complete what he started.
Contributed by Mila T. Suggest a correction in the comments below.