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.
Casualties
American Aquarium Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Some trucker hats and old hotel keys
We got a dash, full of trash and other bands CD's
Got a cracked windshield and Mardi Gras beads
Breaking points and broken guitar strings
We bet big and we lost everything
Damn near wasted all our 20's chasing down a dream
We ain't ever gonna make it, like I thought we would
So why can't we just pack it up and say we did the best we could
I used to be a decent man, then life just took its toll
Now I'm just a casualty of rock and roll
Closing time and opening bands
A different town, same old one night stands
Another midnight muse in cowboy boots with X's on her hands
Closing time and opening bands
It's like playing a game you know you'll never win
You're down to your last hand and you're all in
Then a turn of luck and you double up, just to bet it all again
You see we're playing a game we know we'll never win.
We ain't ever gonna make it, like I thought we would
So why can't we just pack it up and say we did the best we could
I shoulda been a doctor or a lawyer, or a policeman on patrol
Instead I'm a casualty of rock and roll
Tell my mama and my daddy that I tried
Tell all my friends and family goodbye
'Cuz if the road is where you live boy, the road is where you'll die
Tell my mama and my daddy that I tried
We ain't ever gonna make it, like I thought we would
So why can't we just pack it up and say we did the best we could
I gave my heart to the highway, she returned it full of holes
We're just casualties of rock and roll
Rock and Roll, Rock and Roll, Rock and Roll, Rock and Roll
Rock and Roll, Rock and Roll, Rock and Roll
"Casualties" by American Aquarium tells the story of a struggling band who has been on the road for a long time, playing countless shows and giving their all to make it big in the music industry. It highlights the sacrifices and struggles they've faced while pursuing their dream of being rock stars, including broken guitar strings, dashed hopes, and the ultimate realization that they may never achieve their goal. The first verse talks about the physical toll that life on the road takes on a band. The singer describes their vehicle as having a cracked windshield and being filled with trash, including old hotel keys and CDs from other bands. They've been through it all and it shows. The line "breaking points and broken guitar strings" also hints at the emotional and psychological toll their struggles have taken. The second verse continues this theme and adds the element of gambling to the mix. The band has bet everything on their music and lost, but they keep trying again and again, hoping that luck will eventually turn in their favor. The chorus acknowledges the sad truth that they may never make it, and asks why they can't just be content with what they've accomplished. The bridge spells out the ultimate sacrifice they're willing to make for their dreams, saying that if the road is where they live, it's where they'll die.
Line by Line Meaning
I got a cracked windshield and Mardi Gras beads
I have a car that's seen better days, and some cheap souvenirs from a trip
Some trucker hats and old hotel keys
I have some accessories that remind me of the places I've been
We got a dash, full of trash and other bands CD's
Our car is cluttered with garbage and other musicians' music
Breaking points and broken guitar strings
We are constantly pushed to our limits, and our equipment is often damaged
We bet big and we lost everything
We took a big risk on our musical career, but it didn't pay off
Damn near wasted all our 20's chasing down a dream
We spent most of our 20s trying to make it big in the music industry, but it didn't happen
We ain't ever gonna make it, like I thought we would
Our dreams of fame and success in the music industry will most likely never become reality
So why can't we just pack it up and say we did the best we could
Why can't we be satisfied with having done our best, and move on?
I used to be a decent man, then life just took its toll
I used to have a better attitude towards life, but the hardships of being a musician have worn me down
Now I'm just a casualty of rock and roll
I'm one of the many musicians who never made it big and are left without much to show for their efforts
Closing time and opening bands
We typically play shows at bars, where we either close the night or open for other bands
A different town, same old one night stands
We travel from place to place, playing at bars and clubs for one night before moving on
Another midnight muse in cowboy boots with X's on her hands
We often encounter groupies or fans who are clearly under the influence of drugs or alcohol
It's like playing a game you know you'll never win
We continue to play music despite knowing that our chances of success are extremely low
You see we're playing a game we know we'll never win.
We are well aware of how difficult it is to succeed in the music industry, yet we continue to pursue our dreams
I shoulda been a doctor or a lawyer, or a policeman on patrol
I sometimes regret not choosing a more stable or lucrative career path
Instead I'm a casualty of rock and roll
Instead, I'm one of the many struggling musicians who never made it to the top
Tell my mama and my daddy that I tried
Let my parents know that I did my best
Tell all my friends and family goodbye
Say goodbye to the people who matter most to me
'Cuz if the road is where you live boy, the road is where you'll die
If the life of a musician is all you know, then it's likely where you'll spend the rest of your days
I gave my heart to the highway, she returned it full of holes
I've dedicated myself to life on the road, but it's taken a toll on my mental and emotional state
We're just casualties of rock and roll
We're among the countless musicians who never made it big in a notoriously difficult industry
Contributed by Allison R. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
Bartholomule01
Saw these guys the other night as an opener for Justin Townes Earle. I thought they were very good.
David Appell
"American Aquarium" is a pretty dumb band name. No wonder they aren't making it.
Mike Anderson
It’s taken from a Wilco song, which makes it pretty cool in my opinion. But to each their own. And they have made it. Shooter Jennings produced their last album, which is amazing.