City Lights
American Aquarium Lyrics

the river sings a sad little song
The river emits a sorrowful tune that is stiflingly melancholic.

and the rain outside just sings along
The raindrops join the river to make a wistful harmony.

and we all dance for the lonely
Everyone dances, trying to make up for how alone they feel in that moment.

well over that hill, sun's waiting for me
The artist is hopeful because beyond their current location, the next day holds promise.

up in johnson city, tennessee
The artist is mentioning their next destination, Johnson City, Tennessee.

we got a show tomorrow in nashville
The singer's future destination after Johnson City where they have a show.

so i tried to call you on my telephone
The singer attempted to reach someone important via phone.

but your answering machine told me you ain't home
The answering machine informed the artist that the intended recipient of the call was not available.

baby girl when you gonna realize
The artist addresses someone affectionately as they plead for consideration.

that you can't wash away all your pain
The artist is cautioning that pain is something that cannot simply be washed away.

with your dirty wine and cheap champagne
The mentioned methods of numbing the pain are not effective in the long run.

you're just dancing for the lonely
The artist accuses the same person from the previous stanza of following suit and trying to dance the loneliness away.

and goddamn this city
The singer is filled with resentment towards the city.

to hell with the cold dark nights
The nights are unbearable and not at all enjoyable.

and my god you look so pretty
The apparent loveliness of the person being observed only adds to the frustration of being in the current location.

under those city lights
This is the setting where the lovely but unattainable person is being observed.

and every town and every place
This is a general observation about all places and towns.

there's a blue eyed story with a pretty face
This is referring to the recurring nature of beautifully tragic stories in every place.

just aching for a little attention
Those stories are yearning for a little bit of attention.

she's a hometown girl alone at the bar
The focus has shifted to a specific person who is a local and is currently by herself at the bar.

she tried to get out but she didn't get far
This person endeavored to leave the town but was unsuccessful in doing so.

now she's stuck here for a lifetime
This person is now destined to remain in the same town for the remainder of their existence.

aw but when she puts on that dancing dress
When this specific person puts on a particular outfit, it seems to change her entire demeanor.

lips are blood red and her hair's a mess
This person looks strikingly different and could be interpreted as trying too hard to stand out in this setting.

and she's ready to fall in love tonight
Despite limitations posed by the town, this person is still hopeful of finding love during the night.

aw but after a few they all look the same
The person's initial optimism falters and they come to a difficult realization: those they interact with are all the same.

and i don't even think that he asked her name
The level of disregard towards the promiscuous nature of their encounters is evident, to the point that people forget to even ask the name of the person they're involved with.

she's just another notch on the bedpost
This dehumanizing phrase is used to describe the individuals who become mere numbers in a record of encounters.

and what part of this have we not been through
This question could be interpreted as a general statement made to any listener familiar with the lyrics, or as a rhetorical one as the artist is recounting their experiences.

what good is some money if i ain't got you
The singer is emphasizing that even with money, life is not as meaningful without their loved ones.

just know in your heart that i miss you
This is a declaration of missing someone special and a plea to keep that knowledge close to their heart.

well i hate to cut it short
The artist would rather remain on the conversation, but there are constraints in place.

but babe i've gotta go
Despite the reluctance, the artist needs to tend to business elsewhere.

the boys are headed up to ohio
The artist explains their next move after the current place.

how i wish it was carolina
The singer longs for a return to their home state of Carolina.

and my god you look so pretty
The artist reiterates their earlier observation of a beautiful person.

under those city lights
This description of the person is made with a specific location in mind.

and my god you look so pretty
The singer once again compliments the beauty of the same person.

under those city lights
The definition of the phrase 'city lights' becomes clearer as it refers to the actual presence of lights in an urban area that almost makes people look more appealing.