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.
Dandelions
American Aquarium Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
There's something about this place that I can't hide. I can't outrun this feeling no matter how hard I try. I can't get you off my mind no matter what I do because everything in this damn town reminds me of you.
Well the cows still graze that field on sandy cross and I drive up and down this road searching for something I lost. But I don't think I'll find what i'm looking for because the girl I never told I loved doesn't live here anymore.
There's something about this place that I can't hide. I can't outrun this feeling no matter how hard I try. I can't get you off my mind no matter what I do because everything in this damn town reminds me of you.
There's something about this place that I can't hide. I can't outrun this feeling no matter how hard I try. I can't get you off my mind no matter what I do because everything in this damn town reminds me of you.
You and me we were oh so free running around like two young kids should be. Who would have thought that we would fall, we tripped, we fell, we lost it all in this town, this town.
The song "Dandelions" by American Aquarium is a heartfelt ode to the nostalgia and longing that comes with returning to one's hometown after time away. The imagery of the dandelions, which have been there for twenty-one years and seem to have no plans of leaving, creates a sense of timelessness and continuity, which is contrasted with the transience of the singer's emotions and relationships. The metaphor of the dandelions as ballerinas dancing "with their clothes off, their hearts upon their sleeve" speaks to the fragility and beauty of human connection.
The first verse sets the scene of the singer's return to their hometown and the overwhelming feeling of being unable to escape the memories of a lost love. The second verse continues this theme, focusing on the familiar landmarks and places that remind the singer of their past. The mention of the cows grazing on Sandy Cross and the futile search for something lost hint at the singer's disillusionment and sense of aimlessness.
The final verse brings the focus to the present, with the singer trying to drown their sorrows in the neon lights and dangerous smiles of the city. However, despite this attempt to escape and move on, the specter of the lost love and the memories of their time in the hometown continue to haunt the singer, leading to the bittersweet conclusion of the song.
Overall, "Dandelions" is a poignant and relatable exploration of the complexities of memory, loss, and the human need for connection and belonging.
Line by Line Meaning
Dandelions bloom in a field in my hometown. They have been there twenty one years and they got plans on sticking around.
The dandelions in my hometown have been around for years, and they are a reminder that some things will always stay the same.
Like a ballerina they cut through the cool night breeze, dancing with their clothes off, there hearts upon their sleeve.
The dandelions dance in the wind, unashamedly displaying their hearts on their sleeves, just like how we should be open about our emotions.
Well the cows still graze that field on sandy cross and I drive up and down this road searching for something I lost. But I don't think I'll find what i'm looking for because the girl I never told I loved doesn't live here anymore.
I keep coming back to this place, but I know I won't find what I'm looking for because the person I loved is no longer here.
The neon lights downtown, oh how they shine and this city steals my paycheck, one drink at a time. Like a makeshift raft at sea i'm bound to sink because the beautiful women with dangerous smiles keep forcing me to drink.
I'm trapped in this town that drains my wallet and my soul with its lights and tempting vices, particularly the women who push me towards alcohol.
You and me we were oh so free running around like two young kids should be. Who would have thought that we would fall, we tripped, we fell, we lost it all in this town, this town.
We used to be carefree and happy, but we fell apart and lost everything we had in this town that once held such promise.
Contributed by Mateo N. Suggest a correction in the comments below.