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.
Manhattan
American Aquarium Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Lookin' o'er a postcard town
As one-by-one lights go out in Brooklyn
Looks like the stars have all fell down
Spread themselves across the ground
Like a farmer sowin' seed in the spring-time
Taxi rides just after dark
Then we kiss like you see in the movies
Wore my heart around your neck
And I'm sure that I would not forget
This city, this moment, this girl
Manhattan, Manhattan
Oh where have you been all my life?
Out of town kids with nothin' to do
Fake ID's and cowboy boots
And a friend to keep us loaded for the weekend
We'll catch the A Train to Chamber Street
Jenny's got a girl that she wants me to meet
She'll get me high, she'll get me drunk, she'll get me off
Grand Central is still alive
As we rush to jump the 10:05
And make sure that we get back to Brooklyn
And tomorrow mornin' we'll be on track
To the town that tries to hold us back
But you haven't seen the last of us
Manhattan
Manhattan
Oh where have you been?
Oh where have you been?
Manhattan
Manhattan
Oh where have you been?
Oh where have you been?
Manhattan
The song Manhattan by American Aquarium is a nostalgic ode to the city of Manhattan, particularly from the perspective of out of town youths. The lyrics describe the beauty of the city, seen from a distance, as the lights of Brooklyn gradually disappear, looking as though the stars have fallen to the ground. The song then transcends from a general portrayal of the city to a more intimate description of being in love in Manhattan, where the singer kisses his girl under the bright lights of Central Park. The grandeur of the city and its effect on young people is also depicted through their wild weekend antics, fueled by Jenny's friends who introduce them to the darker and more dangerous side of the city.
Throughout the song, the feeling of youthful freedom and the allure of the big city are emphasized as the singers fantasize about a life in Manhattan, dreaming of where they could be if they had discovered it earlier. The lyrics express homesickness but also the desire to return and defy the town that tries to hold them back. The chorus repeats the question, "Oh where have you been all my life?" as if the city itself is an entity; Manhattan is not just a place, but a symbol of potential, adventure, and hope.
In conclusion, Manhattan by American Aquarium is a tribute to the city that never sleeps and the way it captures the imagination and hearts of young people. It portrays the city as both beautiful and dangerous, full of possibility and risk, and ultimately captures the essence of what it means to be young and free in a chaotic world.
Line by Line Meaning
Thousand feet above the ground
Being high above the land, looking out at what can only be described as breathtaking
Lookin' o'er a postcard town
Watching over what appears to be a picturesque and charming community
As one-by-one lights go out in Brooklyn
Noticing the lights from Brooklyn turn off in succession
Looks like the stars have all fell down
Observation of how the lights look below, dispersed about like fallen stars
Spread themselves across the ground
The lights from Brooklyn seem to spread all over the land, creating an amazing view
Like a farmer sowin' seed in the spring-time
The distribution of the lights is akin to a farmer sowing seeds at planting time
Taxi rides just after dark
Taking taxi rides right after sunset, at the start of the night
Those eyes could'a lit up Central Park
Describing how bright and beautiful someone's eyes were
Then we kiss like you see in the movies
Their kiss was like something out of a romantic movie
Wore my heart around your neck
A metaphorical way of describing how someone was in possession of their heart
And I'm sure that I would not forget
Savoring a moment so wonderful that you know you'll never forget it
This city, this moment, this girl
The combination of the amazing city, perfect moment, and lovely companion made it a perfect night
Out of town kids with nothin' to do
Young, naive individuals without many plans or obligations
Fake ID's and cowboy boots
They have fake identification cards and are clad in cowboy boots
And a friend to keep us loaded for the weekend
They have a friend keeping them supplied with party-enhancing substances for the weekend
We'll catch the A Train to Chamber Street
Boarding the A Train to go to Chamber Street
Jenny's got a girl that she wants me to meet
Jenny has someone she wants them to meet
She'll get me high, she'll get me drunk, she'll get me off
Jenny's friend will provide them with drugs or alcohol, as well as possibly sexual pleasure
Grand Central is still alive
Grand Central station was bustling with life and energy
As we rush to jump the 10:05
Hurriedly getting on the 10:05 train
And make sure that we get back to Brooklyn
Their destination was to get back to Brooklyn
And tomorrow mornin' we'll be on track
They have plans for the next morning and need to be on schedule to stick to them
To the town that tries to hold us back
They feel like their town tries to restrict them and their desires
But you haven't seen the last of us
They're determined and will not give up
Manhattan
Invoking the name of the city
Oh where have you been all my life?
Asking why they didn't discover the beauty of the city sooner
Writer(s): Bj Barham
Contributed by Charlie T. Suggest a correction in the comments below.