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.
Mary Mary
American Aquarium Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Those pencil pink lips and her honeysuckle hair
I caught her shooting eyes in the rear-view mirror
Saying, "Let's go swimming in our underwear"
Oh Mary, Mary, full of grace
What do you say we blow this place?
What good is a god if you ain't got faith
When you can't be saved?
Well, I could tell she's trouble from the very start
So I bit my tongue and I played my part
Sex and love, I can't keep 'em apart
Walked in with my attention walked out with my heart
She's into kissing boys, she's into playing games
Got two different faces and three first names
She'll argue the difference 'tween pot and cocaine
But the drugs are like the girls, it's damage all the same
Oh Mary, Mary, full of grace
What do you say we blow this place?
What good is a god if you ain't got faith
What good is a god when you can't be
When you can't be saved?
In a two-bedroom on 14th Street
The boys are at the bar, we're exploring the sheets
It started on your lips, it ended on your knees
I think I fall in love with every girl I meet
Oh Mary, Mary, full of grace
What do you say we blow this place?
What good is a god if you ain't got faith
What good is a god when you can't be saved?
Oh Mary, Mary, full of grace
What do you say we blow this place?
What good is a god if you ain't got faith
What good is a god when you can't be
When you can't be saved?
No, you can't
No, you can't
No, you can't
No, you can't be saved
No, you can't
No, you can't
No, you can't
No, you can't be saved
The lyrics to American Aquarium's "Mary Mary" are about a woman who walks into a room and captures the attention of all the boys with her looks and demeanor. The singer is immediately attracted to her, but knows she's trouble. She's into kissing boys, playing games, and experimenting with drugs. Despite her wild ways, the singer falls in love with her.
The chorus "What good is a god if you ain't got faith, what good is a god when you can't be saved?" suggests that the woman has lost her faith and is beyond redemption. The singer struggles with his feelings for the woman and questions the point of his own faith if he can't save her from her reckless behavior.
The imagery in the lyrics paints a picture of a rebellious, wild woman who is not afraid to take risks and live for the moment. The singer is drawn to her and all the excitement she brings, but ultimately realizes that he can't save her from herself.
Overall, "Mary Mary" is a cautionary tale about falling for someone who is trouble and questioning the value of faith when faced with a seemingly irredeemable situation.
Line by Line Meaning
Well, she walks into a room and the boys all stare
When she enters any place, all men look at her awe-struck.
Those pencil pink lips and her honeysuckle hair
Her pink lips and sweet aroma of scent, resembling honeysuckles, make her more attractive.
I caught her shooting eyes in the rear-view mirror
I noticed that she was trying to approach me by showing seductive gestures in the car's mirror.
Saying, "Let's go swimming in our underwear"
She asked me to jump into the water wearing nothing but our underclothes.
Oh Mary, Mary, full of grace
A reference to the Christian prayer, 'Hail Mary', calling her full of kindness and compassion.
What do you say we blow this place?
Do you want to leave this place?
What good is a god if you ain't got faith
What's the point of believing in God without having faith?
What good is a god when you can't be
What's the point of God when they can't be of any help?
When you can't be saved?
When there is no possibility of being rescued?
Well, I could tell she's trouble from the very start
From the beginning, I knew that she would cause problems.
So I bit my tongue and I played my part
I silently agreed and complied with whatever she said or did.
Sex and love, I can't keep 'em apart
I can't differentiate between sex and love; both are same for me.
Walked in with my attention walked out with my heart
When I entered that place, she grabbed my attention immediately, and when I left, she took away my heart.
She's into kissing boys, she's into playing games
She likes to kiss and play mind games with guys.
Got two different faces and three first names
She has two different personalities and goes by three different names for her masks.
She'll argue the difference 'tween pot and cocaine
She can debate you on the differences between drugs like marijuana and cocaine.
But the drugs are like the girls, it's damage all the same
Both drugs and girls can have harmful effects on people's lives.
In a two-bedroom on 14th Street
A description of the place where something significant happened.
The boys are at the bar, we're exploring the sheets
While the men are in the bar, we indulged in sexual activities.
It started on your lips, it ended on your knees
It all started with kissing and ended with intimate acts.
I think I fall in love with every girl I meet
It's a tendency of mine to fall in love with every girl I encounter.
No, you can't be saved
'You' cannot be rescued or helped.
Contributed by John S. Suggest a correction in the comments below.