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.
Queen of the Scene
American Aquarium Lyrics
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She hates the way I talk but she loves the way I sing
She spends too much time something she ain't
When the smoke all clears there's always someone to blame
When you spend all your time trying to make things right
Guess you can't clean it up if it's broken inside
Never wants to listen to single word I say
I am what I am and I ain't what I ain't
I'm not yet a killer, but I'm far from a saint
I don't really think it matters what I do
I don't think I'll ever be good enough for you
She doubted me like Thomas when I needed her like Paul
Turned her back on me like Judas and let me take the fall
She called me a traitor, she called me a lie
She fed me to the lions and hung me
She hung me out to dry
So I hear you got a new boy, he looks a lot like me
I bet he can't sing like I sing
So I'll just sit back, babe, and I'll play my part
He may have your hand but I still got your heart
Lyrics from eLyrics.net
American Aquarium's "Queen of the Scene" tells the story of a man who is in love with a woman who is the queen of her world. She is tall, pale, and seems to possess a sense of power and control over others. The man describes how he feels inadequate in her presence because she criticizes the way he speaks, but loves the way he sings. Despite their connection through music, the man sees that the woman spends too much time on something that is not good for her. He also mentions that when things go wrong, she always finds someone else to blame.
In the chorus, the man expresses his frustration about trying to make things right, but feeling like he cannot fix the broken parts inside himself. He realizes that no matter how much he asks her to listen or how much he may try to change, he may never be good enough for her. As the song progresses, the man recalls how the woman turned her back on him in times of need and eventually betrayed him. He compares her to Judas, who betrayed Jesus, feeding him to the proverbial lions and leaving him to dry out in the sun. Despite all this, the man hears that the woman has moved on with someone else who quite possibly resembles him, but he knows that he still has her heart.
Line by Line Meaning
She was tall and pale, she's the queen of her scene
She is a prominent figure in her social circle, often standing out due to her height and complexion.
She hates the way I talk but she loves the way I sing
She dislikes his normal way of communication but enjoys his musical talents.
She spends too much time something she ain't
She devotes much of her time pursuing something she is not and may never become.
When the smoke all clears there's always someone to blame
Even when things settle down, there is always someone to hold responsible for any issues or problems that may have arisen.
When you spend all your time trying to make things right
Devoting one's self to fixing problems can be exhausting and may not always lead to success.
Guess you can't clean it up if it's broken inside
Attempting to correct something that has broken down internally can be very difficult and often leads to failure.
Never wants to listen to single word I say
She constantly disregards any advice or suggestions given to her by those around her, including the singer.
No Matter how much I ask her
Despite persistent requests, she refuses to change her behavior or perspective.
I am what I am and I ain't what I ain't
He is who he is and will not change himself to please anyone else's expectations.
I'm not yet a killer, but I'm far from a saint
He is not perfect and has made mistakes in his life, but he is not a dangerous individual.
I don't really think it matters what I do
He does not believe that his actions or choices will ever be enough to please her or gain her acceptance.
I don't think I'll ever be good enough for you
Despite his best efforts, he believes that he will never meet her high standards or be considered worthy of her approval.
She doubted me like Thomas when I needed her like Paul
She lacked faith in him at a critical moment when he needed her support the most, similar to the disciple Thomas' doubt of Jesus' resurrection and Paul's need for support during his missionary travels.
Turned her back on me like Judas and let me take the fall
She betrayed him in a similar way to the disciple Judas, who betrayed Jesus, causing him to suffer negative consequences.
She called me a traitor, she called me a lie
She accused him of being a disloyal and deceitful individual.
She fed me to the lions and hung me
She caused him to become a victim of other people's criticisms and betrayals, similar to feeding someone to hungry lions as punishment.
She hung me out to dry
She abandoned him when he needed her support and left him to deal with his struggles alone.
So I hear you got a new boy, he looks a lot like me
He has heard rumors that she is seeing someone new who resembles him in some way.
I bet he can't sing like I sing
He is confident that the new person she is seeing does not possess his level of musical talent.
So I'll just sit back, babe, and I'll play my part
He is resigned to the fact that they are no longer together and is content to play a smaller role in her life.
He may have your hand but I still got your heart
Even though she may be with someone new, the singer believes that she still has some level of emotional attachment to him.
Contributed by Logan L. Suggest a correction in the comments below.