American Aquarium is an American alternative country band from Raleigh, NC.… Read Full Bio ↴American Aquarium is an American alternative country band from Raleigh, NC.

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.

Road to Nowhere
American Aquarium Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

Well her mother came and packed her bags and drove her off to
nowhere
and in the shadows of her second fathers shoulders
she just stood there, crying, crying

then the wicked lies rolled off her tongue like war bound soldiers marchin'
she ran from the truth like wounded men run from the darkness,
when they're dyin'

she's dyin'

and I told her I loved her and she told me she's leaving
just like every other person in my life that I believed in
and as she slammed the door and walked away
I turned on my radio, oh no
And I played her a dancing song to guide her home

And I had more faith in her than her mother had in Jesus
But like Judas she rebuked my name for jewels and silver pieces
A wedding ring, a wedding ring

And in my darkest hour her eyes filled with desperation
Her words were sharp and her sword was swift
Lord I had been forsaken
By my one true love, my one true love

and I told her I loved her, she told me she's leaving
just like every other person in my life that I've believed in
and as she slammed the door and walked away,
I turned on my radio, oh no
and I played her a dancing song to guide her home

and as I lie alone tonight in the bed we built and once shared
I wonder where you are and who you're with, do you think that he cares
About you, about you
Naw

Now I am not a godly man my roots twisted and sinful

But to have you back I'd bow my head and sing a southern Baptist hymnal
Hallelujah, hallelujah

Overall Meaning

The lyrics to American Aquarium's song "Road to Nowhere" depict a story of heartbreak, betrayal, and desperation. The song begins with the singer's lover being taken away by her mother to nowhere, leaving the singer alone and bewildered. The girl, whose nature of running from the truth is compared to wounded soldiers fleeing from darkness, proceeds to lie and deceive, breaking the singer's trust. Despite this, the singer expresses his love for her, which she rebukes, leaving him heartbroken and forsaken. In the end, the singer muses on the possibility of having her back and being willing to sing a hymnal to the southern Baptist god for it.

The song's use of war and darkness imagery creates a sense of foreboding and impending doom. The dark and emotive music enhances the somber mood of the lyrics, which express pessimism and helplessness. The poignant story of love, loss, and broken promises is one that listeners can easily empathize with.

Line by Line Meaning

Well her mother came and packed her bags and drove her off to nowhere
The girl's mother took her away from her home to a place where she didn't have anyone familiar around.

and in the shadows of her second fathers shoulders she just stood there, crying, crying
The girl was standing next to her stepfather, crying because she didn't want to leave the place she called home before.

then the wicked lies rolled off her tongue like war bound soldiers marchin'
The girl was telling lies effortlessly, like the way soldiers march in a war, causing chaos.

she ran from the truth like wounded men run from the darkness, when they're dyin'
The girl avoided facing the truth like soldiers who are about to die, running from darkness, hoping to survive.

and I told her I loved her and she told me she's leaving
The artist expressed his love for her but she revealed her intention to leave him just like other people from his life.

just like every other person in my life that I believed in
The singer has experienced being abandoned by people who he trusted before.

and as she slammed the door and walked away
The girl left abruptly, closing the door harshly, leaving the singer alone.

I turned on my radio, oh no
As a response to her leaving, the artist turned on his radio to distract himself.

And I played her a dancing song to guide her home
The artist played a song, wishing that it could guide her back to him.

And I had more faith in her than her mother had in Jesus
The artist had believed in the girl more than her mother had in Jesus.

But like Judas she rebuked my name for jewels and silver pieces
The girl betrayed the singer's trust and love for material needs, similar to how Judas betrayed Jesus for money.

And in my darkest hour her eyes filled with desperation
The girl had looked helpless and desperate during the artist's difficult times.

Her words were sharp and her sword was swift
The girl's words were hurtful, similar to a swift and sharp sword.

Lord I had been forsaken by my one true love, my one true love
The singer's true love had left him, causing him to feel abandoned and forsaken by her.

and as I lie alone tonight in the bed we built and once shared
The singer is lying down alone in the bed that he and the girl had built and shared before.

I wonder where you are and who you're with, do you think that he cares
The artist wonders where the girl is, who she is with, and if the person she is with cares about her.

About you, about you Naw
The artist doubts that the person she is with cares about her.

Now I am not a godly man my roots twisted and sinful
The singer admits that he is not a religious person, and his past has some immorality involved.

But to have you back I'd bow my head and sing a southern Baptist hymnal Hallelujah, hallelujah
The singer is willing to do anything to have the girl back, even if it means having to follow her religion and beliefs fully.

Contributed by Declan I. Suggest a correction in the comments below.

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