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.
SAVIOR
American Aquarium Lyrics
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Everyone needs a savior. Be it minor be it major. Always on there best behavior. Won't you save me? Save me tonight.
Today it was the hottest day of the summer and those short skirt curves, oh boy how they do bend, and the minimum wage memories of the summers spent back home, hell they were fun but they never paid the rent. So I work a nine to five and call it a living, but this living of mine, hell it's killing it me it seems. So at night I stand up on this stage and I try to explain the difference between a tattered heart and a shattered dream.
Everyone needs a savior. Be it minor be it major. Always on there best behavior. Won't you save me? Save me tonight.
The lyrics of American Aquarium's song "Savior" paint a vivid picture of a person trapped in a cycle of desperation and hopelessness. The song's opening lines describe a scene of urban isolation, with a clock that's stuck at four and the only light coming from a streetlight outside the window. The singer's bloodshot eyes suggest long nights spent in a haze of liquor and caffeine, trying to escape from their troubles.
The chorus of "Savior" speaks to the universal need for help and support in times of difficulty. The singer recognizes that they cannot save themselves and begs for a savior, someone who can rescue them from the cycle of self-destruction. There is an implicit plea for someone to recognize the desperation behind the facade of "always on their best behavior" and to offer comfort and solace.
The second verse of the song provides a hint of escape in the form of summer memories and the possibility of a carefree life. However, the reality of financial struggles and a soul-sucking job have left the singer feeling trapped and unable to live the life they want. The stage becomes a platform to express the frustration and pain that comes with the realization that life has not turned out as planned.
Overall, "Savior" is a powerful portrayal of the struggle to find meaning and purpose in difficult times. Through its evocative imagery and heartfelt lyrics, the song speaks to the need for connection and support in the face of adversity.
Line by Line Meaning
There's a street light right outside my window and some nights it's the only light I find and the clock on the wall has been stuck at four for days and it seem like I was meant to be behind.
I feel trapped in my own life - the only source of light is the street light outside my window and I feel like I'm not making any progress, as evidenced by the clock stuck at the same time for days.
I have seen both sides of a sunrise and these bloodshot eyes are steadily wearing thin, and as the liquor and the caffeine both pulse through my veins I pray that tomorrow I won't end up here again.
My constant use of alcohol and caffeine is taking a toll on me, and I'm tired of feeling like this day after day - I hope that tomorrow will be different.
Today it was the hottest day of the summer and those short skirt curves, oh boy how they do bend, and the minimum wage memories of the summers spent back home, hell they were fun but they never paid the rent.
Life can be tough when you're just trying to make ends meet, and even though I have fond memories of the past, they don't pay the bills in the present.
So I work a nine to five and call it a living, but this living of mine, hell it's killing it me it seems. So at night I stand up on this stage and I try to explain the difference between a tattered heart and a shattered dream.
I feel like I'm stuck in a dead-end job that's slowly draining the life out of me - my true passion is music, and I try to share my experiences through my performances.
All my friends they ask me how i'm doing and they ask that question as if I've got a choice. See i'm a notebook full of memories; i'm a screaming contradiction who talks to hear the sound of his own voice
Even though people ask how I'm doing, it's not like I can just change my situation - I'm a complex person with a lot of memories and experiences, and sometimes I feel like I just need to talk it out.
Everyone needs a savior. Be it minor be it major. Always on there best behavior. Won't you save me? Save me tonight.
At the end of the day, everyone needs someone to help them out when things get tough. I'm reaching out for help, hoping someone will be there to save me.
Contributed by Grayson R. Suggest a correction in the comments below.