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.
Wild One
American Aquarium Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
She said no I won't
They said comb your hair
She said some kids don't
And her parents dreams went up in smoke
They said you can't leave
She said yes I will
She said his name is Bill
She's on a roll and it's all uphill
She's a wild one
With an angel's face
She's a woman-child
In a state of grace
When she was 3 years old on her daddy's knee
He said you can be anything you want to be
She's a wild one
Runnin' free
She loves Rock and Roll
They said it's Satan's tongue
She thinks they're too old
They think she's too young
And the battle lines are clearly drawn
She's a wild one
With an angel's face
She's a woman-child
In a state of grace
When she was 3 years old on her daddy's knee
He said you can be anything you want to be
She's a wild one
Runnin' free
She has future plans and dreams at night
When they tell her life is hard she says that's alright
She's a wild one
With an angel's face
She's a woman-child
In a state of grace
When she was 3 years old on her daddy's knee
He said you can be anything you want to be
She's a wild one
Runnin' free
The lyrics of American Aquarium's song Wild One recount the story of a rebellious young woman who refuses to conform to societal standards and expectations. The song begins with her parents and others in her life trying to impose their ideas of proper dress and grooming upon her, but she resists, suggesting that their attempts to control her will only lead to disappointment – "And her parents' dreams went up in smoke." Despite the pushback she receives from those around her, this wild one is steadfast in her independence and determination, refusing to be held back by anyone or anything.
The second verse continues to describe the conflict between the wild one and the world around her. She loves rock and roll music, but others tell her it's evil, and while they see her youth and lack of experience as a hindrance, she sees it as an advantage, one that allows her to be free and uninhibited in her pursuits. The bridge of the song highlights the source of the wild one's strength and resilience: her unwavering belief in herself and her ability to achieve whatever she sets her mind to.
Overall, the lyrics of Wild One celebrate the spirit of individualism and the refusal to be defined or limited by others. The wild one is a symbol of the power of determination and the importance of never giving up on one's dreams, no matter how unconventional or challenging they may seem.
Line by Line Meaning
They said change your clothes
They wanted her to dress in a more acceptable way.
She said no I won't
She refused to conform to their request.
They said comb your hair
They wanted her to have a more neat appearance.
She said some kids don't
She ignored their request citing that other kids don't do it either.
And her parents dreams went up in smoke
As a result of her refusal to conform, her parent's dreams for her went up in smoke.
They said you can't leave
They forbade her from leaving.
She said yes I will
She expressed her intention to leave anyways.
They said don't see him
They warned her not to see a particular person.
She said his name is Bill
She ignored their request and mentioned the person's name anyways.
She's on a roll and it's all uphill
Despite the challenges, she is determined to keep going.
She loves Rock and Roll
She has a passion for Rock and Roll music.
They said it's Satan's tongue
They told her that Rock and Roll music is evil/associated with Satan.
She thinks they're too old
She thinks those who told her that are not of her generation.
They think she's too young
They think she is too inexperienced to make such decisions.
And the battle lines are clearly drawn
Both parties are at odds with each other.
She has future plans and dreams at night
She dreams of what she wants to become in the future.
When they tell her life is hard she says that's alright
Despite the hardships she may face, she is willing to push through and overcome them.
She's a wild one with an angel's face
Although she is rebellious, she has an innocent-looking face.
She's a woman-child in a state of grace
She is a young woman who is still childlike in some ways and has a sense of maturity.
When she was 3 years old on her daddy's knee, He said you can be anything you want to be
From a young age, her father instilled in her the belief that she can be anything she wants to be.
She's a wild one runnin' free
She is a free spirit with a wild, non-conforming personality.
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: JAIME A. KYLE, PAT BUNCH, WILL RAMBEAUX
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind