Credit such significant notoriety to the fact that American Eyes never settled on playing standard fare, stand ‘n’ stare rock music from its inception. Instead, the quintet had always been a dark-edged neo-gothic punk act that’s incorporated prominent dance rhythms within its material, whether it’s on the band’s first two self-released recordings, or their SideOneDummy debut EP, Never Trust Anything That Bleeds.
Hailing from the westernmost region of Los Angeles County — Agoura Hills, to be exact — American Eyes’ members Henry, Richardson and Gold actually shared sandboxes together, having known each other since pre-school. The three didn’t really materialize into a musical act until their years at Agoura High, where they met locals Anthony and Johnson — it’s also the same institution of which members of Linkin Park, Hoobastank and Incubus had attended (but, of course, ended up in an entirely different musical genre). Originally formed under a different name, the pre-American Eyes act gave the members ample opportunity at which to cut their teeth.
Since high school wasn’t the act’s forte, Henry, Richardson and Gold opted to swap their chance at higher education for a shot at bigger venues and more recordings. With a renewed spirit, a more focused concept and a few years of steady experience already underneath their collective belts, the set launched American Eyes in 2002. But the launch wasn’t exactly the propulsive lift-off that the act had been anticipating.
“When we first started, no one would book us because we had a really bad reputation around L.A.,” says Henry. “We played an all-ages show and kids were going nuts — it was a typical hardcore show. Next thing I know, I see a chair getting thrown through a window. The cops came and it made the front page of the local magazine. A week later, we played at USC and I put my foot through the grand piano on accident. No venue would book us. Troubadour? No. Knitting Factory, Roxy, Whisky? No way.”
The only place that gave the band a shot was a gay club in West Hollywood — and American Eyes was the first band to ever play there. Packing in their audience amidst the cage dancers, American Eyes soon grabbed the attention of local radio stations and other promoters. Next thing they knew, they were welcomed back into L.A.’s club scene — selling out nearly every local show they’ve played since.
That doesn’t mean that American Eyes have toned down their act. Actually, Henry mentions that the group was recently asked to leave another local venue — the reason given was that Henry had endangered the crowd by climbing up the side pillars and hanging upside down while singing — in short, just going nuts. “We’re just always looking for trouble,” Henry admits. “I believe it’s fun, it’s music.”
An American Eyes show isn’t just a band slamming through a handful of songs and making a quick exit — it’s a total production that goes well beyond the scope of five guys playing music on stage. For example, the band’s Valentine’s Day gig in 2005 featured a kissing booth and a snow machine. “We throw events, we don’t throw concerts,” Henry adds.
The chatter of their famed shows and a well-connected Henry caught the attention of the SideOneDummy record label execs, who inked a deal with the band after catching a seemingly rousing practice session in 2004.
Enter Never Trust Anything That Bleeds, American Eyes’ six-song label debut. Produced by Michael Patterson (Puff Daddy, Notorious B.I.G., Beck) and Gavin MacKillop (Sugarcult, MXPX), the concept EP was devised around a relationship in Henry’s life, and all the ensuing emotional twists and turns. “It was a turning point in my life. I’d got out of high school, I was out in the world, I had a girlfriend for five years and we had broken up. You didn’t know anything, you didn’t trust anybody, not even yourself. You just had to keep your eyes open.”
Never Trust Anything That Bleeds leads off with the electro-charged “Knife Fight With A Girl (True Story),” a song about confusion, incomprehension and the emotions of having to sever ties with a former love. Next comes the propulsive “Telephone Wires,” followed by the anthemic “Carry On For Keepsake,” which grapples painfully with a sense of loss in the wake of a tumultuous relationship. “The Girl With The Broken Heart (By The Way)” is a straightforward rocker, which then leads into the sweeping, orchestral ballad, “The Day We Died,” of which Henry addresses internalizing his frustration. The song is a collaboration featuring vocals by Curt Smith of Tears For Fears fame. “Recording with Curt was surreal,” Henry exclaims. “I had to kick myself!” The disc’s massive send off is the upbeat, sing-along track “Radio.” “With that song it’s like, it doesn’t matter, I can do whatever I want to do,” Henry notes. “I’m doing what I love to do. And hopefully one day, she’ll hear this song on the radio and be like, ‘Wait, I fucking blew it.’”
And it’s that intriguing dichotomy of tormented, frustrated lyrics and danceable, stimulating rock (“We make happy music to cry to,” says Henry) that’s made American Eyes such a favorite — especially online, through their MySpace profile. “We put ‘The Day We Died’ on MySpace and tons of people were hitting us up, saying ‘Oh my God, that song is reading what I’m thinking.’ The lyrics can totally bum you out but the music is happy. It’s all right to be sad. It’s all right to grieve.”
American Eyes receive and continue to respond to personal e-mails seeking advice on many of their fans’ issues. “It’s like therapy,” he says. “That’s how we’ve gotten to where we are, because we’ve made personal connections with everyone. We’re going through the same thing they are.”
It’s no surprise American Eyes have caused kids to uncross their arms and take notice. And Los Angeles is just the starting point.
The Girl With The Broken Heart By The Way
American Eyes Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
They are raping minds and building kids to sell
Ruin your make up and wash it down
Tear your magazines, don't join the crowd
We are not a part of what they say
We are the majority
A million questions running out of our mouths
Oh, by the way
No one seems to care
Oh, by the way
By the way
Won't you sell yourself to misery?
'Cause talk is cheap and so are we
Well, the media it's spinning
It's goddamn out of control
Don't sell out
There is no truth in what they say
Don't rape her mind
She's so beautiful
My tender girl, she's so untouchable
Protect yourself and just close your eyes
We are all American eyes
[Chorus]
Sell yourself for what you need
The way you live your life
You're never gonna be free
'Cause we're in love
Oh, we're so in love
With the girl with the broken heart
Who's the girl with the broken heart?
We're in love
And she bleeds on me
In The Girl With a Broken Heart, American Eyes addresses a society in which young people are often treated as statistics or commodities. The lyrics assert that people should not allow themselves to be defined by external factors like government statistics or media portrayals. The lines "They are raping minds and building kids to sell" suggest that the government and media are preying on young people's vulnerabilities to manipulate them for financial gain. The band urges listeners to reject these tactics and to cultivate their own identities.
The chorus of the song expresses the frustration and confusion of the singer, who feels that nobody cares about the questions and concerns that she has. The lines "Won't you sell yourself to misery? / 'Cause talk is cheap and so are we" imply that people need to take action rather than just talking about their problems. In addition to criticizing societal pressures, the song also touches on themes of love and vulnerability. The band declares their love for "the girl with the broken heart," suggesting that they want to support and protect her despite her pain.
Overall, The Girl With a Broken Heart is a powerful statement about the importance of individualism and the dangers of conformity. The lyrics urge listeners to resist societal pressures and to embrace their own unique identities.
Line by Line Meaning
We are not statistics populated by government authorities
We refuse to be labeled and quantified by the government's data collection methods.
They are raping minds and building kids to sell
The government and media are manipulating and brainwashing young people for profit.
Ruin your make up and wash it down
Stop conforming to societal expectations of appearance and wash away the facade.
Tear your magazines, don't join the crowd
Reject the mainstream media's influence on your identity and don't blindly follow the masses.
We are not a part of what they say
We don't conform to society's expectations or the media's narrative.
We are the majority
Our perspective and values are shared by more people than the media would have us believe.
A million questions running out of our mouths
We have a multitude of unanswered questions about the world around us.
No one seems to care
Despite our curiosity and concern, the rest of society seems disinterested in exploring deeper issues.
Won't you sell yourself to misery?
Are you willing to sacrifice your well-being and happiness for superficial things?
'Cause talk is cheap and so are we
It's easy to talk about change, but we must take action to make a difference.
The media it's spinning
The media is constantly spinning and manipulating information to fit their agenda.
It's goddamn out of control
The media's control over society is becoming increasingly dangerous and harmful.
Don't sell out
Don't compromise your values or integrity for fame, money, or power.
There is no truth in what they say
The media's portrayal of reality is often biased and distorted.
Don't rape her mind
Don't manipulate or control someone's thoughts or beliefs for your own benefit.
She's so beautiful
Every individual is unique and valuable in their own way, regardless of societal standards of beauty.
My tender girl, she's so untouchable
The girl with a broken heart is fragile and not accessible to those who seek to exploit or harm her.
Protect yourself and just close your eyes
Take steps to guard your heart and mind from negative influences and close your eyes to distractions that may sabotage your well-being.
Sell yourself for what you need
Don't compromise your values or self-respect in order to obtain material possessions or other temporary goals.
The way you live your life
Our actions and choices define us, and we must consider the consequences of our decisions on ourselves and others.
You're never gonna be free
We can't truly be free if we allow external forces to wield control over our lives and choices.
We're in love
We have a deep emotional connection with the girl with a broken heart and wish to protect her from harm.
And she bleeds on me
The girl with a broken heart has suffered and her pain has affected and touched us deeply.
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Lori Engel
I LOVED IT
First Tent On The Right
man, i wish I could find their album "Never trust anything that bleeds". I used to love this band when I was a kid in high school and no one even knew them but me in that hell hole, Would love to listen to that shit again. All I can find is their song Radio which is great and great to hear again
bsgarza
best song in the world A.E. Rox
Lori Engel
THAT WAS OWSOME