The band was formed by guitarist and singer Mike Kinsella (formerly of Cap'n Jazz, The One Up Downstairs, Joan of Arc, Owls and currently of Owen) and drummer Steve Lamos (formerly of The One Up Downstairs and currently of The Geese), and also included guitar player Steve Holmes.
The band had few live performances and disbanded less than a year after releasing their self-titled album; still, they gained critical acclaim for that album, which merged the plain-spoken, confessional lyrics and melancholic/bittersweet arpeggios of Midwest Emo with the varying time signatures of Math Rock and the atmosphere of Post-Rock, providing a softer musical sensibility.
Mike Kinsella explained the band's name thus: "My girlfriend had been in Dublin, Ireland visiting her family. One of the things she brought home for me was a flyer for a Chicago Bears exhibition game that said: "Come see American Football, featuring the most overpaid athletes in the world." Something about that statement made me think of rock bands, most of whom are the most overpaid musicians in the world. When I suggested it as a name, the other guys thought it was dumb. Still, for whatever reason, we kept it".
The band regrouped in 2014 for two shows to promote the re-issue of their self-titled album.
But the Regrets Are Killing Me
American Football Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Built to fill roles and fall
Standing alone again
Distant and dissatisfied
These four years
And how we say goodbye to these four years
A long goodbye with mixed emotions
I'm not dead yet
But the regrets are killing me
The first stanza speaks about how people leave too soon and are built to fulfill certain roles, only to fall eventually. The singer appears to be standing alone again, feeling distant and dissatisfied. The use of "fools" in the beginning of the stanza suggests that those who leave too soon or are built to fill certain roles without questioning them may be foolish. The tone in this section is melancholic, as the singer appears to be lamenting a loss or a recent change that has left them feeling alone and dissatisfied.
The second stanza appears to be a reflection on the past four years of the singer's life. The singer is saying goodbye to these past four years, but it's a long goodbye with mixed emotions. The line "just fragments of another life" suggests that the singer feels like the past four years were just a small part of their life, and they are now moving on to another phase. The use of the word "regrets" in the last line is powerful, as it suggests that despite not being dead yet, the singer is already burdened by regrets. It's a sad realization that the singer may have lost opportunities, made wrong decisions, or failed to achieve what they wanted to in the past four years.
Overall, "But the Regrets Are Killing Me" is a reflective and poignant song about the regrets and melancholy that can linger on after a significant change or transition in one's life. The lyrics suggest a sense of isolation and dissatisfaction, as well as the weight of regrets and missed opportunities.
Line by Line Meaning
Fools leave too soon
Some immature people tend to depart early from what they should stay long in order to treasure it.
Built to fill roles and fall
Individuals are designed to occupy certain functions, but eventually falter and fade away.
Standing alone again
One is yet again standing without any companionship.
Distant and dissatisfied
Being far from emotive connections and disgruntled by life's outcomes.
These four years
These specific four years of life.
And how we say goodbye to these four years
The process by which we bid farewell to these four years.
A long goodbye with mixed emotions
A prolonged farewell marked by conflicting feelings.
Just fragments of another life
Only shards of an erstwhile existence.
I'm not dead yet
I am still alive and breathing.
But the regrets are killing me
Despite being alive, I am tormented by the remorse that is destroying me from within.
Lyrics ยฉ ROUGH TRADE PUBLISHING, Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd.
Written by: Michael Thomas Kinsella, Stephen Michael Holmes, Steven Joseph Lamos
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind