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.
I'll See You When We're Both Not So Emotional
American Football Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
You may accidentally misinterpret honesty for selfishness
We're two human beings, individually
With inherent interest in each other and how we relate
If you're still prone to accidents and misunderstandings
You won't understand me or my motivation for being alone
We're just two human beings, individually
Considering everything, me leaving with regrets only makes sense
I'll see you when we're both not so emotional
In the song "I'll See You When We're Both Not So Emotional" by American Football, the lead singer describes a relationship between two people who struggle with miscommunication and misunderstanding. The lyrics suggest that the two individuals have trouble being honest with each other, and as a result, they may mistake honesty for selfishness. The singer emphasizes that they are two unique individuals who are interested in each other and how they relate. However, despite their best efforts, they continue to encounter misunderstandings.
In the second verse, the singer acknowledges that if one person is prone to accidents and misunderstandings, they may not understand why the other one wants to be alone. These conflicting desires can create tension and frustration within the relationship. Nevertheless, the singer believes that leaving the relationship with regrets is the best course of action. Their hope is that they will reconnect with the other person when they are both in a better emotional state.
Overall, the song highlights the challenges that individuals face when trying to connect with others. Despite our inherent interest in other people's lives, we cannot always understand their motivations and actions. Sometimes, it is best to take a step back and reconnect with others when we are in a better emotional state.
Line by Line Meaning
If you're so prone to accidents and misunderstandings
You may accidentally misinterpret honesty for selfishness
We're two human beings, individually
We are each our own person with our own experiences and perspectives
With inherent interest in each other and how we relate
We both care about the relationship between us and want to make it work
Considering everything, me leaving with regrets only makes sense
Given all the issues we've had, it's understandable that I would leave with some regrets
I'll see you when we're both not so emotional
We need time and space to process our feelings before we can reconnect
Lyrics © ROUGH TRADE PUBLISHING, Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd.
Written by: Michael Thomas Kinsella, Stephen Michael Holmes, Steven Joseph Lamos
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind