Although born in California, frontman Mark Eitzel spent his formative years in Great Britain and Ohio before returning to the Bay Area in 1980. After a brief stint with the punk band The Naked Skinnies he founded American Music Club in 1983 with guitarist Vudi, bassist Dan Pearson, keyboardist Brad Johnson, and drummer Matt Norelli. This lineup would change over the next several years but Eitzel always remained the core of the band in terms of its vocals, lyrics and thematic focus.
Their 1985 debut, The Restless Stranger, offers a rough outline of their increasingly eclectic sound and firmly established Eitzel's worldview, a harrowing vision of life as seen through the bottom of a shot glass. 1987's Engine honed the formula: the addition of producer Tom Mallon as a full-time member expanded the group's sonic palette.
American Music Club earned a solid cult following on the strength of 1988's California. Their next LP, 1989's United Kingdom, appeared only in the nation which lent the record its name and consisted of leftover material and live tracks.
In 1991 American Music Club emerged with the record that is widely considered their masterpiece, Everclear. Critical acclaim attracted the attention of several major labels. Eventually AMC -- now consisting of Eitzel, Vudi, Pearson, multi-instrumentalist Bruce Kaphan, and drummer Tim Mooney -- signed with Reprise in the U.S. and Virgin throughout the rest of the world.
1993's Mercury followed and, despite positive reviews, Mercury fared poorly on the charts and earned virtually no recognition from radio or MTV. In 1994, AMC issued San Francisco, an erratic collection which balanced confessional tunes like Fearless and The Thorn in My Side Is Gone alongside slick pop constructs. Like Mercury, the record found critical acclaim yet foundered commercially and American Music Club disbanded as result.
Eitzel eventually explored a solo career, and purchased a Pro-Tools set up to record solo material, some released through Reprise and other albums through Matador. Vudi joined Swans for their last album and farewell tour, documented on Swans are Dead (Black Disc)/Swans are Dead (White Disc).
In 2003, American Music Club reunited to record a new album, Love Songs For Patriots, which was described by reviewer Mark Deming as "a stronger and more coherent effort than the group's last set, 1994's San Francisco, and while it's too early to tell if this is a new start or a last hurrah for AMC, it at least shows that their formula still yields potent results. Here's hoping Eitzel and Vudi have more where this came from."
Electric Light
American Music Club Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
And nothing matters everything's understood
You did the right thing
Are you gonna be my judge and jury at night
'Cause I'm busy baby with the electric light
I'm not afraid of it why are you, why are you
See'mon tell me the truth
I was crying for the very last time I
Was caught blind staring into your electric light
But I'm never going back again
I'm never going to go back again
At a drink booth for a straight pack in the room
You could see me down here again
That is not a very pretty sight
I can see pretty face but you're raped every night
It's all plain as day in the electric light
But I'm never going back again
No, I'm never going to go back again
The lyrics of "Electric Light" by American Music Club are quite enigmatic as the imagery is quite abstract and not easy to unravel. However, at a deeper level, the song seems to be exploring the nuances of a broken relationship, where one person has decided to move on while the other is hesitant to let go. The opening lines ("You got me good, you did the right thing") suggest that the person has been hurt, although they acknowledge that it was for the best. The phrase "nothing matters everything's understood" hints that the closure has been achieved, and the person has come to terms with the fact that the relationship is over. However, the second verse complicates things by asking if the other person is going to be the judge and jury at night. This phrase seems to suggest that the other person is still holding onto the past and is not willing to let go.
The most memorable part of the song is the chorus, where the singer proclaims that they are busy with the "electric light" and that they are not afraid of it. While the exact meaning of "electric light" is not clear, it seems to be a metaphor for something that is alluring and captivating but potentially dangerous. The phrase "I was just a little bit lonely and that's not a crime" implies that the person is trying to find solace in something that the other person might not approve of. However, the phrase "I was crying for the very last time" suggests that the person has come to terms with the pain and is ready to move on.
Overall, "Electric Light" is a song that explores the complexities of a failed relationship, where one person has moved on while the other has not. The song is quite symbolic, and the lyrics are open to interpretation. However, the overarching themes of closure, pain, and moving on are quite evident.
Line by Line Meaning
You got me good, you did the right thing
You did something that really affected me, and it was the correct decision to make.
And nothing matters everything's understood
This event has put everything into perspective, and now I understand things clearly.
You did the right thing
Just reiterating that the action taken was the appropriate one.
Are you gonna be my judge and jury at night
Will you be the one to decide my fate and pass judgement on me when I'm alone?
'Cause I'm busy baby with the electric light
I'm keeping myself occupied with distractions, such as the mesmerizing glow of the electric light.
I'm not afraid of it why are you, why are you
I'm not scared of the electric light, why are you so hesitant?
See'mon tell me the truth
Please just be honest with me.
I was just a little bit lonely and that's not a crime
I was feeling isolated, but that's a normal emotion and it's not wrong to feel that way.
I was crying for the very last time
I let all my emotions out, and that was the last time I cried.
I was caught blind staring into your electric light
I was so transfixed by the electric light that I didn't even realize I was staring at it.
But I'm never going back again
I won't let myself get caught up in this situation again.
I'm never going to go back again
I will never return to that place or that state of mind again.
At a drink booth for a straight pack in the room
At a place where alcohol is served, I am surrounded by people who are just passing the time.
You could see me down here again
You might see me return to this place, but I hope not.
That is not a very pretty sight
I am not at my best when I am in this kind of environment.
I can see pretty face but you're raped every night
There are people who appear physically attractive here, but they are being emotionally destroyed every night.
It's all plain as day in the electric light
The harsh reality of this place is illuminated by the bright light.
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: JOHN MARK EITZEL, TIM MOONEY
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Michael Kovacs
Thank you for adding this video from one of the most amazing bands of all time.
Fletcher Bowman
"I was just a little bit lonely... and that's not a crime!" The way Eitzel delivers that line just guts me from within.
Yonatan Gad
You got me good, you did the right thing And nothing matters everything's understood You did the right thing Are you gonna be my judge and jury at night 'Cause I'm busy baby with the electric light I'm not afraid of it why are you, why are you C'mon tell me the truth I was just a little bit lonely and that's not a crime I was crying for the very last time I was caught blind staring into your electric light
Yonatan Gad
You got me good, you did the right thing And nothing matters everything's understood You did the right thing Are you gonna be my judge and jury at night 'Cause I'm busy baby with the electric light I'm not afraid of it why are you, why are you C'mon tell me the truth I was just a little bit lonely and that's not a crime I was crying for the very last time I was caught blind staring into your electric light
Yonatan Gad
But I'm never going back again I'm never going to go back again At a drink booth for a straight pack in the room You could see me down here again That is not a very pretty sight I can see pretty face but you're raped every night It's all plain as day in the electric light But I'm never going back again No, I'm never going to go back again
Robinsson
This most be one of more great surprises for me across Youtube, Never imagine can see a video of "Engine" much less "Electric Light" thanks really for share it!!!
MR
I'm not afraid of it why are you, why are you
See'mon tell me the truth
I was just a little bit lonely and that's not a crime
I was crying for the very last time I
Was caught blind staring into your electric light
Scott Baker
two words. LINCHPINS!
zoran
!!
R-Droid
:o mark etizel with hair! :D