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."
Fearless
American Music Club Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I closed my eyes and kept on going
Now I'm gone and nothing's gonna endure
Unless I love you even more
Found again, am I found again
By your hands, my home is in your hands
But that's a touch I don't deserve anymore
Unless I love you even more
But someday the tightrope's gonna break
Will I fall into a cool cool river
Or will I fall into a frozen lake
Saved again, am I saved again
By your eyes, the tears in your eyes
Your tears are the only thing that makes me sure
I've got to love you even more
And your tears are the only thing that'll endure
Unless I love you even more
The lyrics to American Music Club's song "Fearless" tell a story about a person who has lost their way and is saved by their loved one's touch and tears. The opening line "Lost again, lost again" sets the tone for the rest of the song, with the singer feeling lost and unsure of themselves. They rely on their partner's touch to feel at home and safe, but they believe they don't deserve it. The repetition of the phrase "Unless I love you even more" shows that the singer understands that their partner's love is what brings them back to reality.
The chorus brings up the idea of a stubborn heart staying broken forever, but the singer also acknowledges that eventually, the tightrope will break. The imagery of falling into either a cool river or a frozen lake creates a sense of danger and uncertainty. The second verse talks about being saved by their loved one's tears, which are the only thing that the singer knows will endure. They understand that they need to love their partner more to ensure that they don't lose them.
Overall, "Fearless" is a song about the fragility of relationships and the importance of constantly working on them. The singer understands that they need to be more loving and appreciative of their partner's love, but also acknowledges that sometimes the future is uncertain and they can only rely on what they have in the present.
Line by Line Meaning
Lost again, lost again
I am lost and drifting without any direction.
I closed my eyes and kept on going
I blindly continue to move forward despite feeling lost.
Now I'm gone and nothing's gonna endure
Without love, my existence will be meaningless and won't leave a lasting impact.
Unless I love you even more
The only way to keep going is to love the person even more.
Found again, am I found again
The person has finally found a place to belong.
By your hands, my home is in your hands
The singer has given control of their life to someone else and this person is their only source of comfort and security.
But that's a touch I don't deserve anymore
The singer feels unworthy of the love and care they are receiving.
Unless I love you even more
To show appreciation and return the love they have received, the artist has to love even harder.
A stubborn heart can stay broken forever
It's possible to live with a broken heart forever if one refuses to change.
But someday the tightrope's gonna break
Eventually, the artist will have to face the consequences of their actions and their life will change.
Will I fall into a cool cool river
The future may bring relief and comfort or it may not.
Or will I fall into a frozen lake
The future may bring pain and hardship or it may not.
Saved again, am I saved again
The person has once again been rescued from their despair.
By your eyes, the tears in your eyes
The person is moved to action by witnessing the sadness in the other person's eyes.
Your tears are the only thing that makes me sure
The other person's feelings are the only thing the singer can be sure of and is motivated to act on.
I've got to love you even more
To show appreciation and return the love they have received, the artist has to love even harder.
And your tears are the only thing that'll endure
The only lasting thing in the world is the other person's emotions.
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: JOHN MARK EITZEL
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Erik Liljenwall
That look on his face when the string breaks.
Chris Morgan
My favourite singer.
Steven Fullman
There’s only one Mark Eitzel
Mayo Velvo
Mark was sooo adorable (then) ♥