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."
Jesus' Hands
American Music Club Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
But I can tell that you're not a drinking crowd
I got places to go, people to see
I got a thirst that would make the ocean proud
Hey brother, hey sister
Don't you see a crack form in the dam
For a loser, no one can touch him
I'm walking in circles in a waiting room
For a welcome I don't feel in my soul
I watch the time pass, it pours in my glass
I drink it down, blood from a stone
Hey brother, hey sister
Don't you see a crack form in the dam
For a loser, no one can touch him
He's out slipping through Jesus' hands
Looking for love in all the wrong places
The sidewalks and the sky
Looking for something that no one can give me
And no one can help me buy
Oh brother, oh sister
Don't you see a crack form in the dam
For a loser, no one can touch him
He's out slipping through Jesus' hands
Well I'd like to hang out
But I can tell that you're not a drinking crowd
I got nowhere to go, no one to see
I got a thirst that would make the ocean proud
The song "Jesus' Hands" by American Music Club is a sorrowful ballad that deals with themes of loneliness, addiction, and failed relationships. The singer desires to be social and connect with others but feels out of place amidst his non-drinking peers. He is a thirsty soul, seeking fulfillment and gratification that he cannot seem to find. The lyrics also mention the idea of slipping through Jesus' hands, which could be interpreted in a few different ways. It may represent the idea of being abandoned or forgotten by God, or perhaps the singer sees himself as beyond redemption and slipping away from any kind of salvation.
The repeated lines of "Hey brother, hey sister" serve as a desperate plea for connection and understanding, but it seems to go unanswered. The waiting room imagery adds to the sense of stagnation and frustration, as the singer feels stuck in his current situation with no clear path forward. The repeated metaphor of looking for love in the wrong places speaks to the singer's desperation and lack of direction. The final verse adds another layer of despair, as the singer declares that he has nowhere to go and no one to see, leaving him with nothing but his insatiable thirst.
Line by Line Meaning
Well I'd like to hang out
I want to socialize with you
But I can tell that you're not a drinking crowd
But it seems like you don't like to drink
I got places to go, people to see
I have things to do, people to meet
I got a thirst that would make the ocean proud
I am extremely thirsty
Hey brother, hey sister
Addressed to the listener(s)
Don't you see a crack form in the dam
Can't you see something is wrong?
For a loser, no one can touch him
A person who is struggling can be hard to reach
He's out slipping through Jesus' hands
This person is slipping away from help and salvation
I'm walking in circles in a waiting room
I am pacing in a place of anticipation
For a welcome I don't feel in my soul
I am not feeling welcome or at ease
I watch the time pass, it pours in my glass
I am drinking to pass time
I drink it down, blood from a stone
I am trying to satisfy my thirst but it is impossible
Looking for love in all the wrong places
I am searching for love where I cannot find it
The sidewalks and the sky
Everywhere I go
Looking for something that no one can give me
I am seeking something that nobody else can provide
And no one can help me buy
I can't even buy it
Oh brother, oh sister
Addressed to the listener(s)
Don't you see a crack form in the dam
Can't you see something is wrong?
For a loser, no one can touch him
A person who is struggling can be hard to reach
He's out slipping through Jesus' hands
This person is slipping away from help and salvation
Well I'd like to hang out
I want to socialize with you
But I can tell that you're not a drinking crowd
But it seems like you don't like to drink
I got nowhere to go, no one to see
I am alone and have nowhere to be
I got a thirst that would make the ocean proud
I am extremely thirsty
Contributed by Hailey L. Suggest a correction in the comments below.