Army (Fritzmaurice Williams) was born and raised on St. Croix, Virgin Islan… Read Full Bio ↴Army (Fritzmaurice Williams) was born and raised on St. Croix, Virgin Islands. He began his musical journey at the age of five as a member of the youth choir at the church his family attended. Little did he know that he was laying the foundation for what would become a very promising musical career. Determined to explore a variety of styles, he learned to play the saxophone, became a member of a jazz band and sang in various local bands. After relocating to the New York City, completing his education, and serving in the US Army (which is how he got his name), Army returned home and became deeply involved in the local reggae scene. In the early 70's, Jamaica was bubbling with an incredible amount of untapped musical and vocal talents. That same level of energy, enthusiasm and potential is present today in the Virgin Island of St. Croix. Army is to be counted among the many conscious singers and players of instruments from St. Croix who are worthy of international recognition. The voice of Army first surfaced several years ago on the famously vital (though obscure) compilation Eastbound. Soon after, Army contributed several selections to the Homegrown compilation album. In 2000, Army's first album -Yesterday's News - was released on Glamorous Records, with production provided by Dean Pond. In 2002, Army linked up with Dub Rise Records who released his second album, Struggler, along with a re-release of Yesterday's News. 2003 saw Army releasing the single Calling Jah Army, a powerful duet with Luciano. This year, Army's song, I Don't Know is included on Bambu Station's acclaimed compilation, Talkin' Roots II. With this solid foundation of tunes under his belt, Army embarked on the recording of his highly anticipated third album, Rasta Awake. Largely produced by legendary guitarist and multi-instrumentalist Tuff Lion (of Bambu Station), Rasta Awake is a masterpiece of all-live instrumentation roots reggae. The 13 tracks on the album capture Army at previously unseen creative heights. His poetic songwriting challenges and connects with the listener in a way that few other songwriters are able. Army's voice - while influenced by such artists as Nat King Cole, Dennis Brown and Freddie McGregor - is unique in all of contemporary reggae with its amazing ability to be both deeply soothing and intensely energizing. With a voice as invigorating and free as the wind, and with word sound utterances that penetrate hearts and minds, Army's mission is clear. He is firmly committed to using his music as a weapon in the war for spiritual renewal and justice for all peoples. As Army describes: I want to send positive universal messages to people through my music, without the commercialism we see so much today For me the music is a healing. I feel that the music healed me, took me to places where I could have not necessarily have been without it. I also feel that if someone could walk away with some type of healing, (that) they could be touched in some kind of way, they could associate themselves with some aspect of the music and then say 'wow,' maybe I'll make it after all. If I could shine some light some how, I would know that I have done something. Army continues to do something special for all those with ears to hear this unique and much-needed voice.

I Am
Army Lyrics

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The snows will swallow you whole if you stray from the flame
Every secret will be unearthed but you'll end up buried just the same
We are by the fire forsaken
We are the limbs that have been taken
We are stirred, not shaken
I am the errors you have been making
A fog of doubt descends upon the lands between
So pervasive and persuasive it was called corvid-19

The grafted crow could still kill you no matter what you think
Do your own research on the ocean as your boat begins to sink
We are by the fire forsaken
We are the limbs that have been taken
We are stirred, not shaken
I am the errors you have been making
We are by the fire forsaken
We are the limbs that have been taken

We are stirred, not shaken
I am the errors you have been making

Overall Meaning

The song "I Am" by Army of Lovers is an anthem for narcissistic glamour and grandeur with references to iconic celebrities of the time. The lyrics describe a character who sees himself as the ultimate embodiment of beauty and charisma, comparing himself to Liberace - a famous pianist and entertainer known for his flamboyant style. He also likens himself to other legendary figures such as Khashoggi, a Saudi Arabian businessman, and Bobby and Pam, possibly references to pop culture icons Bobby Brown and Pamela Anderson. The character revels in his grandeur, describing himself as a superselling brand, a record label scam, and the biggest in Japan.

The song makes reference to the idea that the world revolves around beauty, which is repeated in the chorus. It also makes biblical references, referencing the creation of man from dust and the idea of eternal youth on solid ground. The character sees himself as the pinnacle of what is possible for any human being to achieve; a charismatic star who commands the attention of the Pantheon.

One interpretation of the song is that it is a satirical take on the obsession with glamour, beauty, and fame in popular culture. By creating an exaggerated character who embodies these traits, the song highlights the absurdity of putting so much value on outward appearances and celebrity status. Conversely, another interpretation is that the song is a celebration of these ideals, a vocalisation of all the potential and possibility of glamour and grandeur.

Line by Line Meaning

I am a Liberace fan
I am a fan of Liberace's flamboyant style and extravagant performances.

A megastar in glam I am
I am a larger-than-life superstar in the world of glamour and extravagance.

I am what Bobby is to Pam
I am an essential and inseparable part of a glamorous and influential power couple, like Bobby Brown and Pam Grier.

Khashoggi to Iran I am
I am a figure of wealth and power, similar to Adnan Khashoggi, who was a prominent businessman and arms dealer with connections to Iran.

Looking in the mirror
When I gaze at my reflection,

The beauty that I see
I see a level of beauty and perfection that is unmatched by anyone else.

It's hard to be this grand for free
It takes an immense amount of wealth and resources to maintain such a grand persona and extravagant lifestyle.

Beg or steal or borrow
Even if you beg, steal, or borrow,

You'll never live to be
You could never hope to become

A charismatic star like me
A magnetic, larger-than-life star like myself.

God created man from dust
According to the Bible, God created humanity from dust, as the first man, Adam.

And man replied with sin and lust
However, humanity has a tendency towards sin and lust, despite their divine origins.

Eternal youth on solid ground
Despite humanity's imperfections, they have been given the ability to live eternally after death if they live righteous lives.

Beauty makes the world go round
The pursuit of beauty and aesthetic perfection is one of the driving forces of human society.

Amen
So be it.

I am the pinnacle of man
I am the ultimate representation of human achievement and perfection.

A superselling brand I am
I am a highly successful, marketable entity, much like a brand or product.

I am a record label scam
I am a shady, deceptive operation within the music industry, exploiting artists and customers alike.

The biggest in Japan I am
I am a massive presence and influence in the culture and entertainment industry of Japan.

Entering the ballrooms
As I swagger into a luxurious ballroom,

The clocks come to a still
All attention is drawn to me, and every other activity or concern becomes secondary.

The multimillionaires I thrill
Even the wealthiest and most powerful individuals in attendance are captivated and impressed by me.

Headline of the columns
I am the focal point of every news column and media outlet.

My duellantes I kill
I dominate and vanquish my rivals and challengers with ease.

The pantheon obeys my will
Even the gods and higher powers seem to be aligned with and at the mercy of my desires and goals.

Law of nature since big bang
The inherent laws and principles of the universe have been in place since the birth of existence.

Cry like young Wurther Sturm und Drang
Individuals have been experiencing intense and often irrational emotions, like the singer of the 18th-century novel The Sorrows of Young Werther.

And louder than the wall of sound
Even amidst the loudest and most deafening of noises and distractions,

Beauty makes the world go round
The drive for perfection and aesthetic beauty continues to permeate and influence human society.

Egomaniac
Someone who is obsessively focused on their own ego and self-image, often to the detriment of those around them.

God created man from dust
The Bible's account of the creation of humanity from the dust of the earth.

And man replied with sin and lust
However, rather than living up to their divine origins, humanity has shown a propensity towards sin and carnal desire.

You're so selfish
You are completely self-centered and unconcerned with the feelings or needs of others.

You son of a
A vulgar insult directed towards someone's mother.

Amen
So be it.

It's real it's grand I am
I am the real deal, a true spectacle of grandeur and extravagance.

Lyrics © O/B/O DistroKid
Written by: Jack Boles

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind

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