Big Head Todd and The Monsters – singer-guitarist Todd Park Mohr, bassist-singer Rob Squires, drummer-singer Brian Nevin and keyboardist-guitarist-singer Jeremy Lawton -- could have begun resting on their laurels back in 1993, when their Top 10 singles “Bittersweet,” “Broken Hearted Savior,” “Circle” and “It’s Alright” pushed the album Sister Sweetly to platinum certification. However, Mohr says, “I’ve fought throughout our career not to be a one-trick pony, to be the kind of band that has depth and diversity in its catalogue. I’m a fan of this band, and I’m constantly looking forward to what comes next.”
The essence of Big Head Todd and The Monsters – a rootsy, emotionally direct variety of rock ’n’ roll that lends itself particularly well to a live setting – has been winning fans since Mohr, Rob Squires and Brian Nevin started playing together in high school (Jeremy Lawton joined in 2004). Needless to say, the three never expected to be in the same band at this late date, but, as Mohr points out, “It was a really fortunate combination of musical personalities, and we’re still partners in every sense of the word.”
The band spent seven years developing their chemistry and amassing a following, boosted significantly by the independent releases Another Mayberry (1989) and Midnight Radio (1990), before being “discovered” by the listening public at large with 1993’s Sister Sweetly. After a major-label stint (Sister Sweetly, 1994’s Stratagem, 1997’s Beautiful World), during which the trio increasingly found itself frustrated artistically, they reclaimed their independent status (2001’s Riviera, 2004’s Crimes of Passion). “If it were not for our ability to do things for ourselves, we would have disappeared a long time ago,” Mohr allows.
American Boy
Big Head Todd and the Monsters Lyrics
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He's gonna buy himself a nice new car
He's gonna marry one of them pretty cookin' wives
And die alone in a big old house
Oh, he was an American boy
He's gonna get a job that pays real well
Go on vacation every year
All without having to shed a tear.
Oh, he was an American boy
Yeah, the American boy is older now
He's been shortened by the weight on his back
He finally takes a look around to see.
There were a lot of other things that he could have been.
Oh, he was an American boy.
The lyrics to Big Head Todd and the Monsters' song "American Boy" seem to satirize the typical American dream. The first two stanzas describe an idealized American boy who wants to own a new car, marry a pretty cookin' wife, and die alone in a big old house. He also wants a well-paying job, a yearly vacation, and a son who can play in the NFL, all without shedding a tear. The third stanza suggests that this American boy has lost sight of himself as he's grown older and is now carrying the weight of the world on his back. He realizes that there were many things he could have pursued but never did because he was too busy trying to achieve the traditional American dream.
The song seems to criticize the conventional notion of the American dream and urges people to introspect about their lives beyond the materialistic aspects. It's a call for people to follow their dreams and not succumb to societal pressure to conform to traditional expectations.
Line by Line Meaning
He's an American boy with his hair combed back
He is a typical American man who takes pride in his appearance and grooming
He's gonna buy himself a nice new car
He plans on achieving the American Dream by acquiring material possessions like a car
He's gonna marry one of them pretty cookin' wives
He desires a traditional family life, with a wife who is both attractive and a good cook
And die alone in a big old house
Ultimately, he will be unsuccessful in his search for happiness and fulfillment, and will die alone despite his material possessions
Oh, he was an American boy
This line serves as a concluding statement, emphasizing the quintessential image of the American Dream-seeking man
He's gonna get a job that pays real well
He aspires to a successful career that will bring him financial stability and wealth
Go on vacation every year
He looks forward to enjoying the fruits of his labor by taking annual vacations
Have a fine young boy for the N.F.L.
He hopes to have a son who will also achieve success in a traditional, masculine field like professional football
All without having to shed a tear.
He expects his life to be easy and devoid of struggle or hardship
Yeah, the American boy is older now
The passage of time has allowed the American man to reflect on his choices and lifestyle
He's been shortened by the weight on his back
The responsibilities and pressures of his life have taken a toll on his physical and mental health
He finally takes a look around to see.
He finally pauses to reflect on the life he has created for himself
There were a lot of other things that he could have been.
He realizes that he could have made different choices and pursued alternative paths that may have brought him more fulfillment
Oh, he was an American boy.
This final line repeats the initial emphasis on the stereotypical image of the American man, while also expressing a sense of sadness or regret
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: TODD PARK MOHR
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@TheSpecialSteve
This song seems to be on repeat a lot for me. :)