The initial lineup of vocalist Mark Melicia, guitarists Dave Rosen and Paul Ritchie, bassist Nick Villapiano, and drummer Sam Bey arose out of the ashes of an earlier, short-lived band named What About Frank in 2004, and quickly attracted a small following in local clubs. Early on in their career, the Parlor Mob earned critical praise for their captivating translation of classic '70s rock devices (think Deep Purple, Uriah Heep, Captain Beyond, Granicus, etc.) into modern indie rock aesthetics. Inspired live performances and songwriting sessions continued apace and, before long, the band had scored a development deal with Capitol Records. But, just as the band's eponymous, four-track EP was headed for release in early 2007, the Parlor Mob became embroiled in the messy merger between Capitol and Virgin Records, watched most of their on-staff supporters laid off, and thus decided to part company with the label rather than cope with any additional fallout. Finding a new home with Roadrunner Records later that summer, the band immediately set about preparing their debut full-length, And You Were a Crow, for an early 2008 release. After touring for the album, the band settled in to work on new material, but tensions within the band resulted in the departure of Nick Villapiano, who was replaced by Anthony Chick. The Parlor Mob eventually followed up in 2011 with their second album, Dogs. The album's lead single, "Into the Sun," found some wider exposure thanks to its use in both a Pittsburgh Penguins commercial and on Monday Night Football. Following a hiatus that effectively began at the end of 2012, the Parlor Mob returned in 2015 with the self-released Cry Wolf EP, a surprisingly lengthy five-song affair that at time dipped into progressive rock territory.
Another three years passed before the band emerged with new material, this time for BMG-affiliated Brittania Row Recordings. The departure of guitarist Dave Rosen and second bassist Anthony Chick made for a reshuffled quartet lineup that included Melicia, Ritchie, Bey, and incoming bassist Gianni Scalise. Beginning with "4th of July," the Parlor Mob issued three tracks throughout 2018. In 2019, they released their fifth album, Dark Hour, which featured production by Malay and found them experimenting with synth and electronic sounds.
Biography by Eduardo Rivadavia
American Dream
The Parlor Mob Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Now will answer to the things that were done
In the night, we'll know just who to send
The dogs are howling from the edge of the rain
Where someone said they had the right to complain
So they'll beg or they'll burn or they'll band
How that everything that glitters is gold
Give me what I need not what I owe
The place I live is just a hole in the a wall
As for possession, I keep nothing at all
I woke up sick from my American dream
That's enough, not for us
Our hearts are racing, we don't know who to trust
That's enough, not for us
Our hearts are racing, we don't know who to trust
Not my American dream
The birds are flying and the kids are in jail
While I'm here waiting for my ship to sail
In the north, we'll be just as we were
The cars are screaming and the street lights explode
If I was you, I'd stay the hell of the road
If your time to you is not your course
Oh my goodness, oh my woman in white
My eyes are fixed beyond the ghost in the right
I don't need the stars, I know their name
I'm feeling nervous with no way to relax
I guess I find it hard to face the facts
I fell down drunk with my American dream
The lyrics to The Parlor Mob's American Dream evoke feelings of desperation and disillusionment with the American way of life. The opening lines suggest a feeling of helplessness, with no escape from the impending consequences of past actions. The reference to "the dogs howling" suggests a sense of impending danger or reckoning, with the realization that someone must be held accountable for what has been done.
The second verse suggests that the pursuit of wealth and material possession has come at a great cost, with the realization that not everything that glitters is gold. The singer seems to reject the superficiality and emptiness of consumer culture, recognizing that what they truly need is not what they owe. The line "the place I live is just a hole in the wall" implies a sense of dissatisfaction with one's surroundings or circumstances, with a feeling of being trapped in a life that is unfulfilling.
The chorus reinforces the idea that the American dream is not the reality for everyone, as the singer rejects the notion that this is their dream. The closing verse speaks to a sense of displacement or disconnection from society, with references to birds flying and children in jail, and a feeling of waiting for something that never comes. The final line "I fell down drunk with my American dream" suggests a sense of disillusionment and disappointment in the reality of what the American dream has become.
Line by Line Meaning
The times are changing and there's nowhere to run
The world is changing and we cannot escape or avoid the consequences of our actions.
Now will answer to the things that were done
We will be held accountable for our past behavior.
In the night, we'll know just who to send
In times of crisis, we will be forced to choose who to trust and rely upon for help.
The dogs are howling from the edge of the rain
There are warning signs that danger is approaching.
Where someone said they had the right to complain
People are becoming increasingly vocal about their frustrations and grievances.
So they'll beg or they'll burn or they'll band
People will do whatever they need to in order to survive or fight back against injustice.
How that everything that glitters is gold
Things that appear valuable or desirable are often misleading or superficial.
Down in the middle where we're bought or we're sold
In the center of society, people are either buying or selling goods and services for profit.
Give me what I need not what I owe
I don't want to be indebted to anyone, I just want the basic necessities.
The place I live is just a hole in the a wall
My home is small and insignificant, reflecting my place in the larger world.
As for possession, I keep nothing at all
I don't place much value in material possessions.
I woke up sick from my American dream
The American dream, once seen as a source of promise and hope, has become something sickening and corrupt.
That's enough, not for us
We have reached our limit and cannot tolerate any more of what's been happening.
Our hearts are racing, we don't know who to trust
We are afraid and uncertain about who we can rely upon or believe.
Not my American dream
I reject the current version of the American dream and want something more authentic and meaningful.
The birds are flying and the kids are in jail
Nature and innocence are being replaced by oppression and confinement.
While I'm here waiting for my ship to sail
I am waiting for a chance to escape or find a better life somewhere else.
In the north, we'll be just as we were
Some people believe that by moving to a different location or society, they can live more authentically or freely than they currently are.
The cars are screaming and the street lights explode
The artificial and man-made world is breaking down and chaotic.
If I was you, I'd stay the hell of the road
If you want to avoid trouble or danger, stay off the main path or follow your own way.
If your time to you is not your course
If the time you have is not being used for your own purpose or goals, it is being wasted or misused.
Oh my goodness, oh my woman in white
An expression of surprise or awe, directed towards someone or something pure or holy.
My eyes are fixed beyond the ghost in the right
I see something that others cannot, and my gaze is fixed upon it.
I don't need the stars, I know their name
I don't require supernatural guidance or direction, I already understand the workings of the universe.
I'm feeling nervous with no way to relax
I'm anxious and agitated, and cannot find a way to calm myself.
I guess I find it hard to face the facts
I struggle to accept the truth about my life, myself, and the world around me.
I fell down drunk with my American dream
I have become disillusioned and defeated by the broken promises of the American dream.
Contributed by Micah M. Suggest a correction in the comments below.