Tim Rogers formed the first version of the band in Sydney, Australia, with his school friend Nick Tischler and his older brother Jaimme in December 1989. This initial line-up was short lived and by the end of 1990 both Nick and Jaimme had left the band. They were replaced by the group's one-time sound mixer Andy Kent on bass and Mark Tunaley on drums.
The band released several EPs and singles in the early 90s, though the real breakthrough came when Lee Ranaldo of Sonic Youth caught the band performing at 1993's Big Day Out festival and was impressed enough to produce their fourth EP, Coprolalia, and later the debut album, Sound as Ever, which went on to win the 1993 ARIA Award for Best Alternative Release.
After the release of their first album, Mark and the band parted company. He was replaced by the charismatic Russell Hopkinson (formerly of Nursery Crimes) creating the core line-up to this day. Since then, the band has been augmented by Davey Lane of The Pictures on guitar.
You Am I had toured the US extensively during the mid 90s, including playing with Soundgarden on the Lollapalooza festival, Red Kross, The Strokes and Smoking Popes to name a few. Despite little success overseas, the band became well known throughout Australia for their Pete Townshend-esque guitar windmills and their upbeat "ponce and thuggery" take on Rock 'n' Roll.
Further success came with the albums Hi Fi Way and Hourly Daily, with both picking up ARIA Awards. Hourly Daily was the first album released on the Shock label to go to number one in the ARIA charts upon launch. For many, the suburban inspired, 60s bop and folky 12 string melodies were a welcome departure from ever pervasive 70s rock sounds, or even grunge rock.
Subtle country influences became apparent on their 1998 Number 4 Record, which included the poignant Heavy Heart. A heart wrenching, almost karaoke inspired ballad about being 'dropped' by your girlfriend. Evidently each subsequent album has had a few countryish twang which have polarised some fans, who idolise the band's earlier warts and all rock beginnings.
1999 saw frontman Tim Rogers release his first solo album What Rhymes With Cars And Girls, followed up in 2004 by the record Spit Polish. In 2005 he released the critically acclaimed double-LP 'Ghost Songs' and 'Dirty Ron'.
After an album absence prolonged by touring and record label interference, Dress Me Slowly was released April 2001. Arguably containing some of the bands' best work including Damage and Kick a Hole in the Sky there were also some stellar b-Sides on the commercial singles that accompanied the album. These include a song called Older Guys which is track 2 on the Get Up single. Older Guys was one of the stand out songs on Gram Parsons' group The Flying Burrito Brothers album Burrito Deluxe and although the You Am I b-side is an original, Rogers is recognised as a keen student of music history and some connection can be assumed.
Dress Me Slowly was second guitarist, Davey Lane's first bona fide appearance on a studio record. Lane had come to the band's attention from his own work with The Pictures and transcribing, with almost scary accuracy, the band's guitar tabs on the You Am I web site. The band's last collective studio effort was Deliverance in 2002.
The likes of Nic Cester of Jet have mentioned that You Am I, at the very least, reminded them that you don't have to be American to be a successful rock band. Iconic references to Australian everyday suburban life remain a constant theme of Roger's material. The Vines also credit You Am I as a major influence and Silverchair take their name, in part, from You Am I's song Berlin Chair.
Their seventh album "Convicts" was released in May 2006. An about face on the previous two albums, Convicts rocks hard all of the way through with much more straight forward production and higher energy that makes you jump.
Their eighth album "Dilettantes" was released in September 2008.
Cathy's Clown
You Am I Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Made a big decision in the magazine row
I'll open my catalogue just enough to let you in
And she'll drop beers like you drop vitamins
Did you ever never wanna let somebody down?
Was you ever thinking that you'd be Cathy's clown now, she's around?
Are just enough to get your Dewey Decimal back
You lift her to work, just before your daily workout begins
And she'll stack up like you stack vitamins
Did you ever never wanna let somebody down?
Was you ever thinking that you'd be Cathy's clown, now she's around? Hey!
The You Am I song "Cathy's Clown" tells the story of a man who is in a complicated relationship with a woman named Cathy. The first verse describes two unlikely people, a weightlifter and a library tech, who make a big decision in the magazine row. The weightlifter reveals that he will open his catalogue just enough to let Cathy in, suggesting that he is not fully committed to her. Cathy, on the other hand, drops beers like he drops vitamins, indicating that she is more invested in the relationship than he is.
The second verse continues with the theme of the weightlifter's lack of commitment. He has left behind protein pills and G-strings in Cathy's flat, but they are just enough to get his Dewey Decimal back (referring to the library classification system). He lifts Cathy to work before his daily workout begins, and she stacks up like he stacks vitamins. The chorus asks if the weightlifter has ever thought about not letting somebody down, and if he knew he would be Cathy's clown now that she is around.
Overall, the lyrics suggest a one-sided relationship with one partner more invested than the other. The weightlifter is not fully committed, while Cathy seems to be trying to hold onto the relationship. The use of weightlifting and library references adds a slightly humorous element and shows the contrasting personalities of the couple.
Line by Line Meaning
The weightlifter and a library tech you know
Two people, one of whom is a weightlifter and the other a library technician, are being referred to in the song.
Made a big decision in the magazine row
These two people made an important decision while in the magazine section of a store (possibly a newsstand or bookstore).
I'll open my catalogue just enough to let you in
The singer is talking about opening themselves up to someone, allowing them to get closer to them personally.
And she'll drop beers like you drop vitamins
The woman being discussed enjoys drinking and will drink in the same way that a person may take a daily vitamin.
Did you ever never wanna let somebody down?
The singer is asking if the listener has ever felt like they didn't want to disappoint someone.
Was you ever thinking that you'd be Cathy's clown now, she's around?
The singer is questioning if the listener ever thought they would be made a fool of by a woman named Cathy now that she is in their life.
The protein pills and the G-strings you left in her flat
The singer is commenting on items that belong to the listener that were left at Cathy's apartment. The items are protein pills and G-strings, which imply that the listener is into health and fitness, but also sex and perhaps even exotic dancing.
Are just enough to get your Dewey Decimal back
The artist is referencing the Dewey Decimal system that is used to classify books in libraries. This implies that the items left behind by the listener at Cathy's apartment are only a small part of who they are, and that they are very complex.
You lift her to work, just before your daily workout begins
The listener gives Cathy a ride to her place of employment before beginning their own exercise routine.
And she'll stack up like you stack vitamins
Cathy, like the listener, takes care of her body and will stack items (such as cans of beer) in the same way that a person stacks vitamins.
Hey!
This is an exclamation made by the singer, possibly to get the listener's attention or to punctuate the end of the song.
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group, MUSHROOM MUSIC PTY LTD
Written by: ANDY KENT, RUSSELL HOPKINSON, TIM ADRIAN ROGERS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Dave B
This is my favorite music video. The trepidation, wholesomeness, the callback, the music. Definitely my favorite.
Hale Bopp
One of a literal handful of excellent Australian bands!
Lucas James
best aussie band ever, love these guys so much. will not see a better live band either
Tim Best
Probably best song ever!!! 💖
James Poulson
Watching the clip again for the first time in years,.. 1:48 - 2:05 when you realize it's the dancing guy from Berlin Chair !!!
jason crumpet
I love this video so much. I still remember my head exploding when the berlin chair dude appearing at the end. genius
Berlin PostMark
Still my favourite YouAmI Song!!
Bec L
So brilliant. Close second to there appearance on Playschool. Too cool for school.
DeAd BaBiEs iN VoMiT
John Cook r.i.p got me in the punk scene in Perth. My X Lala , is Russell's X. Being a Cremator kid n all. I was on the streets, and John Cook , took me to my first show. Snuck me in the band door. And I had to hide while Passiinfruit Club and Kim Salmon and the Scientists played. The next day. John sadly died hitching to SA. He was a legend. Punkrock saved my life. His kindness, found me home. What I was looking for. But didn't yet know. But he did. The amazing artists, and hardcore punx, I have privileged to have known since. Respect.
W.J.
Wonderful!