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.
End O' The Line
You Am I Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Slipping outta my range
Another night on a meat hook
Just tryin' to pickle my brain
Why the hell are you running
And what are you standing for
A lightweight with the baggage
Slung out the door
So roll us on up in shrink-wrap
It sounds like a good place to hide
'Cause heads an' tails it's a night on
We'll be there 'til the end of the line
I asked out the back
To find a word in a cloud
Told me something that I already knew
Now if you're waiting for luck
To come and touch you up
You better wear yourself a good-lookin' suit
Don't you come around asking
'Cause I ain't got an answerin' mind
I'm gonna get real damn familiar
With something with ice
So set us on up in the corner
And throw over that bottle 'o wine
'Cause heads and tails it's a night on
We'll be there till the end of the line
We'll be there till the end of the line
We'll be there till the end of the line
Don't expect us now to understand
Or trust in the way that it feels
Chasin' up the coins into the ocean
And choppin' up the carriages to fight the locomotion alright
I had a win in Kansas
A birthday in North Albany
The most ungrateful tourist
You ever dragged an old friend to see
(Kick out the jams it ain't no fuckin' exam)
The song "End O' The Line" by You Am I is a fast-paced rock tune that explores the ideas of excess, escapism, and running away. The opening lines of "I'm sweatin' bullets for breakfast/ Slipping outta my range" presents a sense of desperation and unease, indicating that the singer of the song is under some sort of stress or in a frantic state. The lines "Another night on a meat hook/ Just tryin' to pickle my brain" serves to illustrate the idea that the singer is using drugs, alcohol or some other form of substance to numb themselves to the chaos and uncertainty that they feel.
The chorus of the song "So roll us on up in shrink-wrap/ It sounds like a good place to hide/ 'Cause heads an' tails it's a night on/ We'll be there till the end of the line" provides a sense of resignation and finality, indicating that the singer has accepted their current reality and is simply trying to get through it. The lines "I asked out the back/ To find a word in a cloud/ Told me something that I already knew" provides a sense of disillusionment and disappointment, indicating that the singer has lost any sense of hope or optimism and is simply going through the motions.
The final lines of the song "I had a win in Kansas/ A birthday in North Albany/ The most ungrateful tourist/ You ever dragged an old friend to see" presents a sense of regret and dissatisfaction, indicating that the singer is looking back on their life with a sense of disappointment and that their current situation is the result of the choices they have made in the past.
Line by Line Meaning
I'm sweatin' bullets for breakfast
I'm feeling anxious or scared about something.
Slipping outta my range
Losing control or ability to handle something.
Another night on a meat hook
Going through a tough or unpleasant experience.
Just tryin' to pickle my brain
Trying to get really drunk or high.
Why the hell are you running
Asking why someone is avoiding or not confronting a situation.
And what are you standing for
Asking what someone believes in or wants to achieve.
A lightweight with the baggage
Someone who struggles to deal with emotional problems.
Slung out the door
Thrown away or abandoned.
So roll us on up in shrink-wrap
Wanting to escape or hide from something.
It sounds like a good place to hide
Thinking that escaping or hiding is the best solution to a problem.
'Cause heads an' tails it's a night on
Whatever the outcome, the situation is going to be tough or difficult.
We'll be there 'til the end of the line
Committing to enduring a situation to the end.
I asked out the back
Trying to seek answers or insights.
To find a word in a cloud
Looking for inspiration or guidance.
Told me something that I already knew
Realizing you already know the answer to your problem.
Now if you're waiting for luck
Relying on chance or fate to solve a problem.
To come and touch you up
Expecting a stroke of good fortune.
You better wear yourself a good-lookin' suit
Putting on a facade of success or confidence.
Don't you come around asking
Refusing to answer or provide advice to someone.
'Cause I ain't got an answerin' mind
Not being in the right mindset to provide help or guidance.
I'm gonna get real damn familiar
Intending to drink heavily or abuse substances.
With something with ice
Referring to a drink or substance mixed with ice.
So set us on up in the corner
Finding a secluded or hidden place to drink or escape.
And throw over that bottle 'o wine
Starting to drink and get intoxicated.
Don't expect us now to understand
Not being able to comprehend or relate to a situation.
Or trust in the way that it feels
Being uncertain or doubtful about something.
Chasin' up the coins into the ocean
Struggling to achieve something that is difficult or nearly impossible.
And choppin' up the carriages to fight the locomotion alright
Using extreme or violent measures to overcome obstacles.
I had a win in Kansas
Having a brief or fleeting moment of success or happiness.
A birthday in North Albany
Celebrating a milestone or important event.
The most ungrateful tourist
Feeling unsatisfied or unhappy with an experience or situation.
You ever dragged an old friend to see
Forcing someone else to share in your own misery or problems.
(Kick out the jams it ain't no fuckin' exam)
Encouraging others to let go and enjoy life, without worrying about tests or expectations.
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group, WORDS & MUSIC A DIV OF BIG DEAL MUSIC LLC
Written by: TIM ADRIAN ROGERS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind