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.
Fifteen
You Am I Lyrics
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'cause they're the only ones that make you want to die
And they make their scene the priss and preen
They'll never get it right
The mirror on the living room wall
Ain't been too kind since you hit grade four
But honestly, the last thing he'll say tonight
Just put your things away, you know its just not your time
He's the boy you got
He's the ticket stub that never won a prize
And and there's no hard sell 'cause he's got a face
Came straight from a fight
But he answers we he calls
And he's under six feet tall
But honestly, the last thing he'll say tonight
Just put your things away, you know its just not your time
He's big and dumb like a dagwood dog
He's jeans never fit quite right
But there's a razor blade cut
And a feeling in your gut that says
There ain't no way to disguise it
Hate your friends
'cause they're the only ones that make you want to die
And they make their scene the priss and preen
They'll never get it right
The ones who shine so bright
Are made or broke come Friday night
But honestly, the last thing he'll say tonight
Just put your things away, you know its just not your
He's big and dumb like a dagwood dog
He's jeans never fit quite right
But there's a razor blade cut
And a feeling in your gut that says
There ain't no way to disguise it
But honestly, the last thing he'll say tonight
Just put your things away, you know its just not your time
That's the way, we're gonna get it right
"You Am I's song Fifteen" is a powerful reflection on adolescent angst and the challenges of fitting in. The lyrics paint a vivid picture of a young life marked by pain, anger, and a pervasive sense of isolation. The theme of self-hatred and a desire to escape one's life is evident throughout the song, which begins with the singer's declaration that he hates his friends because they're the only ones who make him want to die. The "priss and preen" of their scene is a source of irritation for him, as he feels they'll never understand him and the pain he's going through.
The mirror on the living room wall is evidently a source of grief for the singer, as it reminds him of his own physical unattractiveness and the fact that he's been struggling with feeling bad about his looks since he was little more than a child. The boy he's with is a source of some solace, though he's far from perfect. His ticket stub never won a prize, but he's there for the singer when he needs him, and that's more than anyone else seems to be able to say.
The song's chorus paints a vividly emotive picture of a young life that's full of pain, confusion, and insecurity. The singer relates to these lyrics so deeply as they describe his own experiences so acutely. The feeling that there's no way to disguise the pain and the isolation from oneself is raw and powerful.
Line by Line Meaning
Hate your friends
You despise your friends
'cause they're the only ones that make you want to die
Because they are the only ones who drive you to suicidal thoughts
And they make their scene the priss and preen
They are showy and superficial in their mannerisms and presentation
They'll never get it right
They consistently fail to understand or succeed in life
The mirror on the living room wall
The reflective surface displayed in your living room
Ain't been too kind since you hit grade four
Has not been flattering of your physical appearance since fourth grade
But honestly, the last thing he'll say tonight
In truth, the final message he will provide this evening
Just put your things away, you know its just not your time
Merely put away your belongings, as it is not yet your moment to shine
He's the boy you got
He is the male individual you have in your life
He's the ticket stub that never won a prize
He is similar to a raffle ticket that never obtains a reward
And and there's no hard sell 'cause he's got a face
There is no requirement for persuasion since he possesses a striking appearance
Came straight from a fight
He had likely just come from a physical altercation
But he answers we he calls
He consistently responds when he is summoned
And he's under six feet tall
He is shorter than six feet in height
He's big and dumb like a dagwood dog
He is of substantial size and lacking in intelligence, akin to a hot dog tucked in a bun
He's jeans never fit quite right
His trousers never accurately conform to his physique
But there's a razor blade cut
However, there is a visible incision caused by a sharp blade
And a feeling in your gut that says
You have a strong intuition that
There ain't no way to disguise it
His true nature and appearance cannot be concealed
The ones who shine so bright
Individuals who radiate with brilliance
Are made or broke come Friday night
They are either successful or unsuccessful on Friday evenings
But honestly, the last thing he'll say tonight
However, truthfully, the final message he will impart this evening
Just put your things away, you know its just not your
Simply pack away your belongings, since it is not yet your time to accomplish great things
That's the way, we're gonna get it right
That is the method we will employ to achieve success
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
Written by: TIM ADRIAN ROGERS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind