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.
I'm a Mess
You Am I Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
And it's losing its spark
Used to have a value
Now I'm alone in the dark
And I know
I ain't no sketch-a-graph baby
And these jowls, scowls and watermouths (?)
So if you want to take it steady
Cantcha see that I'm not ready
The certified, full-stop, pressure-drop cut-up
Are you sure you wanna spend some time with me?
Yeah, I'm a mess
Yeah and I'm battin' way up my league
For all the arm-swings and pretty things that I sing
I'm a fuckin' disease
And you're a jewel
A drop from some of heaven's gene pool
And when you turn your head yeah
You can hear the stairs all droop
So if you want a little vocation
Me and your ma can read "a place in the sun"
I'm a certified full-stop pressure-drop cut-up
Are you sure you wanna spend some time with…
Are you sure you wanna spend the night with…
Ah, come on, could you spend a second with me?
Oh, well I'm a mess,
Oh hell, I know that it's a crappy excuse
Gotta get myself a spring-clean
Just to soak in the juice
If you wanna take it slowly
Lord help me if I'm not only
A certified full-stop pressure-drop cut-up
Are you sure you wanna spend some time with...
Are you sure you wanna spend a minute with...
Oh come on babe, couldja spend a second with me?
The lyrics to You Am I's song "I'm A Mess" describe the singer's feelings of inadequacy and insecurity in a romantic relationship. The first verse acknowledges the singer's flaws and the declining value of their relationship. The line "Used to have a value / Now I'm alone in the dark" suggests that the singer may have contributed to the deterioration of the relationship. The second verse continues with this theme, as the singer compares themselves unfavorably to their partner, who is described as a "jewel" and a product of "heaven's gene pool." The chorus poses the question of whether it is wise for the partner to spend time with the singer, who is "a mess" and a "certified full-stop pressure-drop cut-up." The final verse offers a glimmer of hope, as the singer expresses a desire to improve themselves and "get myself a spring-clean."
Overall, the song is a vulnerable and honest portrait of someone grappling with their flaws and insecurities, and questioning whether they are worthy of love and affection. The lyrics capture the universal human experience of feeling inadequate and wondering if we are deserving of happiness.
Line by Line Meaning
I'm a mess
The singer is acknowledging their current state of being as a mess.
And it's losing its spark
The singer's mess is becoming less interesting or appealing.
Used to have a value
The singer's previously held value is diminishing or no longer present.
Now I'm alone in the dark
The artist is currently experiencing a sense of loneliness and isolation.
And I know
The artist has awareness or understanding of something.
I ain't no sketch-a-graph baby
The singer is not easily defined, analyzed, or represented.
And these jowls, scowls and watermouths (?)/They ain't genetically related
The singer's physical appearance, facial expressions, or mannerisms are not inherited or linked to biological factors.
So if you want to take it steady
The artist is cautioning or advising someone to slow down or be patient.
Cantcha see that I'm not ready
The artist is indicating that they are not prepared or capable of handling something at this point in time.
The certified, full-stop, pressure-drop cut-up
The artist is describing themselves as an expert in being abrupt, intense, and overwhelming.
Are you sure you wanna spend some time with me?
The singer is questioning or doubting whether someone wants to be around them given their current state or behavior.
Yeah, I'm a mess
The artist confirms their prior statement of being a mess.
Yeah and I'm battin' way up my league
The singer is acknowledging that they are pursuing someone who is significantly more desirable or attractive than themselves.
For all the arm-swings and pretty things that I sing
The singer is referencing their own talents or abilities, but admits that they ultimately have little value in attracting the person they desire.
I'm a fuckin' disease
The singer sees themselves as a negative influence or burden on others.
And you're a jewel
The artist is describing the person they desire as rare, valuable, or special.
A drop from some of heaven's gene pool
The artist is implying that the person they desire possesses exceptional qualities or traits.
And when you turn your head yeah
The singer is observing the person they desire and finding them attractive or fascinating.
You can hear the stairs all droop
The singer is using a metaphor to describe the effect the person they desire has on their surroundings - making everything seem weaker or less impressive by comparison.
So if you want a little vocation
The artist is suggesting that they and the person they desire should go on a vacation together.
Me and your ma can read 'a place in the sun'
The artist is proposing that the person they desire's mother and the artist could both enjoy reading a certain book or doing a certain activity together.
Oh, well I'm a mess
The artist recognizes that they are still a mess, despite their desire for spring-cleaning.
Oh hell, I know that it's a crappy excuse
The singer realizes that their messiness is not a good reason for their behavior or actions.
Gotta get myself a spring-clean
The artist feels a need to clean and organize themselves - perhaps physically, mentally, or emotionally.
Just to soak in the juice
The singer is hoping that their spring-cleaning efforts will help them feel refreshed or revitalized in some way.
Lord help me if I'm not only
The singer is expressing uncertainty or doubt about whether they are the only one who feels as though they need to improve or make changes.
Oh come on babe, couldja spend a second with me?
The singer is making a lighthearted or hopeful request for the person they desire to spend just a little bit of time with them.
Contributed by Ethan L. Suggest a correction in the comments below.