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.
Jewels And Bullets
You Am I Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
You Am I - Jewels And Bullets
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Every word they sling you hits like your folks have never been kind
And the jewels on your apron could use some calomine
Ugly girls and pit faced boys all hunch and join in the line
Got the shoe that you lived in
And the towel that you dried in
Choose a blanket to die in
Spill a drink on his front and salsa on the plans for a mall and high rise
'Cause there's only so much of string that patron can pull and unwind
Got the shoe that you lived in
And the towel that you dried in
There's a drink you can drown in
Choose a blanket to die in
Check out the towel you can die in
The opening lines of "Jewels And Bullets" by You Am I present a bleak picture of a person enduring harsh words and insults from others. The words "every word they sling you hits like your folks have never been kind" depict how the person takes the criticisms to heart, as if it confirms their deepest fears and criticisms from their parents or family. The following line uses the phrase "jewels on your apron," which presumably refers to such person's pride or confidence, and suggests it's time to heal those hurt feelings, and the imagery of "calomine" as a mild, soothing cream rubs home the message of having to tend to oneself. We see the ugliness of the bullies or critics described by "pit faced boys" and "ugly girls, " as well as the potential for mob mentality suggested by "join in the line."
The lyrics then take an even darker turn in the next verses, as if the emotions and experiences have come to a boiling point that may lead one to seek out self-destructive behaviors. The image of having "a drink you can drown in, choose a blanket to die in," suggests such feelings of hopelessness or despair that the person would consider taking their own life. The visuals of "spilling drink" and "salsa on the plans" communicate a sense of desperation or recklessness, and the line suggesting there is "only so much of a string that patrons can pull and unwind" implies that the person has had enough of taking other people's abuse and may seek to take back control even in destructive or rebellious ways. The ultimate image of a "towel you can die in" makes the idea of suicide more palpable with an almost-offhand delivery.
In conclusion, You Am I's "Jewels And Bullets" thrives on the idea of absorbing cruelty until one reaches the breaking point. The use of language and imagery does justice in describing the depth of hopelessness and pain that someone can feel when they go through such experiences. It leaves the listener with the impression that there's only so much someone can take before self-destruction or rebellion become the only coping mechanisms left.
Line by Line Meaning
Every word they sling you hits like your folks have never been kind
People's hurtful words can be just as painful as never having received kindness from your own family.
And the jewels on your apron could use some calomine
The singer thinks the jewels on the apron are causing a rash or irritation and might benefit from some calomine lotion.
Ugly girls and pit faced boys all hunch and join in the line
People who feel inferior or insecure are more likely to gang up and bully those they perceive as weaker or different.
Got the shoe that you lived in
The artist has a worn-out shoe that they've been living in for a long time, perhaps as a symbol of their struggle or hardship.
And the towel that you dried in
The artist also has a towel they've been using for a while, which could be interpreted as a comment on their lack of resources or neglectful living conditions.
There's a drink you can drown in
The singer suggests that there's a drink strong enough to make you forget your problems, but perhaps also dangerous enough to cause harm.
Choose a blanket to die in
The singer advises to pick a comfortable blanket to be buried in, which could be seen as a morbid or bleak sentiment.
Spill a drink on his front and salsa on the plans for a mall and high rise
The artist encourages rebellion or defiance by spilling a drink on someone and ruining their plans for materialistic progress and development.
'Cause there's only so much of string that patron can pull and unwind
The artist suggests that even someone in power or control has their limits and can only pull strings to a certain extent before they lose their grip or influence.
Check out the towel you can die in
The song ends with a repetition of the earlier line referring to a towel that could be used as a shroud or burial cloth, emphasizing the morbidity and hopelessness of the overall sentiment.
Lyrics © MUSHROOM MUSIC PTY LTD
Written by: ANDY KENT, RUSSELL HOPKINSON, TIM ADRIAN ROGERS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
surfinmuso
Every word they sling you hits like your folks have never been kind
And the jewels on your apron could use some calomine
Ugly girls and pit faced boys all hunch and join in the line
Got the shoe that you lived in
And the towel that you dried in
There's a drink you can drown in
Choose a blanket to die in
Spill a drink on his front and salsa on the plans for a mall and high rise
'Cause there's only so much of string that patron can pull and unwind
Got the shoe that you lived in
And the towel that you dried in
There's a drink you can drown in
Choose a blanket to die in
Check out the towel you can die in
I've been singing very wrong lyrics for 28 years. Thanks You Am I for such a ballsy rock classic
leokimvideo
Such a killer song, it's the perfect rock song, perfect riff...what the hell went wrong
Glenn E.
Incredible, just when you think you’ve heard it all a new breeze comes through and brings with it sounds that are familiar but new.
This is my first time hearing this and my honest reaction is that it’s great. Reminds me of weezer, everclear, helmet, Nirvana, the cult...
Rock is forever
Gaz Groeneweg
Used to see this band for free just by accident all the time at uni bars back in the day. They were great! That riff at 2:05!!!
matt death
and tumbleweed.... rrrrr.... usually in Parra... good ol days
Caroline Bender
Blow it up!! 2.35
Mr. Speed
Will never forget this video. I took a 2 week vacation to Sydney in November of 1995. This video came on very early on the first Saturday morning I was there. Was just so cool to be in a country I always wanted to visit and see this cool video for an awesome song.
jason p. anderson
2.07 and the rythm riff of ALL time...:)
surfinmuso
Every word they sling you hits like your folks have never been kind
And the jewels on your apron could use some calomine
Ugly girls and pit faced boys all hunch and join in the line
Got the shoe that you lived in
And the towel that you dried in
There's a drink you can drown in
Choose a blanket to die in
Spill a drink on his front and salsa on the plans for a mall and high rise
'Cause there's only so much of string that patron can pull and unwind
Got the shoe that you lived in
And the towel that you dried in
There's a drink you can drown in
Choose a blanket to die in
Check out the towel you can die in
I've been singing very wrong lyrics for 28 years. Thanks You Am I for such a ballsy rock classic
Darren Fahey
The absolute best guitar drums combo ever, this is the bomb song, the absolute ,,, ext Aussie song ever
ChipsDim
One of Australia's rockingest bands of the naughty nineties