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.
Judge Roy
You Am I Lyrics
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And just for a second he forgot what to do with his feet
The photo creases dug in to his chest 'til they cut
And sweet Lily Langtry whispered his name through the dust
[Chorus]
So it's out with the older one and in with the new
Here comes the judge in somebody else's shoes
Champagne heels are gonna dig a golden hole in the dirt
So keep your guns in your jackets I'm sending you out with a curse
Keeping the law from the Pecos to the Rio Grande
And sweet Lily Langtry whispered his name through the sand
[Chorus]
He heard her name call
As the Texas wind blows
From ten thousand miles away
To the cactus that frames her face
[Chorus]
The lyrics of You Am I’s “Judge Roy” paints a vivid picture of a train conductor named Roy, who seems to be haunted by his past. As the train comes behind him like a shot from a gun in his sleep, he momentarily forgets what to do with his feet. The photo creases dug into his chest until they cut, which indicates that Roy still carries a lot of emotional baggage from his past. While the dust settles, sweet Lily Langtry, whom we assume to be a woman from Roy's past, whispers his name. It is possible that Roy is in love with Lily but could not be with her because of some past mistake he made.
The chorus tells us that someone has replaced the “older one,” which could refer to somebody else who was in Roy’s position before him, or perhaps to an earlier time in Roy’s life that he is trying to forget. The “new” could refer to a new conductor or a new era, leaving Roy feeling like he no longer belongs. The champagne heels refer to someone wealthy and powerful who can dig a golden hole in the dirt, which gives us some context on the kind of environment Roy is in. The last verse adds more complexity to the story, as Roy hears Lily’s name being called from ten thousand miles away, and despite the distance, it still affects him.
Overall, "Judge Roy" is a song about a man who is trying to move on from his past, but his past continues to haunt him. The imagery and metaphors help to create an atmosphere that mirrors Roy's emotional state, and the chorus emphasizes the idea that nothing ever stays the same, that change is inevitable, and sometimes it can come with a sense of loss.
Line by Line Meaning
The train came behind him like a shot from a gun in yer sleep
He was taken by surprise, like in a nightmare, when the train approached him from behind.
And just for a second he forgot what to do with his feet
He was momentarily stunned and didn't know how to react.
The photo creases dug in to his chest 'til they cut
The old photograph he carried with him was so precious that it hurt him physically.
And sweet Lily Langtry whispered his name through the dust
He reminisces about an old flame who called out his name long ago.
So it's out with the older one and in with the new
He's moving on from the past and accepting new opportunities.
Here comes the judge in somebody else's shoes
A new person is taking charge and making decisions that he might not agree with.
Champagne heels are gonna dig a golden hole in the dirt
Someone new and glamorous is arriving who's going to shake things up.
So keep your guns in your jackets I'm sending you out with a curse
He's warning people to be careful, knowing that someone or something dangerous is coming.
Keeping the law from the Pecos to the Rio Grande
He's someone with authority who's trying to maintain order in a large area.
And sweet Lily Langtry whispered his name through the sand
His long lost love calls out to him again through his memories.
He heard her name call
He remembers his old flame's name as if he heard it just now.
As the Texas wind blows
He's transported in his mind to a place where the wind blows through Texas.
From ten thousand miles away
Even though he may be far from her physically, the memory of her seems just as close to him.
To the cactus that frames her face
He vividly recalls an image of her with desert scenery surrounding her.
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
Written by: TIM ADRIAN ROGERS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind