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.
She Digs Her
You Am I Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
When the Housewives Journal, started closing every door
The wind's so strong and you decided
That you just don't want to be carried with it anymore
"Oh my God" the neighbors
Just can't put a word to it never seen to write or call
Greetings to the sister
As you're strutting through your suburb watching ladies trip and fall
Gave up on lives that revolve around car ignition
Hey did you ever get the feeling everything is working out okay?
Sunday afternoon sure used to sting until
The drinks kick in at ten
But now you've joined a collective
Surely nothing ordinary kicking up a storm again
"Oh my God" the neighbors
Just can't put a word to it never seen to write or call
Greetings to the sister
As you're strutting through your suburb watching ladies trip and fall
Came when he left, never thought it was a big decision
Gave up on lives that revolve around beer and fishing
Hey did you ever get the feeling everything is working out okay?
The lyrics of "She Digs Her" by You Am I paint a picture of a woman who has almost lost herself in the monotony of suburban life. She sees her neighbors through a gilded window and notices the small-mindedness of the "Housewives Journal." She seems to be tired of being carried away in the wind of social expectations and decides to let go of it all. There’s a sense of freedom in this, as she says the neighbors cannot seem to put a word to it or write or call her.
As she struts through her suburb, the singer sees the ladies tripping and falling along the way. The lyrics depict a woman who has decided to leave everything behind and take control of her life, no matter how much people are surprised by her actions. The line, "She came when he left, never thought it was a big decision, gave up on lives that revolve around car ignition, " elucidates this.
The last few lines of the song give a sense of hope, as the singer seems to have found some meaning in her life. She has joined a collective, which is not ordinary, and is kicking up a storm again. This line talks about how the woman has found a new purpose in life, and is no longer as lost as she was. The lyrics, "Hey, did you ever get the feeling everything is working out okay?" seems to emphasize her newfound sense of optimism in the face of the bleak suburban landscape.
In conclusion, "She Digs Her" seems to be an important commentary on the way suburban life can be soul-sucking and cause people to lose their sense of self. The singer's decision to leave behind everything can be seen as a metaphor for people breaking free from the monotony of their lives and seeking meaning elsewhere.
Line by Line Meaning
Your eyes hit a gilded window
You noticed something bright and shiny in a window
When the Housewives Journal, started closing every door
When the gossip and drama of suburban life became less interesting and exciting
The wind's so strong and you decided
The forces around you are powerful and made you make a choice
That you just don't want to be carried with it anymore
You don't want to go along with the status quo anymore
"Oh my God" the neighbors
The neighbors are shocked
Just can't put a word to it never seen to write or call
They can't quite explain or understand what's happening and don't communicate with you
Greetings to the sister
Acknowledging and respecting other women
As you're strutting through your suburb watching ladies trip and fall
You're confidently navigating the neighborhood and not conforming the traditional gender roles
She came when he left, never thought it was a big decision
You ended your relationship without much thought or regret
Gave up on lives that revolve around car ignition
You're rejecting the materialistic values and defining yourself outside of car culture
Hey did you ever get the feeling everything is working out okay?
You ask yourself if you're on the right path and if you're content with your choices
Sunday afternoon sure used to sting until
You used to not enjoy your weekends
The drinks kick in at ten
But now you enjoy alcohol to make it better
But now you've joined a collective
You've found a group of like-minded people
Surely nothing ordinary kicking up a storm again
You feel like you're doing something different and exciting
"Oh my God" the neighbors
The neighbors are still shocked
Just can't put a word to it never seen to write or call
They still can't quite explain or understand what's happening and don't communicate with you
Greetings to the sister
Acknowledging and respecting other women
As you're strutting through your suburb watching ladies trip and fall
You're still confidently navigating the neighborhood and not conforming the traditional gender roles
Came when he left, never thought it was a big decision
You left your relationship without much thought or regret
Gave up on lives that revolve around beer and fishing
You're rejecting traditional masculine values and defining yourself outside of them
Hey did you ever get the feeling everything is working out okay?
You're still questioning if you're on the right path and if you're content with your choices
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group, MUSHROOM MUSIC PTY LTD
Written by: ANDY KENT, RUSSELL HOPKINSON, TIM ADRIAN ROGERS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@marygumley8192
SUCH AN IMPORTANT SONG TIL TO THE DAY😍
@lizkeys2398
only Timmy Rogers! :)