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.
Watcha Doin' to Me
You Am I Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
But I'm in for the whole trip I promise
You won't go out with the drunk on the road
Or use yer fork to search for the toast
Girl I ain't easy
And any ass could see
But I can't believe
Just watcha doin' to me
I'm falling this way and I
I'm stumbling over there but I
Can't believe watcha doin' to me
The sweetest sound yeah
To knock this lightweight down but I
I can't believe watcha doin to me
Shake my trunk
And I wake like from a three day drunk
As my branches hit the ground
I'm finally comin around
Bury me deep in my
Oh my wedding shoes
Lay me flash
Just fifty bucks cash it's the
One day I never wanna lose
I'm falling this way and I
I'm stumbling over there but I
Can't believe watcha doin' to me
The sweetest sound yeah
To knock this lightweight down but I
I can't believe watcha doin to me
I'm falling this way and I
I'm stumbling over there but I
Can't believe watcha doin' to me
The sweetest sound yeah
To knock this lightweight down but I
I can't believe watcha doin to me
I never felt so jealous or felt so alive
I feel like I could run
I feel like I could die
I can't believe watcha doin' to me
I can't believe watcha doin' to me
The opening lyrics "You drive me to drink, But I'm in for the whole trip I promise" suggest that the singer is in a troubled relationship or being taken for a ride, yet they are willing to stay in for the long haul, despite the chaos. The line "Girl I ain't easy, And any ass could see, But I can't believe, Just watcha doin' to me" is an admission that the singer knows they are being messed with, but is helpless to escape the grasp of the relationship. The repeated line "I can't believe what you're doing to me" reinforces that the singer is being manipulated or affected in a way that they are struggling with.
In the chorus, the lyrics "I'm falling this way and I, I'm stumbling over there but I, Can't believe watcha doin' to me" suggest the singer is unsure of where they stand in the relationship or how to navigate the situation. The line "The sweetest sound yeah, To knock this lightweight down" is a reference to the singer being knocked off their feet, either by the situation or the person they are involved with.
The final lyrics "I never felt so jealous or felt so alive, I feel like I could run, I feel like I could die" suggest that the singer is experiencing intense emotions, including jealousy and feeling alive, despite the turmoil. They feel like they could run and die, which further emphasizes the emotional rollercoaster of the situation.
Line by Line Meaning
You drive me to drink
You make me so frustrated that I have to turn to alcohol
But I'm in for the whole trip I promise
I'm committed to this relationship regardless of the challenges
You won't go out with the drunk on the road
You won't settle for someone who is just an alcoholic and nothing more
Or use yer fork to search for the toast
You won't scavenge for the bare minimum or settle for less
Girl I ain't easy
I'm not a pushover and will demand respect
And any ass could see
It's quite obvious to everyone that I'm not an easy person to deal with
But I can't believe
Despite all of this, I'm still in disbelief
Just watcha doin' to me
You have a hold on me that I can't explain
I'm falling this way and I
I'm losing my balance in this relationship
I'm stumbling over there but I
I'm struggling to find my footing
Can't believe watcha doin' to me
I'm amazed at how much you're affecting me
The sweetest sound yeah
This feeling is so satisfying
To knock this lightweight down but I
To bring me to my knees, even though I thought I was strong
I can't believe watcha doin to me
I'm still in disbelief
Shake my trunk
Jolt me awake
And I wake like from a three day drunk
I come back to consciousness as if I've been drunk for days
As my branches hit the ground
As I come back down to earth
I'm finally comin around
I'm starting to see things clearly
Bury me deep in my
Cover me with
Oh my wedding shoes
My most special possession
Lay me flash
Put me to rest in a grand way
Just fifty bucks cash it's the
Only fifty dollars to have the perfect send-off
One day I never wanna lose
The day of my wedding, which was a pinnacle moment in my life
I never felt so jealous or felt so alive
My emotions are all over the place and I'm feeling intensely
I feel like I could run
I feel invigorated and full of energy
I feel like I could die
I'm feeling so strongly that it's almost overwhelming
I can't believe watcha doin' to me
You have such an impact on me that I still can't believe it
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
Written by: TIM ADRIAN ROGERS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind