Let's sober up
It's time to find that galaxy
That was created and named after me
But these rocket ships blew apart the entire ship
So if you find some pieces just name them after me

It's on fire
It's my empire
Went up so fast I couldn't grab it
All of the medicine and magic, that keeps me breathing
Right on key, broken straps trapped in captain
That's playing just for me.

And this is so typical and raised by the arm and (of?) me

So dance to some broken cords
With broken means through open doors,
Send me with a microphone,
Teach me something so I can go [2x]
Don't you have a lesson for me?

I raced concrete to the front row seats
Through her clothes and whiskey kisses
And left her on the street
With her hand down and her hair down
She’s nothing more than a movie
That never panned out

Hey Mr. destiny,
You forgot about me,
You forgot to leave a number
You forgot to name the street,
This is American living
With my American dream,
It thunders like a river but its cold just
like a stream.

And this is so typical, it makes body (off of me?)

So dance to some broken cords
With broken means through open doors,
Send me with a microphone,
Teach me something so I can go [2x]
Don't you have a lesson for me?

I know now things don't get much better than this,
And I know now, life don't get much bigger than this

So dance to some broken cords
With broken means through open doors,
Send me with a microphone,
Teach me something so I can go [2x]
Don't you have a lesson for me?



Lyrics submitted by Girlsdontgocrazy

Track duration: 04:01


American Living song meanings
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13 Comments

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  • 0
    General Comment:I think it goes a little deeper... here's my interpretation:

    Let's sober up
    It's time to find that galaxy
    That was created and named after me
    ---Time to sober up not necessarily from alcohol but from however he (the narrator of the song) was living, and to finally tackle those big dreams he had ("Time to find that galaxy that was created and named after me")---

    But these rocket ships blew apart the entire ship
    So if you find some pieces just name them after me
    ---Some type of obstacle along the way in his life ruined his big dreams---

    It's on fire
    It's my empire
    Went up so fast I couldn't grab it
    ---"It" was his dreams in life, but he did something that ruined them in a heartbeat, and now he's watching them burn (figuratively speaking)---

    All of the medicine and magic, that keeps me breathing
    Right on key, broken straps trapped in the captain
    That's playing just for me.
    ---"Medicine and magic" is most likely drugs/alcohol. In his mind they keep him "breathing right on key" (or still alive, in other words) because he's become so addicted to them, and even though it's not his dreams it's still something he has. However, he knows it's not a good path to be on, but it's hard to get off ("Broken straps trapped in the captain")---

    And this is so typical, erased by the author of me
    ---He's looking at the situation and how it was all his fault that he ruined his own dreams and basically saying that he's not surprised it happened---

    So dance to some broken cords
    With broken knees/leads through open doors
    ---Although I'm not sure if it's "knees" or "leads" the meaning is still that he's trying to get back on path to reach his dreams but it isn't easy---

    Save me with a microphone,
    Teach me something so I can go
    Don't you have a lesson for me?
    ---This is part sarcasm. He's so used to being preached to about his problem that he just expects everyone to lecture him every time he talks to someone---

    I raced concrete to the front row seats
    Threw her bows and whiskey kisses
    And left her on the street
    ---Now he's getting back on track, trying to rehabilitate himself. The girl here is most likely the problem, not a REAL female---

    With her hands out and her head down
    She’s nothing more than a movie
    That never panned out
    ---The drugs/alcohol/problem was always wiling to give (hands out) but never willing to help (head down). He's saying that it was something that looked promising and fun, but took him nowhere---

    Hey Mr. destiny,
    You forgot about me,
    You forgot to leave a number
    You forgot to name the street
    ---More sarcasm here. Basically just saying "Hey, where's my big break?" even though he knows he reached his dreams because he took the wrong path (drugs/alcohol)---

    This is American living
    With my American dream,
    It thunders like a river but its cold just
    like a stream.
    ---Basically just saying that he's living like an American by having problems like drugs/alcohol, but he's still got his American dream to be big and successful (he's mainly just making a pun here with the American title in both instances). The river part is just a metaphor to further emphasize his pun---

    And this is so typical, erased by the author of me
    ---Again, just reflecting on how he did this to himself (wrote his big dreams, then erased them himself)---

    I know now things don't get much better than this,
    And I know now, life don't get much bigger than this
    ---Could be looking back at his past life now that he's reached his dreams and saying he's been through it all and knows that life doesn't get better than where he's at now. OR he could be saying that from his current position, saying that the American dream is a lie and life only gets harder when you try to achieve it---
    Flag ineedsleepingpillson November 08, 2010   Link
  • 0
    General Comment:its about fucking up due to alcohol problems... that the basic of the song
    Flag Sublimedude1992on November 12, 2009   Link
  • 0
    General Comment:I know it's sort of old but I just discovered this album and can't get this song out of my head! I think it's all about gaining a perspective on life and realizing it may be impossible to leave some crazy legacy at the point of review, but taking time to realize you have a good life anyway. Our country is one of all kinds of crazy checks and balances that make things really stable, I think they definitly hit on this with the lyrics. Things of intrigue and want are continually mentioned but theres always a check mentioned like the line "it thunders like a river" (dangerous yet intreging and adventurous) yet it's cold just like a stream (comfortable and settling, yet staying in it too long is uncomfortable)."dance to some broken chords"- celebrating that which might not be perfect but is yours, like the "American Way" of life. The singer really has a good perspective! Consider the song and the direction of your life.
    Flag terrorhawkon December 16, 2008   Link
  • 0
    General Comment:This is by far my favorite song on the new album.

    I'm mainly in love with the verse that starts with "Hey Mr. Destiny." That whole feeling of being left behind in life, not knowing where to go, where you are going, or whether or not to wait for something to come your way. I just think it's something everyone can relate to and it holds a special place in my heart since I've always felt that way.
    Flag loosenthelightson June 26, 2008   Link
  • 0
    General Comment:i think this song is about giving up on your dreams....i think in his case it was because of a problem with alchohol, i think it is a reference to many americans who arent living their dreams because they let things get in the way, he seems to make a reference to girl who wanted to be an actor
    "I raced concrete to the front row seats
    Threw her bows and whiskey kisses and left her on the street
    With her hands out
    And her head down
    She’s nothing more than a movie that never panned out"
    also it talks about how destiny forgot about him and how he knows "life dont get much better than this" which is maybe him falling under the impression you can never live your dreams....kind of sad
    Flag brandnew07on April 15, 2008   Link
  • 0
    General Comment:i honestly think this is the most perfect song ever. i have listened to it about two billion times and i never get tired of it.
    Flag bangkissbangon July 15, 2005   Link
  • 0
    General Comment:This song is about getting a girl pregnant.
    Flag Cowabunga!on November 22, 2004   Link
  • 0
    General Comment:i have to say it (gasp)
    And I know now…
    Things don’t get much better than this…
    Life doesn’t get much bigger than this…

    best part on pollyanna...go see this band live!
    Flag ryan...isarealboyon November 09, 2004   Link
  • 0
    General Comment:oops... Fave*
    Flag ADimeADexteron September 29, 2004   Link
  • 0
    General Comment:my face on pollyanna
    Flag ADimeADexteron September 29, 2004   Link

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