Lyrics I Love #26: Something American

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About the Song

Track: Something American

Length: 3:03

Album: Something American (2017)

Artist: Jade Bird

Songwriters: Jade Bird

Favorite part: 

“No, I’m not perfect

But then no one is

We’re all reaching for something American”

Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd.

Here’s Why I Love It

Jade Bird is on a short-list of my favorite modern female artists. She has a knack for writing songs that just sound really, really good to my ear. I don’t know how else to explain it. Her voice is so raw, which makes everything feel alive. (Maybe even a little Joplin-like or Ronstadt-esque.)

There are two things that really impress me with this song:

One, she was able to project this sentiment and story at nineteen (which is how old she was when this song came out). The song is about a woman looking back on life. It appears she still has feelings for a love she had when she was younger, and now that person is with someone else. Presumably, based on the lyrics, someone who is the exact opposite of the type of person she is.  This line is just penetrating: “But when she’s not around / I can feel you're lonely / Oh, I can feel you’re lonely somehow.” Man, woman, young, old, I don’t care. Don’t you feel that for somebody, somewhere? I do.

Two, the symbolism—something American—stuns me. Bird uses this in multiple ways throughout the song. Sure, you can take it literally. I prefer looking at through the idealism that is ever present and associated with America. As an English singer/songwriter, she has an outside-in perspective that fascinates me. At the same time, whether you’re American or not, you know exactly what she’s talking about.

It’s funny. I told my brother one Sunday, “I think I might be the only thirty-five-year-old man in the audience at a Jade Bird concert.” He laughed, and said, “You’d be surprised.” Then I played this song.

*** Read the lyrics and Listen to the song *** 

*This article is part of the ongoing Lyrics I Love series: short interpretations of the meaning and story behind one song with lyrics that move me.