American Slang

Album: American Slang (2010)
Play Video

Songfacts®:

  • This is the lead single and title track from New Jersey based rock group The Gaslight Anthem's third studio album.
  • On the band's previous releases frontman/guitarist and songwriter Brian Fallon famously quoted such influences as Tom Waits and Bruce Springsteen. On American Slang the only obvious lift is on this song, where he uses the phrase "cut you to ribbons," which was also featured on 'Here's Looking at You, Kid' from Gaslight Anthem's 2008 album The '59 Sound. "People instantly said, 'You quoted yourself from the last record on the chorus. Is that your thing, quoting yourself?'" Fallon told Spinner UK with some exasperation. "That's totally by accident. If I say the word 'pizza' twice in a week, sometimes it happens, you know?"
  • Fallon told Spinner UK he was hesitant to use the song title. "You call something American anything you better have something to back that up with," he said. "It's like an English band calling a song English something, you have a big thing to live up to. The song is kind of about my American life, about the things that have happened. They present you this American dream and it's not like this specific thing, you find out you just have to work. You don't step outside and get famous, that's not the way it goes. It's like that anywhere else in the world."

Comments

Be the first to comment...

Editor's Picks

Queen

QueenFact or Fiction

Scaramouch, a hoople and a superhero soundtrack - see if you can spot the real Queen stories.

Grunge Bands Quiz

Grunge Bands QuizMusic Quiz

If the name Citizen Dick means anything to you, there's a chance you'll get some of these right.

Tom Johnston from The Doobie Brothers

Tom Johnston from The Doobie BrothersSongwriter Interviews

The Doobies guitarist and lead singer, Tom wrote the classics "Listen To The Music," "Long Train Runnin'" and "China Grove."

Deconstructing Doors Songs With The Author Of The Doors Examined

Deconstructing Doors Songs With The Author Of The Doors ExaminedSong Writing

Doors expert Jim Cherry, author of The Doors Examined, talks about some of their defining songs and exposes some Jim Morrison myths.

Bass Player Scott Edwards

Bass Player Scott EdwardsSong Writing

Scott was Stevie Wonder's bass player before becoming a top session player. Hits he played on include "I Will Survive," "Being With You" and "Sara Smile."

Who Did It First?

Who Did It First?Music Quiz

Do you know who recorded the original versions of these ten hit songs?