Back in the day when I was a teenager
Out on my own, fall in love with strangers
Oh no, desire, what are you putting me through
You looked beautiful in 1992

I'm watching what do I wanna be?
Baby, I'm in love with possibility
Give me sex and give me patience
I can't wait, I can't wait, change the station

I'm watching, I'm watching
I'm watching American television
I'm watching, I'm watching
I'm watching American television

Back in the day, waiting for a sign to move
I got nothing to say, I got something to prove
Oh me, oh my, teenagers get bored
You looked beautiful in 1994

I'm dreaming, it?s not a fantasy
Baby, I'm in love with reality
Give me joy, give me emotion
I can't wait, I can't wait, change the program

I'm watching, I'm watching
I'm watching American television
I'm watching, I'm watching
I'm watching American television

I'm watching, what do I wanna be?
I'm watching, what do I wanna be?
I'm watching, I'm watching
I'm watching American television

Here we are and now we own the boulevard
We dropped off our fear at the junkyard
Oh man, we can turn it up loud
You look beautiful right here, right now

I'm still watching what do I wanna be
Baby, I'm love with possibility
Gimme sex, indecision
I'm watching American television

I'm watching, I'm watching
I'm watching American television
I'm watching, I'm watching
I'm watching American television

I'm watching, what do I wanna be?
I'm watching, what do I wanna be?
I'm watching, I'm watching
I'm watching American television

I'm watching, what do you wanna be?
I'm watching, what do you wanna be?
I'm watching, I'm watching
I'm watching American



Lyrics submitted by sarahlovesyou332

American Television Lyrics as written by Ben Lee

Lyrics © BMG Rights Management

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American Television song meanings
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4 Comments

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  • 0
    General Comment

    This could deal with him dating Claire Danes for many years. She rose to fame as a teenager on the American TV show "My So-Called Life". Ben has always said his songs aren't that black-and-white though, so I assume that's not the only influence at work. He seems to enjoy pop culture in general, which this is an ode to.

    bitta2sweeton November 21, 2007   Link
  • 0
    General Comment

    I think this is just a run through of the history of American Television and its influence on its audience. There are mentions of dates and genres like the past trend of reality tele. I think the emotions and mindsets like 'I got nothing to say, got something to prove' are a direct influence from what television is showing us to feel and think. I'm thinking maybe the last para is that we've stopped second thinking or fearing of becoming what's on television and we sit mindlessly watching sex with no idea of who we ought to be. That was a bit of jumble of words.

    Sarenaon January 23, 2008   Link
  • 0
    General Comment

    I think I detect a bit of Barenaked Ladies influence in the choruses....and I like that :-D

    dedgrottyon April 03, 2008   Link
  • 0
    General Comment

    It's worth mentioning that Ben is Australian. I interpret this song as being about Ben's perception of America when he was a teenager. American TV shows portray the US as a glamorous, exciting place. I think the song is saying that when Ben was a teenager, in 1992, he saw these American shows and was inspired to put some excitement in his own life, right there in Australia.

    pterodactyluson August 27, 2010   Link

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