American Television

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.

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.

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

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.