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American Aquarium, “Wolves,” // GemsOnVHS™

GemsOnVHS | January 25, 2026



Back in 2009 or so, I first started listening to the band American Aquarium. The album “Dances For the Lonely” had somehow found its way to me, and the sound was rockin, fresh, and with a focus on songwriting. I probably had, as a careless teenager with absolutely no money to my name, pirated it. Sorry BJ. Anyway, it was a lifelong affair and I have since kept close track of their releases, and bought many of them. So when I had the opportunity to go out to North Carolina and meet BJ Barham, I took the trip.

We met out where he lives, in Raleigh, North Carolina. The band was playing a festival at the college he dropped out of to pursue music full time. I wasn’t sure what I was expecting to find. Sometimes you meet musicians you respect, heroes as they say, and they’re a little underwhelming. You find them jaded, or spiteful, or proud, or just not amiable as you’d hope. Nothing wrong with that, of course. Everyone is human, even songwriters you love. BJ, however, turned out to be not only a genius writer, but an awesome guy. He made me feel welcome and inspired immediately, as he does with everyone around him.

I’m sure it wasn’t always like that. Throughout the weekend I heard stories about less than stellar times, about drinking and dead-end days. But what I’d found today was someone with a good deal of wisdom, a devoted husband and father, and still a class songwriter and performer. We talked about finding success, about our favorite songwriter’s like Adam Carroll, and just about life. I tagged along with him for the weekend, recording at his home and old haunts. I can’t recommend the guy enough if you haven’t listened, and if you have, well, you know how special this is for folks like us.

If you liked this field recording, you can check out BJ’s other tunes on all streaming platforms and on Spotify at https://open.spotify.com/artist/7nSYcucRT6IGiMepEmiZgT?si=_iBJXXOJS-CuPVQLfxwIPw. You can find them on Instagram at @americanaquarium.

Our undying love and gratitude go to our executive producers for making this project possible: Brad Sirois, Mitchell Davis, Keith McQuillan, David Jameson, Lisa Galvan, Irvin Maddox, Josh Collins, Brady Jones, Julie Nestoroff, VJ Arizpe, and Rusty Shackleford.

Consider becoming a Patreon contributor to help sustain this project. For the price of a cup of coffee every month, you let us continue finding and filming amazing artists.
https://www.patreon.com/gemsonvhs

GemsOnVHS is a long running series of intimate, off-stage performances by songwriters we love.
We’re on instagram (@gemsonvhs or @anthonysimpkins)
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Written by GemsOnVHS

Comments

This post currently has 30 comments.

  18. @cedarriver

    January 25, 2026 at 3:08 pm

    Oh, love those chord changes, great song!

    Chords and lyrics below folks

    Cadd4 x3301x
    E7 x20100

    Intro C Cadd4 C Cadd4 / C E7 Am Em Fmaj7 C
    Verses C E7 Fmaj7 C x4
    Chorus C Cadd4 C Cadd4 / C E7 Am Em Fmaj7 C
    Interlude C E7 Am Em Em7 Fmaj7 C
    Bridge C Cadd4 x8 / C E7 Am Em Fmaj7 C
    Outro C E7 Am Em Em7 Fmaj7 C

    [Intro]

    [Verse 1]
    I knew I'd be a drifter since the day I turned sixteen
    Watching my dad fix up cars and the smell of gasoline
    I just wish that someone took the time to warn me
    'Bout those evil things that lie beyond the trees

    [Chorus]
    'Cause when the wolves are hungry, the wolves they'll eat
    I just wish these wolves would get their claws out of me

    [Interlude]

    [Verse 2]
    And I've never been any good at every sticking around
    But I'll always be the one that'll let you down
    Seems like my feet start running before they hit the ground
    Just wish they didn't always take me to the wrong side of town

    [Chorus]
    'Cause when the wolves are hungry, the wolves they'll eat
    I just wish these wolves would get their claws out of me

    [Interlude]

    [Bridge]
    Yeag I could see the fire in their eyes, the blood on their teeth
    And they could smell the fear in my bones and hear the shaking of my knees
    The beautiful image, yeah the sweet amphetamines
    I just wish these wolves would get their claws out of me
    I just wish these wolves would get their claws out of me

    [Outro]

  30. @jamesswift580

    January 25, 2026 at 3:08 pm

    I love BJ, he seems like such a genuinely good guy. I happened to see American aquarium as an opener without knowing anything about them around 2013-2014 and I was immediately a fan

Comments are closed.

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