In 1981, a fan of the Clean founded the Flying Nun label to release their first single, "Tally Ho." A follow-up track off one of their early EPs, "Beatnik", also achieved success, as did the second single, "Getting Older". The Flying Nun label went on to be New Zealand's biggest independent record company, championing the Dunedin Sound, a loosely-connected style of music largely produced by bands from this southern city. Others on the label included The Chills, The Verlaines, The Bats, and Sneaky Feelings.
During much of the 1980s, The Clean disbanded, and during this time the Kilgour brothers worked together on an experimental album and EP using the deliberately punning titles "The Great Unwashed" and "Clean Out of Our Minds". Reforming in the late 1980s, the band explored a slightly poppier vein of music while still retaining their experimental edge.
In June 2008 a live album recorded during the 2007 New Zealand tour was released in New Zealand on Arch Hill Records, entitled "Mashed". A new studio album, titled Mister Pop was released on September 7, 2009 on Arch Hill, and on September 8 in the United States on the Merge label.
In December 2009, The Clean announced their first European dates in more than 20 years, supporting the cult U.S band Pavement at Brixton Academy on the 10th of May. They also played at the Pavement curated ATP at Butlins Minehead on the 14th of May. Other dates on the tour included Amsterdam (May 22), Hamburg (May 23), Berlin (May 25) and Barcelona's Primavera Sound festival May 29).
Anything Could Happen
The Clean Lyrics
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And with a smile on his face pointed to a junkyard
Look for an answer in empty doorways
Talk to a dancer, said it's out on the highways
Well come on doctor, won't you gimme a shot
I'm feeling cold boy, feeling hot
Doctor said no boy you gotta learn
First I'll shoot up and then it's your turn
Well anything could happen
And it could be right now
And the choice is yours
To make it worthwhile
Anything could happen
And it could be right now
And the choice is yours
So make it worthwhile
Make the cancellation and I got numb
I've got no motivation to get myself a gun
Look for an answer in empty doorways
Talk to a dancer, said it's out on the highway
Well here I am in the big city
I got no heart and I got no pity
Can't you see I'm on the run
Can't you see I'm not having any fun
Anything could happen
And it could be right now
And the choice is yours
To make it worthwhile
Anything could happen
And it could be right now
And the choice is yours
So make it worthwhile
The lyrics of The Clean's "Anything Could Happen" depict a character who is struggling to find direction and purpose in life. The character seeks advice from a doctor and a dancer, but neither can provide a simple answer to solve his problems. The doctor suggests that he needs to learn before he can be helped, and the dancer insinuates that the answer lies out on the highways. The character's sense of aimlessness is further emphasized by his admission of having no motivation to get himself a gun.
The chorus of the song emphasizes the uncertainty that the character is experiencing, encouraging him to realize that anything could happen at any moment. The choice to make it worthwhile is left in the character's hands. The "anything" mentioned in the lyrics could be positive or negative, but its occurrence is imminent. The song's meaning suggests that life is full of unexpected events and that our choices and actions are what ultimately determine the outcome.
Overall, "Anything Could Happen" highlights the uncertainty and ambiguity of navigating one's way through life, but also reinforces the idea that we have the power to shape our own lives.
Line by Line Meaning
Went to a doctor, said I look so hard
I went to a doctor and he said I look exhausted and broken.
And with a smile on his face pointed to a junkyard
The doctor, with a sadistic smile, directed me to the graveyard of forgotten things.
Look for an answer in empty doorways
I searched for a solution in barren passages.
Talk to a dancer, said it's out on the highways
I conversed with a dancer who informed me that the solution was on the open road.
Well come on doctor, won't you gimme a shot
I pleaded with the doctor to give me an injection to make me feel better.
I'm feeling cold boy, feeling hot
I explained to the doctor that I was experiencing a mix of shivers and fever.
Doctor said no boy you gotta learn
The doctor refused and instead insisted that I learn how to handle my hardships.
First I'll shoot up and then it's your turn
The doctor said he would take his shot and then it would be my turn to face my problems head-on.
Well anything could happen
The future is completely unpredictable
And it could be right now
Anything or everything could possibly happen this very moment.
And the choice is yours
The power lies with you.
To make it worthwhile
It is your responsibility to ensure that the outcome is meaningful.
Make the cancellation and I got numb
I cancelled my plans and felt completely desensitized.
I've got no motivation to get myself a gun
I lacked the motivation to arm myself with protection against my hardships.
Well here I am in the big city
I found myself in a bustling metropolis
I got no heart and I got no pity
I felt heartless and apathetic.
Can't you see I'm on the run
I am escaping from my problems.
Can't you see I'm not having any fun
I am not enjoying escaping from my problems.
Contributed by Micah K. Suggest a correction in the comments below.