At the time, the major sponsor of the competition was Sydney company, Troy Horse, a recording and rehearsal studio that also consisted of a record label. The competition's first prize included an EP, recorded and released by Troy Horse, and a tour of Australian university campuses. 78 Saab won the competition (the band's seventh live performance) and proceeded to record its debut EP, Eastwards By Removal. After its release in 1997, the band prepared for a run of 35 dates to promote the EP. Before the tour began however, Jake Andrews joined the band as lead guitarist after Darren Smith made the decision not to continue with the band. The band then officially relocated to Sydney. With the tour finished, Christovac Thompson left 78 Saab and Nicholai Danko (whom the band had met during the campus tour) replaced him on drums.
The band released four studio albums - Picture a Hum, Can't Hear a Sound (2000), Crossed Lines (2004), The Bells Line (2007) and Good Fortune (2010).
The band announced their split in 2012, playing their final show on December 1st, 2012 at the Annandale Hotel in Sydney.
Sleepless Nights
78 Saab Lyrics
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Into the blue guns sillouettes
Another rain and cash hit drawn
See us both back home
I see you staring into space
Catch you thinking about when
Where they lead to, where they end
Need to begs and lie down
I see you staring into space
I see you staring into space
Lose a place at twenty-one
Like it′s a yardstick to hold on to
This winter may be sleepless nights
Of toss and turning at the moon
I see you staring into space
I hear you talking in your sleep
Hills a million miles away
You know, I'll bring it back soon
I feel, I feel it in my bones
The closer I get, the further away I see
Hills a million miles away
You know, I'll bring it back soon
I feel, I feel it in my bones
The closer I get, the further away I see
Oh, the further away I see
Oh, the further away I see
The song "Sleepless Nights" by 78 Saab is a reflective and introspective piece that deals with themes of loss, distance, and the struggles of life. The opening lines describe a sense of disappearing, both physically and mentally, into the hills where guns silhouette against the blue sky. This could be interpreted as a metaphor for running away from one's problems, yet the following lines state that "Another rain and cash hit drawn, See us both back home." This suggests that the escape is only temporary, and one must ultimately face their challenges head-on. The repetition of "I see you staring into space" creates a haunting effect, drawing attention to the melancholic nature of the song.
The lyrics take a wistful tone when they mention how losing a place at twenty-one can feel like a yardstick to hold onto. This could refer to losing a sense of purpose in one's life, causing them to cling to material possessions as a means of stability. The following lines of "This winter may be sleepless nights, Of toss and turning at the moon" suggest that the hardships of life can lead to restlessness and anxiety, particularly during darker times. The final lines of the song repeat "Hills a million miles away, You know, I'll bring it back soon," using repetition to emphasize the longing for a lost sense of peace and stability.
Line by Line Meaning
Up in the bills′ line we disappear
We become invisible and unnoticed when we are up in the hills.
Into the blue guns sillouettes
We merge into the blue landscape and become silhouette figures like the outline of a gun.
Another rain and cash hit drawn
Another storm and financial crisis has hit us hard.
See us both back home
Eventually, we end up back home together.
I see you staring into space
I see you lost in thought and not present in the moment.
Catch you thinking about when
I notice you lost in thought and thinking about the past.
Where they lead to, where they end
You are pondering the outcome and destination of past events.
Such a big ol' cranky world
The world can be difficult, vexing, and irritable at times.
Need to begs and lie down
Sometimes you just need to rest and take a break from everything.
I hear you talking in your sleep
I notice you talking while you are sleeping.
Lose a place at twenty-one
You lost an important opportunity at a young age.
Like it's a yardstick to hold on to
It feels like it's a measure of success that you are holding onto.
This winter may be sleepless nights
This season might bring you restless, uncomfortable nights without sleep.
Of toss and turning at the moon
You will be restless, tossing and turning, under the moonlight.
Hills a million miles away
The mountains seem far away and out of reach.
You know, I'll bring it back soon
You know that I'll bring it back to you soon.
I feel, I feel it in my bones
My intuition and instincts tell me that something is going to happen.
The closer I get, the further away I see
The more I pursue something, the more it seems to move further away from me.
Oh, the further away I see
Oh, the more distant and unattainable something becomes the harder it is to achieve.
Writer(s): Ben Charles Nash
Contributed by Hudson K. Suggest a correction in the comments below.