In 1998 the band expanded to include keyboardist Rob Dawson.
Sunset Studies (2000) was the band's first release. It was met with good reviews, and was moderate in its overall success.
After time apart and the death of keyboardist Rob Dawson, Augie March returned to the studio to record their second full length album, joined by new keyboard player Kiernan Box. Strange Bird was released in 2002, featuring the single The Vineyard. Critical response was positive but both the album and the single spent just a single week on the charts.
Augie March's third album Moo, You Bloody Choir was nominated for four ARIA Awards in 2006: best rock album, single of the year (One Crowded Hour), best group and album of the year, but didn't win.
On the 26th of January 2007 (Australia Day) "One Crowded Hour" came in at number one in Australian radio station Triple J's annual Hottest 100 poll. The somewhat unexpected victor, Augie March surprised many listeners with their success, but were on the most part very well received by Hottest 100 fans.
The band released its fourth long player, Watch Me Disappear, in October 2008 in Australia, followed by a national promotional tour. The album's reception was more mixed than that of its predecessors but achieved the greatest commercial success to date, entering the ARIA Albums Chart at number four.
After an extended hiatus (which many thought to be permanent), the group reconvened, releasing their fifth studio album, Havens Dumb in October of 2014. The album was recorded at several studios in Tasmania and Victoria over several years and proved another stirring entry in Augie March's beautifully bent Australiana.
February 2018 saw the band release their sixth album, Bootikins. It was written and recorded in Melbourne and Hobart and was produced by Australian producer Tony Cohen shortly before he passed away.
Come With Me
Augie March Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Save your face and all your grace and run, and run
Maybe to your sister's, maybe to your mother's house
Maybe lying naked on your brand new boyfriend's couch
Maybe underground where the germs won't get you
Maybe to the hills where the dominoes won't hit you when they fall
Where you gonna go when it petrifies the lakes?
Maybe to the circus, maybe to the movie church
Maybe build your birdhouse from this fallen yankee birch
Maybe to the ocean where the storm is raging nigh
Maybe to the desert where you can't afford to cry
Why don't you come with me?
Why don't you come with me?
Where you gonna go when I'm gone?
Will you ever understand this song? This song...
Let's go to the river, we can sink our bodies low
And I can say what I have died to say - "Ho hum, o hi, hi ho..."
Maybe clown for president, pissing in the ditch
Maybe killer culture, maybe poisoning the fish
Maybe underground where the germs won't get you
Maybe to the hills where the dominoes won't hit you
When they fall into the ocean, where the storm is raging nigh
Maybe to the desert where you can't afford to cry
Why don't you come with me, with me...?
Why don't you come with me, with me...?
The lyrics to Augie March's "Come With Me" seem to showcase a sense of uncertainty and indecision in the face of difficult circumstances. The opening lines ask a question: "Where you gonna go from where you've come?" The subsequent lines suggest a desire to escape or run away from the situation, with possibilities including going to family members' homes or hiding away in underground spaces or remote locations. The chorus offers an invitation to come with the singer, perhaps as a way of seeking comfort and companionship in times of trouble.
The rest of the song continues in a similar vein, with the singer offering a variety of options for where to go or what to do in the face of chaos or pain. These include going to the circus, building a birdhouse, or simply going to the river to "sink our bodies low." The lyrics also touch on darker themes such as poisoning fish or "killer culture," perhaps showing a sense of frustration or pessimism about the state of the world.
Overall, "Come With Me" seems to be a reflection on the challenges of navigating difficult times and the desire for someone to share that experience with. The imagery and language throughout the song create a sense of both confusion and hopefulness, with the repeated invitation to "come with me" serving as a beacon of connection and support.
Line by Line Meaning
Where you gonna go from where you've come?
What are your plans for the future?
Save your face and all your grace and run, and run
Preserve your dignity and image and escape
Maybe to your sister's, maybe to your mother's house
Perhaps seek refuge at a family member's home
Maybe lying naked on your brand new boyfriend's couch
Possibly indulge in a lover's comfort
Maybe underground where the germs won't get you
Potentially hide from sickness and contamination
Maybe to the hills where the dominoes won't hit you when they fall
Find safety in the mountains where disaster won't strike
Where you gonna go when it breaks?
What will you do when things fall apart?
Where you gonna go when it petrifies the lakes?
How will you react when your surroundings change drastically?
Maybe to the circus, maybe to the movie church
Consider escaping into entertainment or spiritual practices
Maybe build your birdhouse from this fallen yankee birch
Create something new out of the ruins
Maybe to the ocean where the storm is raging nigh
Head towards tumultuous situations
Maybe to the desert where you can't afford to cry
Go to a place where you must be emotionally strong
Why don't you come with me?
Join me on this journey
Where you gonna go when I'm gone?
What will you do when I'm no longer around?
Will you ever understand this song? This song...
Will you ever truly comprehend the message of this music?
Let's go to the river, we can sink our bodies low
Let's immerse ourselves in nature and forget our worries
And I can say what I have died to say - "Ho hum, o hi, hi ho..."
I can finally express what's been weighing on me
Maybe clown for president, pissing in the ditch
Consider absurd or radical actions
Maybe killer culture, maybe poisoning the fish
Think about negative effects of society
Why don't you come with me, with me...?
Please, join me on this adventure
Contributed by Arianna V. Suggest a correction in the comments below.