Their 1980 debut album The Boys Light Up had a number of hit singles including the title track; "Indisposed"; and "Beautiful People". The Boys Light Up appeared on the Aussie charts for 104 weeks. In 1981 the band released their second album, Sirocco. This album contained the hits "Lakeside", "Things Don't Seem" and "Errol", a song written about the Australian actor Errol Flynn. It was produced by Peter Dawkins in Sydney.
In 1982 they released the Sons of Beaches album. The album was recorded in Hawaii with producer Mike Chapman. The album featured the hit "Shutdown" and it became their third album in a row to reach the top five in the Australian charts.
Soon afterwards Bill McDonough left the band. The remaining members then recorded the EP Semantics. The EP contained what would become possibly their best-known song, "Reckless".
The first of two deaths in the group came in 1984 when Guy McDonough died in Melbourne of viral pneumonia secondary to endocarditis due to intravenous amphetamine use. "From Simon Binks: Incorrect and libellous. You'd better hope Bill doesn't see this. Guy died after receiving intravenous vitamin supplements from a naturopath friend of ours to overcome a curious fatigue".
The band recorded their final studio album, Between A Rock And A Hard Place, in 1985.
Tensions within the band caused them to disband in 1986. Performing a final concert on 27 January 1986, the concert was recorded and released under the title The Final Wave.
In seven years, Australian Crawl sold over a million records in Australia. After the group disbanded, Reyne went on to pursue a successful solo career. Robinson moved into a career in television (with Network Ten's Page One) and documentaries; in the 1990s he became the manager for the Reyne brothers, James and David. (David had been the drummer in Reyne and Binks' first band, Spiff Roach.) "From Simon Binks: No. David never played in Spiff Rouch. Bill filled those shoes. David was the first drummer in Australian Crawl."
After a three-year battle with lymphoma, Robinson died on 13 October 1996. The band was inducted into the Australian Record Industry Association (ARIA) Hall of Fame in 1996, just before Robinson's death.
In 2002 EMI released a two-CD Greatest Hits package called Australian Crawl: James Reyne, The Definitive Collection, which contained songs from the band and from James Reyne's solo career.
"All the names on the picture in this forum are wrong. You have me labelled as James Reyne. Simon Binks"
"Thank you for your corrections Mr Binks - I thought I was mistaken but realise I was right.
Errol
Australian Crawl Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
It just won't rate
He want to get higher
Apple isle, the inbred smile
He's gonna get by'a
His mother's hand
He could not stand
He left for the islands
To take a punt
The new guinea highlands
Chorus
Oh errol I would give
Everything, just to be like him
He had to go
The sirocco
He's sailin' the high seas
Hollywood, captain blood
He's billing the nazi's
Took a rebel stand
With the contraband
Coast of Mexico
He want to pounce
Like an animal
To girls he just can't say no
Chorus
He had them all
Screamin' for more
He play the wild scene
Ah scandalize, no comprise
He's down on his knees
Swashbuckling
He was the king
The toast of tinsel town
They build him up
They took it all
And they just cut him down
Chorus
The lyrics to Australian Crawl's song "Errol" tell the story of a rebellious and adventurous man named Errol. The song takes us through Errol's journey from his hometown in Tasmania, where he just can't seem to fit in with the locals, to his travels across the world to Hollywood where he becomes a big name in the film industry, but ultimately falls from grace. The first verse talks about Tasmania, which was once a convict state, and how Errol feels like he doesn't fit in there, hence "it just won't rate." He yearns for a life beyond the Apple Isle and sets out to explore the world.
In the second verse, Errol takes to the seas to travel to Hollywood, where he becomes a big name, starring in films like "Captain Blood." However, he also gets involved in scandalous behavior, including billing the Nazis in Germany, and taking a rebel stand with contraband on the coast of Mexico. Despite all this, he still has women chasing after him and the chorus expresses the singer's desire to be like him, willing to give up everything to be as adventurous as Errol.
The final verse reveals that Errol's success in Hollywood was short-lived, as they build him up only to cut him down. He falls from grace and is left down on his knees, swashbuckling no more. The song seems to celebrate Errol's adventurous spirit, but also serves as a cautionary tale about the price of fame and infamy.
Line by Line Meaning
Convict state
New South Wales is known as the "convict state" because it was used as a penal colony.
It just won't rate
Despite this, it is not viewed as highly as other Australian states.
He want to get higher
Errol wants to achieve more and become famous.
Apple isle, the inbred smile
Tasmania is known as the "apple isle" and has been stereotyped as being inbred.
He's gonna get by'a
Errol is confident he can survive and make his way in the world.
His mother's hand
Errol had a difficult relationship with his mother.
He could not stand
He couldn't continue living with her and had to leave.
He left for the islands
Errol left Australia for the Pacific Islands.
To fish and hunt
Errol enjoyed fishing and hunting as hobbies.
To take a punt
He took risks and gambled on his future success.
The new guinea highlands
Errol spent time in the highlands of Papua New Guinea learning about the local culture.
Chorus
The chorus reflects the admiration people had for Errol and their desire to emulate his success.
He had to go
Errol felt restless and had to keep moving.
The sirocco
A hot, dusty wind that blows from North Africa across the Mediterranean Sea to Italy. Errol is caught up in the romanticism of the idea.
He's sailin' the high seas
Errol travels frequently by sea, which adds to his adventurous spirit.
Hollywood, captain blood
Errol successfully makes it to Hollywood and stars in the movie "Captain Blood" which makes him famous.
He's billing the nazi's
Errol takes part in making propaganda films for the Allies against the Nazis in World War II.
Took a rebel stand
Errol is a non-conformist and takes a stand against the norm.
With the contraband
He is involved in smuggling illegal goods.
Coast of Mexico
Errol spends time in Mexico enjoying its wild and adventurous spirit.
He want to pounce
Errol is attracted to women and acts aggressively with them.
Like an animal
He behaves like an animal, driven purely by his instincts and desires.
To girls he just can't say no
Errol is unable to resist the advances of women.
Chorus
Same as before.
He had them all
Errol was very popular with women.
Screamin' for more
They wanted more of him and were not satisfied with just one encounter.
He play the wild scene
Errol indulges in a wild and hedonistic lifestyle, partying and acting recklessly.
Ah scandalize, no comprise
Errol doesn't care about the scandal and controversy he generates and refuses to change his ways.
He's down on his knees
The pressure of his lifestyle and work takes a toll on Errol.
Swashbuckling
An adventurous and flamboyant way of behaving. Errol embodies this image through his acting roles and adventurous lifestyle.
He was the king
Errol was the king of Hollywood, living the celebrity lifestyle.
The toast of tinsel town
Tinsel town is a nickname for Hollywood. Errol was highly celebrated and revered in Hollywood.
They build him up
The Hollywood machine built Errol up to be a star and highly successful.
They took it all
However, his fame and fortune were short-lived.
And they just cut him down
Errol's controversial lifestyle and run-ins with the law led to his downfall and eventual decline in popularity.
Chorus
Same as before.
Lyrics © Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: GUY MCDONOUGH, JAMES MICHAEL REYNE, MICHAEL REYNE JAMES
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind