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.
Reckless
Australian Crawl Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Where the the pontoons bump and spray
I see the others reading, standing
As the Manly Ferry cuts its way to Circular Quay
Hear the Captain blow his whistle
So long shes been away
I miss our early morning wrestle
Not a very Happy way to start the day
Chorus
So, throw down your guns
Don't be so reckless
Throw down your guns
Don't be so
Feel like Scott of the Antarctic
Base camp too far away
A Russian sub beneath the Arctic
Burke and Wills and camels
Initials in the tree
She doesn't like That kind of behaviour x 2
Chorus
The song "Reckless" by Australian Crawl is a ballad-like track that tells the story of a man who is missing his partner while waiting at the jetty landing, and reminiscing about their past moments together. The song starts with the singer asking his partner to meet him at the jetty landing, where they used to spend their time together, and where he sees other people enjoying themselves while reading and standing. The Manly ferry comes in, and the captain blows his whistle, reminding him of how long his partner has been away. He mentions how he misses their early morning wrestle, which used to be their way to start the day, but it seems like his partner doesn't appreciate that kind of behavior anymore.
In the chorus, he urges his partner to throw down her guns and not be so reckless. He compares himself to Scott of the Antarctic, who had to travel too far away from the base camp, and mentions a Russian sub beneath the Arctic, Burke and Wills, and camels' initials in the tree. The singer refers to all these events as reckless and wants his partner to change her behavior.
Line by Line Meaning
Meet me down by the jetty landing
Let us meet by the dock where boats are docked
Where the pontoons bump and spray
Where the landing gear hits hard against the water and creates a splash
I see the others reading, standing
I observe the rest of the people, consuming written material while they stand still
As the Manly Ferry cuts its way to Circular Quay
As the commuter boat travels with speed towards city center
Hear the Captain blow his whistle
Hear the boat captain making an announcement with his instrument
So long shes been away
It has been quite a while since she was last here
I miss our early morning wrestle
I long for our physical engagement that we used to have in the mornings
Not a very Happy way to start the day
It is not particularly a joyful way to commence the day
She don't like That kind of behaviour x 2
She does not approve of that form of activity
Throw down your guns
Stop fighting for once
Don't be so reckless
Don't take unwarranted risks
Throw down your guns
Leave your weapons behind
Feel like Scott of the Antarctic
I feel abandoned in the frozen wilderness, just like Scott of the Antarctic
Base camp too far away
The only shelter we have is too far out of reach
A Russian sub beneath the Arctic
A Russian submarine lurking underneath the frozen ocean
Burke and Wills and camels, initials in the tree
References to the famous Australian explorers and their expeditions
She doesn't like That kind of behaviour x 2
She disapproves of such practices
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
G. Master
Lyrics
Meet me down by the jetty landing
Where the the pontoons bump and sway
I see the others reading, standing
As the Manly Ferry cuts its way to Circular Quay
Hear the Captain blow his whistle
So long she's been away
I miss our early morning wrestle
Not a very Happy way to start the day
She don't like
That kind of behaviour
She don't like
That kind of behaviour
So, throw down your guns
Don't be so reckless
Throw down your guns
Don't be so
Feel like Scott of the Antarctic
Base camp too far away
A Russian sun beneath the Arctic
Burke and Wills and camels
Initials in the tree
She don't like
That kind of behaviour
She don't like
That kind of behaviour
So, throw down your guns
Don't be so reckless
Throw down your guns
Don't be so
Source: George Conrad
leokimvideo
Powerful Australian song that as a kid I really never listened to the lyrics. As time marches forward the true beauty of the song reveals.
The Canberean
Well said
Jon Naughton
As an adult, I still can't understand most of the lyrics.... 😜
The Canberean
@Jon Naughton I posted them in the comments somewhere.
steve waddams
@Jon Naughton Old git, I hear ya..... :)
Michael Butler
I agree with you mate. Cheers from an Aussie now living across the ditch!!
Richard Hendersen
US born and raised and this is one of the most chilling and powerful songs I’ve ever heard in my life. This song resonates through my soul even when I just think of the lyrics in my head. I wish more people knew it.
ThatPanamaHatLife
I grew up with this as a teenager in the 80s. Believe me, we had NO idea how good this music was. It was just normal at the time for us.... 😁
Mick Owens
As a 15 yo this song and band blended in nicely with all the music we had to put up with. As a father I had to damage my children too and they have started damaging my grand children with this stuff
HimHeMe
Well said