Axle Whitehead left the VCA (Victorian College of Arts) in 2001 to pursue h… Read Full Bio ↴Axle Whitehead left the VCA (Victorian College of Arts) in 2001 to pursue his career in jazz. Whilst studying there he developed a fantastic rapport with Bob and Steve Sedergreen, with whom he has worked closely ever since. The Sedergreens introduced him to musicians such as David Jones, Matt Clohesy and Ted Vining. Axle found himself playing around Melbourne clubs, Dizzy's and Bennett's Lane. He gained a reputation for being, "Melbourne's hot new male vocalist, taking audiences by storm," (Dizzy's program July 2002.). He was booked for Festivals and Openings such as Melbourne Int. Jazz Fest and Port Fairy Fest. Playing gigs along side Deborah Conway and Killing Heidi enhanced Axle's reputation. Axle has a real, "Let's take a risk attitude", (AGE 6th Aug) towards his music.
He is not afraid to push the boundaries and break new ground with his improvisation. He brings "original and spontaneous elements into an engaging vocal delivery." (Port Fairy Mus. Fest. Oct 02') You can expect his repertoire to range anywhere between a re-arranged Rodgers and Hart standard, to personally interpreted Sting or Stevie Wonder tunes. You'll always be in for an exciting and fresh night of jazz, "Watch a star in the making." (Dizzy's, Dec 02')

Axle has also embarked on an acting career - his roles include "The Secret Life of Us", "Stingers" and feature films such as "Ned Kelly" with Heath Ledger and Geoffrey Rush. Not too long ago, Axle has hosted the World Aids Day Concert at Federation Square as well as head-lined the concert with The Axle Whitehead Project. Now known as The Axle Whitehead Band

Landslide
Axle Whitehead Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

You've got a big heart
a short fuse
you always win
but proclaim that you'll probably lose
you've got big dreams
and big sceams
you're short on patiens
and it always seems

Like you've been caught in a landslide
for way too long
it brings you down to me
and you've been caught in a landslide
it brings you down
and pulls you back to me

You've had a
hard day
you can't say
what it was that propelled you to feel that way

you walk fine lines
live on? side
you start a fire when you know it's probably not right

Like you've been caught in a landslide
for way too long
it brings you down to me
and you've been caught in a landslide
it brings you down
and pulls you back to me

nobody knows what it's like x2

I've got a soft place
a hard case
for holding on when you're beginning to lose your way (?)
and though you might not hold on tight
whe're going nowhere but I know that will be alright

Like you've been caught in a landslide
for way too long
it brings you down to me
and you've been caught in a landslide

it brings you down
and pulls you back to me

Overall Meaning

In “Landslide”, Axle Whitehead describes a person with a big heart and big dreams who often feels caught in a landslide, weighed down by their own ambition and impatience. The person in question has a short fuse and tends to start fires even when it might not be the right thing to do. They are caught in a cycle of highs and lows, of proclamations of victory contrasted with feelings of defeat. They are always striving for something bigger and better, but getting caught up in their own ambition and losing their focus in the process. Ultimately, the singer of the song provides a soft place for this person to land, someone who will hold on to them even when they are beginning to lose their way.

The metaphor of a landslide is a powerful one, suggesting both the power of the person's ambitions (like a landslide, they are impossible to stop) and the sense of being overwhelmed and out of control. The repeated use of the word “caught” reinforces this feeling of being trapped, while the line “you start a fire when you know it's probably not right” speaks to the self-destructive nature of this person's behavior. Overall, the song is a poignant commentary on the struggle to balance ambition and patience, and the need for someone to provide a soft place to land when things feel like they are out of control.

Line by Line Meaning

You've got a big heart
You're very generous and caring

a short fuse
You get angry easily

you always win
You're very competitive and often emerge victorious

but proclaim that you'll probably lose
You doubt your abilities despite your successes

you've got big dreams
You aspire for great things

and big screams
You express your emotions loudly and forcefully

you're short on patience
You easily get frustrated and have a low tolerance for delays or mistakes

and it always seems
It often appears to you as if

Like you've been caught in a landslide
You feel overwhelmed and trapped

for way too long
For an extended period of time

it brings you down to me
It makes you feel low and downhearted