Daryl Braithwaite is an Australian pop and rock singer-songwriter who rose … Read Full Bio ↴Daryl Braithwaite is an Australian pop and rock singer-songwriter who rose to fame in the successful 70s band Sherbet. He went on to have a number of massive solo hits in the late 80s and early 90s as he explored a more smooth, adult contemporary influenced sound. "One Summer" and "The Horses" continue to be widely played. Daryl's 'Rise' album also became Australia's highest selling album of the year in 1991.

Howzat
Daryl Braithwaite Lyrics

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You told me I was the one
The only one who got your head undone
And for a while I believed the line that you spun

But I've been looking at you
Looking closely at the things you do
I didn't see it the way you wanted me to

How how howzat
You messed about
I caught you out
Howzat
Now that I found where you're at
It's goodbye
Well howzat
It's goodbye

You only came for a smile
Even though you're really not my style
I didn't think that you'd run me 'round
Like you do

How how howzat
You messed about
I caught you out
Howzat
Now that I found where you're at
It's goodbye
Well howzat
It's goodbye
Aha
O yeah, oh yeah

Well I've been looking at you
(I'll tell you what I see)
Looking closely at the things you do
(No you can't fool me)
I didn't see it the way you wanted me to

How how howzat
You messed about
I caught you out
Howzat
Now that I found where you're at
It's goodbye

Howzat
You messed about
I caught you out
Howzat
Now that I found where you're at
It's goodbye
Well howzat

Goodbye
Oh yeah, oh yeah

Overall Meaning

The song Howzat by Daryl Braithwaite tells the story of a person who has been deceived by their lover. At the beginning of the song, the singer portrays the idea that they were the only person who got their lover's head undone - which implies that their love was genuine - however, as time went on, they began to see things that they weren't supposed to see. They eventually caught their lover red-handed, doing something that they shouldn't be doing, and that was it. As a result, the singer decides to bid their lover farewell.

The chorus repeats the phrase 'Howzat,' which is a term used in the game of cricket to ask for an appeal to the umpire to declare the opposing player out. Therefore, by using the term, the singer is asking the lover to explain themselves and why they behaved in such a way. The song represents the betrayal and regret of being deceived by someone that one loves.

Line by Line Meaning

You told me I was the one
You made me believe that I was the only one that mattered to you

The only one who got your head undone
I was the only one who made you feel that way

And for a while I believed the line that you spun
I trusted you for some time until I realized that it was all a lie

But I've been looking at you
Now, I'm closely scrutinizing your actions

Looking closely at the things you do
I'm paying very close attention to the things that you're doing

I didn't see it the way you wanted me to
I'm not falling for your manipulations anymore

How how howzat
What do you have to say for yourself?

You messed about
You cheated on me

I caught you out
I found out about your infidelity

Now that I found where you're at
Now that I know the truth about you

It's goodbye
This is the end of our relationship