A second EP, Atoms, was released in September 2011 and featured the single "Pogo." It featured production work from Morrissey, Berkfinger (Philadelphia Grand Jury) and Sean Caskey. The band received attention on Triple J Unearthed, and were selected to play the Gold Coast leg of the 2012 Big Day Out. The band released a new single, Fuck It, in 2012; as well as touring with bands such as Bleeding Knees Club, DZ Deathrays, Children Collide and Violent Soho. 2013 saw the release of the band's third EP, Smile. The EP featured the single "Red Light, Green Light," for which a one-take video was made where the band re-enacted the DZ Deathrays video for "The Mess Up," replacing their beer-sculling with bong-smoking. The video has picked up over 250 thousand views. The band also picked up international support slots for acts such as The Hives, Best Coast and FIDLAR; the latter of whom they toured with through the US as well. They were also invited to perform at SXSW in Austin, Texas; as well as a tour of South-East Asia.
The band's debut self-titled LP was released via the band's own label, Ratbag Records, on June 1, 2014. It was supported by a world tour. Two new singles, "Bullshit" and "Scott Green," were released in 2016. Both entered the triple j Hottest 100 of that year and featured on the band's second studio album, The Kids Will Know It's Bullshit. The album was released on January 20 2017, and debuted at #1 on the ARIA charts.
After an extensive world tour, the band returned with three new singles in 2019: 'No Plans,' 'Rubber Arm' and 'Crazy.' All three were featured on the band's third studio album, Hurry Up And Wait. The album was released on January 31 2020. Like its predecessor, it also debuted at #1.
Burning Bridges
Dune Rats Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Up and down, here we go again
oooh oooh
again
oooh oooh
All we know is what we're told,
big and bold, everything's pretend
pretend
oooh oooh
Burning bridges down,
ahhh
burning bridges down,
burning bridges down,
round and round, right way round
up and down, here we go again
oooh oooh
again
oooh oooh
The lyrics of Dune Rats's Burning Bridges can be interpreted in different ways, but one possible meaning could be about the cyclical nature of our lives and how we keep repeating similar patterns and behaviors without really breaking free from them. The lines "Round and round, right way round / Up and down, here we go again" suggest a sense of repetition and routine that can sometimes feel monotonous or frustrating. The "ahhh" in "Burning bridges down, ahhh" could signify a release of tension or an attempt to break away from this cycle.
The second verse adds another layer to the interpretation, as it introduces the idea of societal expectations and norms that may not reflect reality. The line "All we know is what we're told / big and bold, everything's pretend" could be referring to the way we absorb information and beliefs from our environment without necessarily questioning them, or to the way certain narratives and ideologies are presented as absolute truths. This could reinforce the feeling of being stuck in a cycle of illusions and expectations that don't align with our own experiences and desires.
Overall, Burning Bridges seems to be a commentary on the challenges of finding meaning and authenticity in a world that often feels predetermined and artificial. The repeated lines and the catchy melody could also be interpreted as a way of acknowledging the paradox of wanting to break free from routine while also being drawn to familiar patterns and habits.
Line by Line Meaning
Round and round, right way round
Life is cyclical and things tend to repeat themselves.
Up and down, here we go again
Life is full of ups and downs and we often find ourselves in the same situation over and over again.
oooh oooh
Vocal sound effect with no specific meaning.
All we know is what we're told,
We often believe what we're told and fail to question things.
big and bold, everything's pretend
We tend to glorify things that are not necessarily true and real.
oooh oooh
Vocal sound effect with no specific meaning.
pretend
The world is not as it seems and people often put up a facade.
Burning bridges down, ahhh burning bridges down, burning bridges down,
We tend to hurt people and destroy relationships when we move on to the next phase of our lives.
round and round, right way round up and down, here we go again oooh oooh again oooh oooh
Reiterating the idea that life is cyclical and we often find ourselves in the same situation again and again.
Writer(s): Brett Jansch, Daniel Moffit, Michael Bylund-Cloonan
Contributed by Gabriella N. Suggest a correction in the comments below.