The group initally formed to compete in the National Campus Band Competition in 1997. Temperley and Quartermain were already in a band at the time, Freud's Pillow, but had met with little success and asked Temperley's childhood friend MacLeod to form a new band, which became Eskimo Joe. The band ended up winning the competition prize: a slot at the 1997 Livid Festival and a session in a studio to record their first EP, Sweater. The title track became so successful on national broadcaster Triple J, it gained much airplay and featured in the Hottest 100 of 1998. A second EP Eskimo Joe followed up in 1999.
Later in 1999, Eskimo Joe was signed on to Modular and in 2001, their debut album Girl, which went gold. After splitting with Modular, they signed a new contract with Mushroom in 2002, releasing sophomore album A Song is a City in 2004. The album went double-platinum and earned the group Best Artist the following year.
Settling down for six weeks over Christmas in 2005, the noticeably darker album Black Fingernails Red Wine, was recorded and released the following June, debuting at number one on the ARIA charts and later going platinum. The band (jokingly) described the album as their "stadium rock" record and headed out on extensive touring around the country, including a stint at Live Earth in Sydney.
The band eventually went on to tour the globe, with trips around the US and Europe, before recording their fourth album, Inshalla, in Byron Bay. The album was released in May 2009 and topped the charts at number one in the ARIA album charts. It explores a very different sound for Eskimo Joe, with lead singer Temperley saying the band were a stage where they wanted to do something different musically and also in their personal lives.
Forever Young
Eskimo Joe Lyrics
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Staring at the sun
Waiting for the night to come
So I can get things done
I cant wait for this no more
My eyes have come undone
If my star will ever rise
Let it be the only one
And if I see you waiting for the setting sun
It will never come
And if it ever comes, you're forever young
You're forever young
Ice is just a rememdy for pain and and rising heat
Hold it in your hands and watch the puddles from around your feet
And if you drink your water
It might just stop the pain
From dreaming of the fever drowning holes around your name
And if I see you waiting for the setting sun
It will never come
And if it ever comes, you're forever young
You're forever young
If you're scared about the future
I'm scared about the past
And if you're feeling ill, its 'cause the world to spinning fast
Yeah you're staring at the sun
Yeah you better all hold on
And watch the sky become the ground
Forever young
And if I see you waiting for the setting sun
It will never come
And if it ever comes, you're forever young
You're forever young
The lyrics of Eskimo Joe's song "Forever Young" depict the feeling of waiting for something that never seems to come. The singer has been waiting for too long, staring at the sun, hoping for the night to come so that he can get things done. He feels like he's been waiting for his star to rise forever and if it ever does, he hopes it will be the only one. However, as the song progresses, he realizes that what he's waiting for might never come, and it's time to let go and move on. The longing for something that might never come can be interpreted as a metaphor for the uncertainty and instability of life.
In the second verse, the lyrics introduce the symbolism of ice as a "remedy for pain and rising heat." The singer uses it to cope with the fever of not accomplishing anything, but he knows that it's not a permanent solution. Drinking water might alleviate the pain temporarily, but it's not a cure for the feeling of drowning in hopelessness. The imagery of the puddles forming around his feet and the fever drowning holes around his name reinforces the idea of the singer struggling and feeling trapped.
The chorus of the song ("And if I see you waiting for the setting sun... you're forever young") brings a sense of hope and optimism. The message seems to be that even if we're stuck in a state of waiting, even if the night never comes, there's a chance to stay young at heart and keep dreaming. The repeated use of the phrase "forever young" reinforces this idea, suggesting that youthfulness comes not from age but from a positive outlook on life.
Line by Line Meaning
I've been waiting for too long
I have been waiting for a considerable period of time
Staring at the sun
I have been gazing at the sun, possibly as a form of distraction or to pass the time
Waiting for the night to come
I am waiting for darkness to arrive so that I can be more productive
So I can get things done
I need this time in order to complete tasks or achieve goals
I can't wait for this no more
I am becoming impatient and can no longer tolerate this waiting period
My eyes have come undone
My eyes are tired and strained from staring for so long
If my star will ever rise
If I will ever achieve success or make progress
Let it be the only one
I hope that my success, when it comes, will be unique and unparalleled
Ice is just a remedy for pain and rising heat
Ice can be used as a treatment for discomfort or high temperatures
Hold it in your hands and watch the puddles from around your feet
By holding ice, you can observe the water formed as it melts, which can be a calming or interesting experience
And if you drink your water
If you consume the water created by melting ice
It might just stop the pain
It is possible that this action could alleviate discomfort
From dreaming of the fever drowning holes around your name
Perhaps from fantasizing about illness or negative events that affect one's reputation
If you're scared about the future
If you feel anxious or uneasy about what is to come
I'm scared about the past
I, too, feel worry or trepidation, but about events or experiences that have already occurred
And if you're feeling ill, it's 'cause the world to spinning fast
If you're feeling unwell or disoriented, it's likely because things are moving or changing quickly
Yeah you're staring at the sun
You, too, may be gazing at the sun for a prolonged period of time
Yeah you better all hold on
It is important that you remain steady and stable, despite the circumstances
And watch the sky become the ground
Observe the world as it undergoes transformation or unexpected shifts
And if I see you waiting for the setting sun
If I observe you waiting for the sun to go down in the evening
It will never come
It is unlikely that your desired outcome or resolution will occur
And if it ever comes, you're forever young
If by chance the sun does set, I wish for you to remain eternally youthful and free
You're forever young
May you never lose your spirit or passion, even as you grow older
Forever young
May you always maintain your sense of youthfulness and vitality
Contributed by Savannah D. Suggest a correction in the comments below.