Frenzal Rhomb is an Australian punk rock band that formed in 1992, in Sydne… Read Full Bio ↴Frenzal Rhomb is an Australian punk rock band that formed in 1992, in Sydney, Australia. A long-standing institution in Sydney music scene but with a national and international base of fans, Frenzal have consistently nurtured new generations of young fans through endless touring, festival appearances and all ages shows. With a sound that is most often characterized as 'California pop/punk', the band is overtly left-wing political and known for their humorous, savage and insightful lyrics. The band's current lineup is Jason Whalley (vocals), Lindsay McDougall (guitar), Tom Crease (bass) and Gordy Foreman (drums).

For a couple of years, Jay and Lindsay (The Doctor) had a daily show on Australia's Triple J radio station. Although Jay left in 2009, The Doctor continues to have various roles on ABC radio and television.

All original members except Jason have been replaced. Ben, the original guitarist, supposedly left to become an animal rights activist. Nat, the drummer, left to focus on another band, Quadbox. Lex, the bass player left under controversial circumstances. This lead the band to consider changing their name. They even posted a press release suggesting that they would take over the name Shihad, which had been vacated by the New Zealand hard rock band in the wake of the September 11 attacks in 2001.

Jay also spent time as the bass player for Nancy Vandal under the name Jason Jason Beers, a play on Gary Gary Beers from INXS.

The band famously antagonized Today-FM breakfast show hosts Kyle and Jackie-O, starting at a festival in Darwin and ending in an on-air phone interview with Jay. With the exchange being documented by Media Watch. (see here and here)

Frenzal Rhomb's first EP 'Dick Sandwich' was produced in bassy grunge style and included a cover of the theme to 'Home and Away', a popular but uncool Australian serial drama; as well as a song about Roger Climpson, a TV news presenter. Their seminal album Coughing up a Storm followed. The original version, which included an abusive and threatening voicemail as its secret track, is now out of print.

The band's records have been released through a variety of labels in Australia and most notably Fat Wreck Chords internationally.

There's Your Dad
Frenzal Rhomb Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

We're on line and we're fine but we're out of time
Not a crime, it's a sign by the grace of god goes I
Could it be that you see one of your family insanity
Affecting the paternity of your family tree

There's your dad
Look at him over there, he's looking sad.

Getting round, round the town, now you're going down
To that place it's the case you barely recognise the face
There he is, looking in to the garbage bin
With a grin, he's not so thin.
Could it be, that it's plain to see... a lobotomy

There's your dad
Look at him over there, he's looking sad.

There's your dad
Why don't you go and talk to him, he's not that bad

Dad

If you haven't the time when he's running wild to
To confide in the man that has got the master plan
Well you won't be alone you'll have kids of your own

And then what's to be said when you have
To rest your head on a newspaper bed

Overall Meaning

The lyrics to Frenzal Rhomb's "There's Your Dad" explore the complex and often painful relationship between a child and their father. The song begins by establishing a sense of urgency; "we're online and we're fine but we're out of time." This line suggests that the singer and the person they are addressing are busy or distracted, and that they need to address something before it's too late. The next line, "not a crime, it's a sign by the grace of god goes I," is a powerful reminder that none of us are perfect and that we can all become victims of circumstance.

As the song progresses, the lyrics become increasingly bleak. The singer suggests that the person they are addressing may be dealing with a family member who is suffering from "insanity." This line is particularly impactful because it suggests that mental illness - something that is often stigmatized and misunderstood - can have a profound impact on families and their ability to function. The lyric "affecting the paternity of your family tree" is a clever play on words, as it can be interpreted as a literal reference to the person's father, or as a metaphor for the larger family dynamics that may have been disrupted by mental illness.

As the song comes to a close, the lyrics paint a vivid picture of a father who has fallen on hard times. He is depicted as a shadow of his former self, "looking in to the garbage bin with a grin, he's not so thin." The reference to a possible lobotomy is particularly haunting, as it suggests that the father may have had to undergo an extreme medical procedure in order to deal with his mental health issues.

Overall, "There's Your Dad" is a powerful and emotionally charged song that tackles some difficult subject matter. The lyrics are raw and unflinching, and they showcase Frenzal Rhomb's unique ability to explore complex themes through their music.

Line by Line Meaning

We're on line and we're fine but we're out of time
We're doing okay, but we know that time is running out for us.

Not a crime, it's a sign by the grace of god goes I
Our situation might not be criminal, but it's a clear sign that it could happen to anyone.

Could it be that you see one of your family insanity
Is it possible that you're seeing a family member's mental illness at play?

Affecting the paternity of your family tree
Potentially altering the family history and lineage.

There's your dad
Your father is present here and now.

Look at him over there, he's looking sad.
He appears to be unhappy and upset.

Getting round, round the town, now you're going down
You're moving around the city and heading to a specific location.

To that place it's the case you barely recognise the face
When you get there, you might not even recognize the person's face.

There he is, looking in to the garbage bin
Your father is visible, searching through the trash.

With a grin, he's not so thin.
Despite his smile, he doesn't look very healthy or well-fed.

Could it be, that it's plain to see... a lobotomy
Is it possible that he's had a lobotomy (surgery that affects the brain)? It seems like it could be obvious.

Why don't you go and talk to him, he's not that bad
You should try speaking with your dad. He may not be as bad as he seems.

If you haven't the time when he's running wild to
If you don't have the time to talk to him when he's acting out,

To confide in the man that has got the master plan
To confide in your father, who might have a plan.

Well you won't be alone you'll have kids of your own
If you don't connect with your father, you might end up in the same situation with your own children.

And then what's to be said when you have
What will happen if and when...

To rest your head on a newspaper bed
You have to sleep on a bed made of newspapers (possibly homeless or down on your luck).

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