Formed by singer-songwriter Shane Howard in the late 1970s, they produced three full albums, and a very rare four song EP. The original name of the band was "The Goanna Band", which was the name used on the EP release in 1979. However, the original name was soon shortened to "Goanna" by the time that the album Spirit of Place was released in the early 1980s.
Goanna's debut album Spirit of Place won the ARIA Best Album of the Year for 1982, with their first major hit, "Solid Rock", winning Best Single of the Year. This song touched on the displacement of aboriginal tribes by the encroaching European settlers. It became a worldwide hit, and was the first rock record to feature extensive use of an Australian didgeridoo, one of the world's oldest wood instruments. Goanna also recorded "Let the Franklin Flow", a song about the ecological damage caused by damming Tasmania's Franklin River for hydroelectricity, and "Sorry", a song about Australia's stolen generation of aborigines.
Shane Howard and his bandmates, including sister Marcia Howard and friend Rose Bygrave, have all recorded solo projects in addition to their time in Goanna.
The members of the group do not rule out future Goanna recordings and have never officially disbanded. The 1998 album "Spirit Returns" is reportedly a result of the group's members desire to "get together" again and make a musical statement.
In October 2006, a number of Goanna's songs have been featured in the Triple M Essential 2006 Countdown of songs (which was voted and chosen by the listeners).
Stand Your Ground
Goanna Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
About the dues you been payin'
This old world is gettin' harder
To face every day
Oh, you better get off your pride
'Cuz there's nowhere left for you to hide
And it's gonna be hard
Stand your ground
Don't ever let nobody hold you down
Stand your ground
Don't ever let no one hold you down
It's a long lonely road
It takes a certain kind of man
To carry this load
And if you want it all you gotta do is try
So, get back on your feet
And get out in the street
Make somethin' of yourself
It's time to be a man
Stand your ground
Don't ever let nobody hold you down
Stand your ground
Don't ever let no one hold you down
Stand your ground
Don't ever let nobody hold you down
Stand your ground
Don't ever let no one hold you down
Stand your ground
Don't ever let nobody hold you down
Stand your ground
Don't ever let no one hold you down
Stand your ground
Don't ever let nobody hold you down
Stand your ground
Don't ever let no one hold you down
You got to stand your ground
Don't ever let nobody hold you down
You got to stand your ground
Don't ever let no one hold you down
Stand your ground
Don't ever let nobody hold you down
Stand your ground
Don't ever let no one hold you down
The lyrics of Goanna's song "Stand Your Ground" is all about finding the courage to face the challenges of everyday life. It acknowledges the hardships that people face in life and encourages them to keep going despite the odds. The opening lines speak to the feeling of being overwhelmed by the struggles of life and how it seems like the world is getting tougher with each passing day. The song acknowledges that it's tempting to hide from these difficulties and give up, but instead, it urges the listener to stand their ground and face the challenges head-on.
"Stand Your Ground” emphasizes personal responsibility and the idea that only you can make something of yourself. It speaks to the need to take control of one's life, to be proactive, and to fight against anyone or anything that gets in the way of personal growth. The lyrics talk about the importance of getting back on your feet and making something of yourself, whatever one’s personal goals might be. The overall message of the song is that life is hard, but with determination, strength, and courage, anyone can overcome the challenges they face.
Overall, "Stand Your Ground" is an empowering song that encourages listeners to face up to life's difficulties and work hard to overcome them while standing firm in their beliefs and personal goals.
Line by Line Meaning
If you're feelin' down
If you're feeling depressed and defeated
About the dues you been payin'
About the struggles and hardships you have been enduring
This old world is gettin' harder
The world is becoming more difficult to navigate
To face every day
To deal with every day
Oh, you better get off your pride
You need to put aside your ego
'Cuz there's nowhere left for you to hide
Because you can no longer conceal your struggles
And it's gonna be hard
And it will continue to be challenging
Just to make it through another day
Just to get through another day
Stand your ground
Stand up for yourself and your beliefs
Don't ever let nobody hold you down
Do not allow anyone to hinder or suppress you
It's a long lonely road
The journey ahead is arduous and solitary
It takes a certain kind of man
It requires a specific type of person
To carry this load
To bear the weight of these struggles
And if you want it all you gotta do is try
And if you want success, you simply have to put forth effort
So, get back on your feet
Get back up, stand tall
And get out in the street
Take action and be proactive
Make somethin' of yourself
Create a better life for yourself
It's time to be a man
It's time to be strong and resilient
You got to stand your ground
You have to hold your own and stay true to yourself
Don't ever let nobody hold you down
Do not let anyone restrain or constrain you
Don't ever let no one hold you down
Do not ever allow someone to suppress or oppress you
Writer(s): Shane Michael Howard
Contributed by Audrey T. Suggest a correction in the comments below.