It was Frank unmistakable talent for captivating an audience that first caught Gus’ eye. A late night jam session lead to their first joint composition, ‘Confessions of a Rooftop Killer’, and the song-writing partnership was born.
Their passion for song writing became all consuming over the next few years and they practically lived in their makeshift home studio (named ‘The Zudio’) recording and re-recording their songs. The duo would occasionally go to various open mic nights and play under the simple name of Gus & Frank. Over the next year they entertained punters from the Village Bell in St. Kilda to the Barley Corn in Collingwood. It was at one of these open mic nights that the duo caught the attention of Dick Vines, a man with a very real talent for being able to “sell ice to the Eskimos”. He urged the guys to “ditch the drum machine and get a ‘real’ band together,” and soon became the band’s manager.
Since then the 5-piece band (still named Gus and Frank) have invaded the music scene with an extraordinary mix of pulsing bass riffs, catchy melodies and mischievous vocals. Frank takes his audience on a mesmerising journey of “twisted tales of love gone wrong, psychotic serial killers and deviate fairytale characters.”
Gus and Frank’s cult following, which has been growing since their days at open mic nights, propelled their first single ‘So Entertaining’ to the top of request shows and music charts across the country including Triple J and Nova 100. The unusual support of an unsigned band brought a sell out tour and live performances on Channel Ten’s ‘The Panel’ and Channel V, among others. The band’s next three singles also achieved radio success and their album ‘Confessions of a Rooftop Killer’ became one of the highest selling independent releases of 2003. This success propelled ‘So Entertaining’ into Triple J’s Hottest 100.
In 2004 Gus and Frank released their second album ‘I’d Rather Be a Bass Player’. This album has the same fun attitude that fans have come to expect, but it also has a progression is sound that took the band to the next level The first single from the album, ‘Wonderful Life’ hit radio stations in march, leading to another successful national tour.
Coconuts
Gus And Frank Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Girls'
Have you ever been out walking on the street
And someone tries to touch you
Like you're a piece of meat
Have you ever been out dancin' in a club
And somebody beside you
Up on you and
You just want to say..hey
Get your hands off my Coconuts
'Cause I don't really like you that much
Keep your hands off my Coconuts
I don't know what gave you the idea that you could touch
Boys.
Have you ever been out surfing for the day
You try and do the pipeline
And get dumped by the wave
And later that night you party on the beach (ohh he hi he)
With all the pretty surfy girls oh yeah
You pick up good vibrations
Excitations
And then she turns to say..hey
Get your hands off my Coconuts
Cause I don't really like you that much
Keep your hands off my Coconuts
I don't know what gave you the idea that you could touch
Get your hands off my Coconuts
Cause I don't really like you that much
Keep your hands off my Coconuts
I don't know what gave you the idea that you could touch
Touch touch you can't touch
Get you hands off my Coconuts hands off my Coconuts hands off my Coconuts
Get you hands off my Coconuts hands off my Coconuts hands off my Coconuts
Three, four
(slap that bass funky boy)
Last night I got lucky for a change
But when she went for my coconuts
I knew something was strange
I said Lola you're very forward for a girl
The penny never dropped until
She tried to rub her body
up on me and
I just had to say'..
Lola lol lol lol lol lola
Lol lol lol lol lola
I don't know what gave you the idea
Get your hands off my Coconuts
Cause I don't really like you that much
Keep your hands off my Coconuts
I don't know what gave you the idea that you could touch
Get your hands off my Coconuts
Cause I don't really like you that much
Keep your hands off my Coconuts
I don't know what gave you the idea that you could touch
Touch touch you can't touch
Get your hands off my Coconuts hands off my Coconuts hands off my Coconuts
Get your hands off my Coconuts hands off my Coconuts hands off my Coconuts
Thankyou very much
Get your hands off my Coconuts
I don't really like you that much
Keep your god damn hands off my Coconuts
I don't know what gave you the idea that you could touch
Touch touch me you can't touch
Touch touch you can't touch
Ladies keep your hands off my coconuts
Frank get your hands off your coconuts
The lyrics of Coconuts by Gus and Frank touch upon the issue of unwanted advances and harassment faced by women on the streets and in clubs. It talks about how, despite asserting boundaries and saying "hey" or "get your hands off my coconuts," these advances still continue. The use of the term "coconuts" here is a metaphor for the female body and how it is viewed as an object that can be touched or handled without consent.
The song also switches perspectives and talks about how even men face unwanted sexual advances, but it is portrayed in a more lighthearted and humorous way. The line "Last night I got lucky for a change, but when she went for my coconuts, I knew something was strange" highlights how men too have to assert their boundaries when faced with unwanted advances.
Overall, the lyrics of this song have a serious underlying message that highlights the importance of respecting boundaries and consent, but the humorous and catchy tone of the song makes it a fun and enjoyable listen.
Line by Line Meaning
Girls' Have you ever been out walking on the street And someone tries to touch you Like you're a piece of meat
Have you ever been in a situation where a stranger on the street tries to touch or grope you without your consent, treating you like a mere object?
Have you ever been out dancin' in a club And somebody beside you Tries to rub their body Up on you and You just want to say..hey
Have you ever been dancing in a club and someone tries to inappropriately touch or rub against you despite your clear discomfort, and you feel like telling them to stop?
Get your hands off my Coconuts 'Cause I don't really like you that much Keep your hands off my Coconuts I don't know what gave you the idea that you could touch
This line is a direct message to the person who is touching or trying to touch, stating that the singer does not like them and finds their behavior unacceptable and inappropriate.
Boys. Have you ever been out surfing for the day You try and do the pipeline And get dumped by the wave And later that night you party on the beach (ohh he hi he) With all the pretty surfy girls oh yeah You pick up good vibrations Excitations And then she turns to say..hey
Have you ever gone surfing with the aim of hitting the 'pipeline' but ended up being caught and thrown down by the wave? Later at night, while partying with attractive surf girls, have you ever felt a surge of excitement, only to be rudely interrupted by one of them trying to inappropriately touch you?
Last night I got lucky for a change But when she went for my coconuts I knew something was strange I said Lola you're very forward for a girl The penny never dropped until She tried to rub her body up on me and I just had to say..Lola lol lol lol lol lola
The singer retells a story of a recent sexual encounter where the girl tried to touch his private parts, and he realized that something was off. He then mentions how he addressed the girl, whose name is Lola, for being forward and making him uncomfortable.
Thank you very much Get your hands off my Coconuts I don't really like you that much Keep your god damn hands off my Coconuts I don't know what gave you the idea that you could touch
The singer concludes the song by reiterating his stance on unwanted touching and harassment, telling everyone to keep their hands off his 'coconuts' and questioning why anyone would think it's okay to touch someone without their consent.
Touch touch you can't touch Get your hands off my Coconuts hands off my Coconuts hands off my Coconuts Get your hands off my Coconuts hands off my Coconuts hands off my Coconuts Ladies keep your hands off my coconuts Frank get your hands off your coconuts
These lines repeat the message of the song, emphasizing the importance of respecting personal boundaries and autonomy, and not engaging in unwanted touching or harassment. The last line, addressed to 'Frank,' is a humorous jab reminding everyone to keep their hands to themselves.
Contributed by Chase T. Suggest a correction in the comments below.