Hoodoo Gurus (sometimes just shortened to 'Gurus') are an Australian rock b… Read Full Bio ↴Hoodoo Gurus (sometimes just shortened to 'Gurus') are an Australian rock band combining elements of seventies power pop, bubblegum pop, Beatle-esque harmonies, psychedelia and grungy garage rock. Guitarists Dave Faulkner, Rod Radalj, and Kimble Rendall were joined by drummer James Baker when the band formed in Sydney in 1981. Baker and Radalj had been members of Perth band The Scientists in 1977-79, while Baker had drummed with Faulkner and in another Perth band, The Victims, in 1978-79.

The original lineup was notable for having three guitars and no bass player, creating a distinctive, layered sound. Kimble Rendall left in 1982 before the release of their first single, Leilani, and went on to become a noted music video director. He was effectively replaced by bassist Clyde Bramley. Radalj was not happy with Rendall's departure or Faulkner's increasing influence, and left the band himself, to be replaced by one-time Fun Things guitarist Brad Shepherd. This line-up released the band's break-through first album, Stoneage Romeos, in 1984.

In 1998, the band officially split but reformed for occasional concerts in subsequent years. A full-fledged reunion came in 2004, when they released Mach Schau and began touring again. The band received another boost when Come Anytime (from 1989's Magnum Cum Louder) was used as the theme song to the Australian TV show Thank God You're Here.

Discography:
Stoneage Romeos (1984), Mars Needs Guitars! (1985), Blow Your Cool! (1987), Magnum Cum Louder (1989), Kinky (1991), Crank (1994), Blue Cave (1996), Mach Schau (2004), Purity of Essence (2010)

Compilations:
Electric Soup (1992), Gorilla Biscuit (1992), Electric Chair (1998), Armchair Gurus (1998), Bite The Bullet (1998), Ampology (2000)

All The Way
Hoodoo Gurus Lyrics

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Hey, hey, hey, take me all the way.
Maybe I've been leading you nowhere,
We won't know unto we arrive,
Either way we're certain of one thing.
We know we're alive.
Maybe I'm the wrong person for you,
(Wonder if I'll ever be right)
You won't wish for anyone better

Not after tonight.

Life could never teach me its lessons
(I knew the words but I couldn't spell)
Now you've taught me forwards and backwards,
I'm learning too well.
Do we care if anyone sees us-
We won't be the first or the last!
Make love wherever we please,
The sign says "keep off the grass"
So we sleep on the grass.

May be unkind
But baby, unwind.

You're too tight-
You can lose your grip tonight.

Overall Meaning

The Hoodoo Gurus's song All The Way is a provocative love song with lyrics that hint at seduction and lust. The opening line, "hey, hey, hey, take me all the way" sets the tone for the song which is all about living in the moment and taking risks, even if it means going against societal norms or breaking the law. The singer acknowledges that he may not have been leading his lover in the right direction but that it's too late to worry about that now. They are alive and that is all that matters. He wonders whether he is the right person for his lover and then quickly dismisses the question by saying that she won't need anyone else after tonight.

The second verse of the song suggests that the singer has learned some valuable lessons from his lover. He has been unable to spell the words that life taught him but his lover has helped him "learn forwards and backwards." The couple is not concerned about who sees them or where they make love, even if it means sleeping on the grass where the sign says "keep off the grass." The final lines of the song encourage his lover to let go and unwind, to lose her grip tonight.

Overall, the song is about passion, desire, and the thrill of living in the moment. It encourages listeners to take risks, to be open to new experiences, and to let go of their inhibitions. The lyrics are poetic and evocative, drawing the listener into a world of sensuality and abandon.

Line by Line Meaning

Hey, hey, hey, take me all the way.
I want to go all the way with you tonight.

Maybe I've been leading you nowhere,
I may have been unreliable in the past.

We won't know unto we arrive,
We won't know until we get there.

Either way we're certain of one thing.
We know we're alive.

Maybe I'm the wrong person for you,
I may not be the right match for you.

(Wonder if I'll ever be right)
I wonder if I'll ever be right for you.

You won't wish for anyone better
You won't want anyone better than me.

Not after tonight.
Especially after what we'll experience tonight.

Life could never teach me its lessons
I could never learn life's lessons.

(I knew the words but I couldn't spell)
I knew what to do, but I didn't know how to do it.

Now you've taught me forwards and backwards,
You've taught me everything I need to know.