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)
Death In the Afternoon
Hoodoo Gurus Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Oh no, it seems to me to be so inhuman
Death in the afternoon
I guess we all should have seen it coming.
Everybody's always saying things are changing
(And not a minute too soon)
I've been looking Å?round but only see the same thing.
Death in the afternoon
Oh no, there's murder in the hearts of many
And blood on the hands of few,
Oh no, and the pity is, there isn't any.
In a carnival that never, ever closes
There's no shortage of faceless victims
Sure it's a freak show but, honey, ain't that showbiz.
Convince yourself you're so different.
You are.
Human suffering makes good entertainment
If you can package it all up neatly
Let all the media boys make the arrangements
The truth gets covered completely.
Death in the afternoon
And it's coast-to-coast on all the networks
And into your living room
The ancient Romans took out all the guesswork.
The Hoodoo Gurus' "Death in the Afternoon" is a song that reflects on the pervasiveness of death and murder in contemporary society. The song opens with the line, "Oh no, it seems to me to be so inhuman." This line imparts a sense of shock and disbelief at the inhumanity of the acts of violence that are taking place. The line that follows, "I guess we all should have seen it coming," suggests that the violence is not a recent development, but rather something that has been gradually building up over time.
The song's chorus, "Death in the afternoon," serves as a refrain that reinforces the sense of unease and sorrow that permeates the lyrics. The song goes on to criticize societal attitudes that allow for such violence to occur. "Human suffering makes good entertainment," the lyrics point out. "If you can package it all up neatly / Let all the media boys make the arrangements / The truth gets covered completely." These lines allude to how the media and entertainment industry sensationalize violence and overlook its tragic consequences.
One of the crucial themes of "Death in the Afternoon" is the idea that violence, despite its heinous nature, has become a prevalent feature of modern life. In the Hoodoo Gurus' view, this reflects a larger malaise that has engulfed society. The song serves as a poignant reminder of the need for compassion, empathy, and human decency.
Line by Line Meaning
Death in the afternoon
The occurrence of death during the daytime
Oh no, it seems to me to be so inhuman
The presence of death during daytime feels inhumane
Death in the afternoon
The occurrence of death during the daytime
I guess we all should have seen it coming.
The occurrence of death during daytime was predictable
Everybody's always saying things are changing
People often talk about change
(And not a minute too soon)
But change hasn't come yet
I've been looking Å?round but only see the same thing.
Despite looking around, everything appears the same
Another death in the afternoon.
Another instance of death during the daytime
Death in the afternoon
The occurrence of death during the daytime
Oh no, there's murder in the hearts of many
Many people have the desire to commit murder
And blood on the hands of few,
But only a few are actually responsible for violent acts
Oh no, and the pity is, there isn't any.
Sadly, there seems to be no cure for this cycle of violence
In a carnival that never, ever closes
The never-ending cycle of violence is like an ongoing carnival
There's no shortage of faceless victims
Many innocent people become victims of violence
Sure it's a freak show but, honey, ain't that showbiz.
This violent spectacle may be a freak show, but it's also entertainment for some people
Convince yourself you're so different.
People often fool themselves into thinking they're above the violence
You are.
But everyone is susceptible to the violence
Human suffering makes good entertainment
People enjoy watching others suffer
If you can package it all up neatly
Entertainment companies can profit by packaging violence as entertainment
Let all the media boys make the arrangements
Media outlets help to spread the violent spectacle
The truth gets covered completely.
But the reality of the situation is obscured in the process
Death in the afternoon
The occurrence of death during the daytime
And it's coast-to-coast on all the networks
The news of the violence spreads far and wide
And into your living room
The violence is brought into people's homes
The ancient Romans took out all the guesswork.
This kind of spectacle is not new, it dates back to the time of the ancient Romans
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: DAVE FAULKNER
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind