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)
Down On Me
Hoodoo Gurus Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
And it's starting to tell.
Want to stand up and yell
(I wish I had a soul to sell)
All I see is down on me,
I don't need down on me,
Everybody is down on me,
Ain't it always the way
How people treat you today
Fuck you over and say,
"Now go and have a real nice day!"
They must be down on me,
Can't you see down on me,
I don't need them down on me
Let me breathe, stop drowning me.
They must be down on me,
He and she down on me,
My family is down on me,
Even Mr. T is down on me!
'Cause I´m doing it tough
I thought of turning to drugs
But there is never enough
To keep my problems beneath the rug.
L-S-D down on me
P-C-P down on me
T-H-C down on me
M-S-G down on me
X-T-C down on me
F-A-B down on me
R-I-P down on me
M-T-V go down on me
Hoodoo Gurus' song "Down On Me" explores the feelings of an individual who is facing a tough time in their life. The lyrics convey the burden that often comes with personal struggles and the impact that this has on one's emotional health. The first verse opens with the singer lamenting their current predicament, indicating that they're going through a tough time, and the effects are beginning to manifest in their mood. The line "Want to stand up and yell (I wish I had a soul to sell)," suggests that the individual is feeling so low that they would sell their soul to alleviate their pain.
The chorus, "All I see is down on me, I don't need down on me, everybody is down on me, get out of my tree, stop crowding me," further indicates that the individual is feeling overwhelmed and perceives people being against them. The "get out of my tree" line, in particular, is reminiscent of someone feeling like they're being crowded out and have no breathing space.
The second verse continues to build on the theme of being downtrodden, highlighting how people can treat others poorly and still expect them to have a good day, which feels very hypocritical. The bridge lists various drugs and the impact that they have on the individual, with the repeated phrase "down on me," further emphasising the depressive state of the singer.
Overall, this song conveys a sense of fatigue, emotional exhaustion and the feeling that the world is against the singer. The repetition of the phrase "down on me" also builds up a sense of claustrophobia and being trapped. The song is a powerful depiction of the challenges people face in life when they feel overwhelmed, and it resonates with anyone who has faced these issues.
Line by Line Meaning
I've been going through hell
I have been struggling immensely
And it's starting to tell.
My struggles are starting to become evident
Want to stand up and yell
I feel the urge to express my frustrations
(I wish I had a soul to sell)
(I wish I had a way out of my struggles)
All I see is down on me,
I feel like everything is working against me
I don't need down on me,
I do not need any more negativity in my life
Everybody is down on me,
It seems like everyone is against me
Get out of my tree, stop crowding me.
I need my space and do not want anyone bothering me
Ain't it always the way
Isn't it always typical
How people treat you today
The way people treat you at present
Fuck you over and say,
Betray you and pretend to be polite
"Now go and have a real nice day!"
"Have a nice day,"said sarcastically
They must be down on me,
They must have negative feelings towards me
Can't you see down on me,
Can't you perceive their negative energy towards me
I don't need them down on me
I do not need their negativity affecting me
Let me breathe, stop drowning me.
I need space and for others to stop overwhelming me
He and she down on me,
Both men and women feel negatively towards me
My family is down on me,
Even my own family has negative feelings towards me
Even Mr. T is down on me!
Even my heroes and role models feel negatively towards me
'Cause I´m doing it tough
Because I am going through a difficult time
I thought of turning to drugs
I have considered using drugs as an escape
But there is never enough
But even drugs cannot fully solve my problems
To keep my problems beneath the rug.
To hide my problems and pretend they do not exist
L-S-D down on me
Even drugs like LSD make me feel worse
P-C-P down on me
Even drugs like PCP make me feel worse
T-H-C down on me
Even drugs like THC make me feel worse
M-S-G down on me
Even the taste enhancer MSG makes me feel worse
X-T-C down on me
Even drugs like ecstasy make me feel worse
F-A-B down on me
Even the band Flock of Seagulls makes me feel worse
R-I-P down on me
Even death (Rest in Peace) brings me down
M-T-V go down on me
Even popular culture like MTV makes me feel worse
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: DAVE FAULKNER
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind