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)
Hayride to Hell
Hoodoo Gurus Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
He rarely saw his family, trucking loads those long weeks on the road
And Charlie would drive
For miles and miles
Charlie had a teenage daughter he thought of as a little girl
But one day he came home his little girl had grown-up news to tell
"Oh Daddy", she cried, "Oh Daddy, I tried but on the hayride how I fell
Now Billy Jackson was the father but he wasn't man enough to own
And his daddy was the mayor and he said,
"Charlie, just leave my Billy-boy alone "
Billy had to hide
But there was guilt inside
And you can't hide from yourself
That's just a hayride bound for Hell
Charlie's daughter died whilst giving birth to Billy Jackson's child
And Billy Jackson ain't been seen around these parts for quite a while
And Charlie would drive
For miles and miles
And his tail-lights say farewell
He's a hayride bound for Hell
The Hoodoo Gurus’ song ‘Hayride to Hell’ tells the story of Charlie, a truck driver who spends most of his time on the road and hardly spends a night at home with his family. Charlie has a teenage daughter who he thinks of as a little girl. One day, when he comes home, his little girl has grown up news to tell him. She had tried to resist but fell for Billy Jackson on a hayride which was taking her to hell. Billy Jackson is also a father, but he is not man enough to own it. His father, who is the Mayor, tells Charlie to leave Billy-boy alone. Billy had to hide, but there was guilt inside, and eventually, the truth catches up with him. At the end of the song, Charlie’s daughter dies while giving birth to Billy Jackson’s child. And now Charlie is driving out of town, his taillights saying farewell, he's a hayride bound for Hell.
The lyrics of the song poignantly address several different themes like father-daughter relationships, teenage angst, deceit, guilt, and responsibility. The name of the song 'Hayride to Hell' symbolizes the ride to perdition that Charlie's daughter takes in defiance of her father's expectations about her. It also refers to the journey that Billy-boy and Charlie are taking, having to face the consequences of their actions.
Line by Line Meaning
Charlie was a driver and he hardly spent a night at home
Charlie was a truck driver who spent most of his time driving and hardly spent any time at home.
He rarely saw his family, trucking loads those long weeks on the road
Due to his profession, Charlie rarely saw his family as he was always driving truckloads for long weeks on the road.
And Charlie would drive
Charlie loved driving and spent most of his time on the road due to his profession.
For miles and miles
Charlie would drive for long distances without any breaks.
Charlie had a teenage daughter he thought of as a little girl
Charlie had a teenage daughter who he still considered as a little girl.
But one day he came home his little girl had grown-up news to tell
Charlie's daughter had some grown-up news to tell him when he came home after a long time.
"Oh Daddy", she cried, "Oh Daddy, I tried but on the hayride how I fell
Charlie's daughter had tried to do something but failed and had cried about it, saying how she fell on a hayride.
That was a hayride bound for Hell."
Charlie's daughter felt that the hayride she was on was like hell as it didn't go as planned.
Now Billy Jackson was the father but he wasn't man enough to own
Billy Jackson was the father of Charlie's daughter's child but he wasn't man enough to take responsibility for it.
And his daddy was the mayor and he said,
Billy Jackson's father was the mayor and he interfered in the matter involving his son.
"Charlie, just leave my Billy-boy alone "
Billy Jackson's father asked Charlie to stay away from his son.
Billy had to hide
Billy Jackson had to hide because of his actions.
But there was guilt inside
Billy Jackson felt guilty about his actions and the situation he was in.
And you can't hide from yourself
One cannot escape from their own guilt and conscience.
That's just a hayride bound for Hell
The situation involving Billy Jackson and Charlie's daughter was like a hayride to hell as it led to unwanted consequences.
Charlie's daughter died whilst giving birth to Billy Jackson's child
Charlie's daughter died while giving birth to Billy Jackson's child.
And Billy Jackson ain't been seen around these parts for quite a while
Billy Jackson has been missing from the place for quite some time now.
And Charlie would drive
Even after the tragic incident, Charlie resumed his profession of driving.
For miles and miles
Charlie continued to drive for long distances.
And his tail-lights say farewell
Charlie's departure from the place was signaled by the fading of his truck's tail-lights.
He's a hayride bound for Hell
The tragic events surrounding Charlie's daughter and Billy Jackson were like a ride to hell with no escape.
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: DAVE FAULKNER
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
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