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)

In The Wild
Hoodoo Gurus Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

I will drive down Highway One
It's the end that's just begun
And I'm cruising one ten,
Going nowhere, the road is my best friend
White line fever has got in my blood
I'm a river running full flood

One road all around this land,

Like the lifeline in my hand
Out from nowhere the radio sings of
Distant memories that tug on my heartstrings
I feel twisted, feeling uptight,
As her face keeps fading from sight
In the wild

See me spinning out in the sun
I will burn on Highway One
I'm just burning in the sun,
I can't stop until she comes

In the wild
It's so dry

Overall Meaning

The Hoodoo Gurus' song "In the Wild" is a story of a person who is driving down Highway One, which is the Pacific coast highway of the United States. The song is set in a time when the singer might have been a free spirit, aimlessly cruising on his car, while the white line fever has taken over his blood. He is looking for a place where he can feel free, away from the clutches of society, and the road is the only friend by his side. The song relates to the singer's soul-searching experience and his constant wandering to find himself.

The singer talks about the lifeline in his hand, the main road of Highway One that runs around the land, which is his connection to the wild. The singer's connection to the road and the memories that are triggered by the radio keeps him going even though his journey seems aimless. He is struggling with his emotions as he can't forget his loved one, and that's when the chorus comes into play. The chorus talks about him spinning out in the sun, burning in Highway One, and how he can't stop until he finds the girl he is looking for. The song is an emotional ode to the freedom offered by the road and how it can help a person find himself by getting lost.

Line by Line Meaning

I will drive down Highway One
I plan to travel down Highway One

It's the end that's just begun
This journey marks the start of something new

And I'm cruising one ten,
I'm driving at a speed of 110 km/h

Going nowhere, the road is my best friend
I have no specific destination; the road is my constant companion

White line fever has got in my blood
I have become addicted to driving

I'm a river running full flood
I am going with the flow of the road

One road all around this land,
There is only one major road in this area

Like the lifeline in my hand
This road is like a lifeline that I hold onto

Out from nowhere the radio sings of
The radio suddenly starts playing

Distant memories that tug on my heartstrings
The music reminds me of past memories that make me feel emotional

I feel twisted, feeling uptight,
The music is making me feel confused and anxious