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)
Middle of the Land
Hoodoo Gurus Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Take my hand in the middle of the land
You'll see something that's new in the sunshine
You'll be the winter that's turning to springtime
Here I stand in the middle of the land
Take my hand in the middle of the land
Someday someone will try to confuse you.
They'll say things you want to hear and they'll use you.
I thought we'd live and learn
But some folks seem to yearn
For values unsophisticated.
Those days are dead and gone
I won't wish them back upon
A world that's much more complicated.
Here I stand in the middle of my ...
Take my hand, I'm always glad to lend a hand.
They'll try to blind you with T.V. religion.
Don't buy their hand-me-down second - opinions.
Sometimes the biggest lies
Are most easily disguised,
Dressed up like the Road To Glory,
Then somewhere down the line
You'll rub your eyes and find
You're on a path to your own Purgatory.
You'll know something as old as the moonlight,
You'll throw superstition and fear away tonight.
They'll paint us black and white,
They'll paint us wrong and right,
They'll paint us all into a corner.
They'll try to cool us down
But they could never fool us now.
We're steamed-up hotter than a Swedish Sauna!
Here I stand in the middle of the land
Take my, take my hand - your horizons will expand.
Land - in the middle, middle of the land
(Land on me.)
The opening lines of "Middle of the Land" by Hoodoo Gurus describe a person standing in the geographical center of the country, with a request to the listener to join them. They assure the listener that what they will see here is something new, and that they will witness the arrival of spring after a long winter. This is a metaphor for new beginnings and fresh starts that await anyone who is willing to take that first step.
The following verses are about the dangers of blindly believing what one is told by others, especially when they are motivated by their own agendas. The singer acknowledges that while he would like to believe that people will learn from their mistakes, some are content to cling to old-fashioned values that no longer have any relevance in today's world. He cautions against being swayed by religious zealots and false messiahs who offer easy answers to complex problems.
The lyrics also suggest that once someone begins to see through the willful deception of others, they will become aware of opportunities to grow and expand their horizons. They will learn to disregard unwarranted superstitions and unfounded fears passed down to them over generations. They will see beyond the black-and-white distinctions that society has painted and resist those who try to control or manipulate them, and emerge stronger and more self-assured than ever before.
Line by Line Meaning
Here I stand in the middle of the land
I am standing in the center of this country.
Take my hand in the middle of the land
Join me in this place that I call home.
You'll see something that's new in the sunshine
The sun shines differently here, revealing something unique.
You'll be the winter that's turning to springtime
You will bring a change to this place, like the changing of seasons.
Someday someone will try to confuse you.
At some point, someone will try to mislead or deceive you.
They'll say things you want to hear and they'll use you.
They'll manipulate you by telling you what you want to hear.
I thought we'd live and learn
I expected us to grow and gain wisdom over time.
But some folks seem to yearn
Others long for a simpler, less complicated time.
For values unsophisticated.
They desire a return to unsophisticated values and ways of life.
Those days are dead and gone
Those times are past and cannot be brought back.
I won't wish them back upon
I don't want to return to that simpler time.
A world that's much more complicated.
The world is now more complex and we must adapt to it.
They'll try to blind you with T.V. religion.
People will attempt to persuade you with religion on television.
Don't buy their hand-me-down second - opinions.
Don't accept borrowed opinions from others as your own.
Sometimes the biggest lies
Sometimes the most significant falsehoods
Are most easily disguised,
are often cleverly hidden or masked, making them hard to recognize.
Dressed up like the Road To Glory,
Dressed up as a path to success or achievement,
Then somewhere down the line
Later on,
You'll rub your eyes and find
you'll wake up to realize
You're on a path to your own Purgatory.
You'll discover that you're on a path of self-destruction or suffering.
You'll know something as old as the moonlight,
You'll understand something that's been around for ages.
You'll throw superstition and fear away tonight.
You'll discard irrational beliefs and apprehensions today.
They'll paint us black and white,
They'll try to categorize us into two simple, opposing groups
They'll paint us wrong and right,
They'll try to depict us as either right or wrong,
They'll paint us all into a corner.
They'll try to limit our choices or actions.
They'll try to cool us down
They will attempt to pacify or dampen our spirits.
But they could never fool us now.
However, they can no longer deceive us.
We're steamed-up hotter than a Swedish Sauna!
We are more motivated and energized than ever before!
Take my hand, I'm always glad to lend a hand.
I'm happy to help and support you in this place that I call home.
Land - in the middle, middle of the land
I am in the heart of the country.
(Land on me.)
Come and join me here.
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
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