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)
Only In America
Hoodoo Gurus Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
And beging on the suicidle
Leave us up to salvation
For some small comunication
He'll make you plead
Just touch your sled
You'll own anything you've even dreamed
Choros:
There is nowhere else like america
See it for your self in america
You could only be in america
Only in america x4
A young man crosses the boarder
He searches for the new well order
He ended up in a sweat shop
Was garrenteed was going to be his next stop
12 hour days a minnimle wadge
Would make him nothing but a new well slave
Choros
You feel the paulse of america
There is nowhere else like america
See it for your self in america
You could only be in america
Only in america x8
Bridge
Chros
Only in america x20
The Hoodoo Gurus song "Only In America" explores the contrasting lives of two individuals in America, highlighting two very different American experiences. The lyrics describe a preacher pitching salvation to those on the brink of suicide, offering them hope and communication, and promising them anything they could dream of. The chorus then proclaims the unique pulse and exceptional qualities of America. The next verse tells the story of a young man who crosses the border in search of a better life, only to end up in a sweatshop, becoming little more than a new age slave.
The song is a commentary on the American Dream, which can be interpreted in very different ways, depending on where you stand. The song highlights the immense potential in America, but it also shows the harsh realities for some who come to America in search of a better life. Ultimately the lyrics seem to question the American idea of hard work and success, and whether it is only possible for certain people.
Line by Line Meaning
A preacher's thumbing his bible
A religious preacher is flipping through the pages of a holy book
And begging on the suicidal
Begging and pleading for people to turn away from suicidal thoughts and tendencies
Leave us up to salvation
Relinquishing control to a higher power for the hopes of being saved
For some small communication
Yearning for even just a brief moment of connection or understanding
He'll make you plead
The preacher will urge you to beg and plead for forgiveness and salvation
Just touch your sled
By simply touching what you desire, you can gain ownership of anything you've ever dreamed of
You'll own anything you've even dreamed
You will have the power to possess anything you can imagine
You feel the pulse of America
You can sense the heartbeat and energy of the United States
There is nowhere else like America
No other place in the world is quite like America
See it for yourself in America
Witness the uniqueness of America firsthand
You could only be in America
The experience being described can only happen in the United States
A young man crosses the border
A young man travels across a national border
He searches for the new world order
He looks for a new and different way of life
He ended up in a sweat shop
He found himself working in a factory with harsh conditions
Was guaranteed it was going to be his next stop
He was promised this would be his next step in achieving his dreams
12 hour days and minimal wage
He works for long hours with very low pay
Would make him nothing but a new world slave
His situation would essentially render him a slave to the new way of life
Contributed by Jayce C. Suggest a correction in the comments below.