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)
Quo Vadis
Hoodoo Gurus Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Quo vadis, daddy-o?
I can't dig this scene,
Don't throw sand in my vaseline.
Where has everybody gone?
Can't be me they're running from!
I thought I was hip-
Where did everybody go?
They went that-a-way!
Why did everybody leave?
Maybe I'm a bit naive
First we're having fun-
I turn around and see no-one
Where did everybody go?
They went that-a-way!
I won't breathe a word,
Come clean, baby, now have you heard
Where did everybody go?
The Hoodoo Gurus' song "Quo Vadis" addresses the feeling of isolation and abandonment. The song begins with the singer noticing that everyone around him is gone, and he questions where they have gone. The phrase "quo vadis" is Latin for "where are you going?" and is a reference to a famous biblical story. The singer then realizes that he cannot fit in with the current scene and that he is not cool enough. He pleads for people to stop giving him "bum trips" and becomes paranoid that he has done something wrong.
The lyrics tackle themes of insecurity, anxiety, and a fear of not fitting in. It portrays the fear of missing out, or FOMO, that many people might face when they're in a social setting. While the song is primarily about the singer's personal crisis, it can be seen as a commentary on social interactions more broadly, and how people often feel disconnected from others, even in a crowded room.
Line by Line Meaning
Where did everybody go?
Asking where all the people have gone.
Quo vadis, daddy-o?
The Latin phrase that means 'Where are you going?'
I can't dig this scene,
The singer doesn't like the situation they're in.
Don't throw sand in my vaseline.
Don't mess with me or take advantage of me.
Where has everybody gone?
Asking where all the people have gone.
Can't be me they're running from!
The singer doesn't think people are leaving because of them.
I thought I was hip-
The singer thought they were cool or with it.
Man don't flip me this bum trip.
Don't deceive or give the artist a bad experience.
They went that-a-way!
The artist is being playful and pointing to where people went.
Why did everybody leave?
Asking why all the people left.
Maybe I'm a bit naive
The singer is admitting they might not have understood the situation.
First we're having fun-
At the beginning, things were enjoyable.
I turn around and see no-one
Suddenly, there's no one around.
I won't breathe a word,
The singer is keeping something secret.
Come clean, baby, now have you heard
You need to tell me the truth.
Contributed by Grace R. Suggest a correction in the comments below.