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)
Son-Of-A-Gun
Hoodoo Gurus Lyrics
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I knew it the moment the prison door slammed.
I shot a man dead just to show how tough I am.
It wasn´t planned.
The way it went down it was late,
I got a bit fresh with some other man´s date,
He met me outside and that´s where he met his fate.
(A big mistake)
And the best I could do was to clutch at straws.
Now you son-of-a-gun, look at what you´ve done.
My record was no help at all,
I've got a string of convictions since juvenile hall.
I stood up in court and they nailed me to the wall.
(And that was all...)
The jury were sure that I lied.
It took all of ten minutes for those good people to decide.
The judge hid a smile as he sentenced me with pride.
Nobody cried.
Now I'm looking at twenty before parole,
By the time I get out of here I´ll be old.
Now you son-of-a-gun, look at what you´ve done
You son-of-a-gun, you´re missing all the fun.
What I wouldn´t give now to have a good time with my friends...
And what I wouldn´t give now to live my life over again.
I'd do it all over again!
I'm sick of the everyday grind
And in a world without women's about to make me go blind.
They say life goes on but, then, I put mine behind.
Just doing time. Just doing time.
I got the conviction that I was framed
But I´ll still be stuck in here all the same.
Now, you son-of-a-gun, look at what you´ve done.
Yeah, you son-of-a-gun, you´re missing all the fun.
The Hoodoo Gurus' song Son-Of-A-Gun tells the story of a man who is in prison after shooting another man to prove his toughness. The song serves as a warning about the consequences of violent behavior and the importance of making careful decisions. The singer of the song is regretful of his actions and wishes he had made different choices. He feels that his record and past mistakes have led to his current situation, and his lack of remorse may indicate a cycle of violent behavior. He is bitter about the missed opportunities and unfulfilled desires that resulted from his choices.
The lyrics begin with the singer acknowledging that he's in trouble after finding himself in jail. He goes on to recount how he shot someone to prove he is tough. The incident occurred after he got fresh with someone's date and the person challenged him to a fight. The singer thought his toughness was being questioned and took things too far. The result of his poor decision was jail time with a long sentence. He reflects on the poor decisions he has made throughout his life, which have contributed to his current situation. The song concludes with the singer wishing he could turn back time and make different choices.
Line by Line Meaning
I've landed myself in a jam
I have put myself in a difficult situation
I knew it the moment the prison door slammed
I realized the severity of the situation as soon as I was imprisoned
I shot a man dead just to show how tough I am
I killed someone to prove my strength
It wasn´t planned
It was not a premeditated act
The way it went down it was late
The situation escalated quickly and I had limited choices
I got a bit fresh with some other man´s date
I made advances towards a woman who was with another man
He met me outside and that´s where he met his fate
He confronted me outside and that's when I killed him
(A big mistake)
(It was a huge mistake)
My lawyer said I had no "just cause"
My lawyer told me I did not have a valid reason for my actions
And the best I could do was to clutch at straws
I tried to come up with weak excuses to justify my actions
Now you son-of-a-gun, look at what you´ve done
Now, you who caused this situation, see what you've done
My record was no help at all
My previous criminal record did not help my case
I've got a string of convictions since juvenile hall
I have been convicted of multiple crimes since I was young
I stood up in court and they nailed me to the wall
I was completely caught and held accountable for my actions in court
(And that was all...)
(And that was the end of the matter)
The jury were sure that I lied
The jury believed that I was not telling the truth
It took all of ten minutes for those good people to decide
The jury quickly made their decision within ten minutes
The judge hid a smile as he sentenced me with pride
The judge was pleased as he gave me my sentence
Nobody cried
No one shed a tear for me
Now I'm looking at twenty before parole
I have to spend 20 years in prison before I am eligible for parole
By the time I get out of here I´ll be old
When I am released from prison, I will be old
You son-of-a-gun, you´re missing all the fun
You, who are not in this situation, are missing out on the fun
What I wouldn´t give now to have a good time with my friends...
I would do anything to have a good time with my friends now
And what I wouldn´t give now to live my life over again
I wish I could go back in time and do things differently
I'm sick of the everyday grind
I am tired of the routine of daily life
And in a world without women's about to make me go blind
Being in a world without women is making me feel very unsatisfied
They say life goes on but, then, I put mine behind
People say life goes on, but I feel like I have left mine behind
Just doing time. Just doing time.
I am only serving my prison sentence
I got the conviction that I was framed
I have a feeling that I was set up
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: DAVE FAULKNER
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind