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)
The Good Son
Hoodoo Gurus Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Mama, see what your fine boy's done,
Killer murdered that bad man.
Got caught. Wasn't that sad? Wasn't that real sad?
What a good, good son!
Hold on, hold on. The good one.
Hold on, hold on. Hold on!
See him on television.
Watch him being sent to prison.
Poor boy! Lawyers have framed him.
Fifteen seconds of fame think we know his name.
What a good, good son!
Hold on, hold on. The good one.
Hold on, hold on. Hold on
People hold on! Hold on.
He said he was sorry, he could not help it.
They told em, "Don't worry, you'll make it out one day.
Yeah, one day. Enjoy your time in Long bay!"
"Hey, boy. Was that a good book?"
Cellmate's giving you a long hard look.
Dahmer, you were his fan club.
You're sad, wrong in the head!
Might be better off dead.
The Hoodoo Gurus' song "The Good Son" tells the story of a young man who commits a murder for unknown reasons and ends up being caught and sentenced to prison. The lyrics suggest that the young man was seen by his mother as a "fine boy" or "good son," but his actions have tarnished his image. The first verse implies that the young man committed the murder intentionally and that the victim was a "bad man."
In the second verse, the lyrics describe the young man's arrest, conviction and eventual imprisonment. The reference to "fifteen seconds of fame" suggests that the young man's story has attracted media attention. The chorus repeats the phrase "what a good, good son," but with a different tone each time, suggesting an increasing sense of irony as the story unfolds.
The final verse includes a reference to notorious serial killer Jeffrey Dahmer, implying that the young man in the song is similarly disturbed. The lyrics suggest that the young man is being treated poorly in prison, and that he might be better off dead.
Overall, the lyrics of "The Good Son" offer a dark and somewhat ambiguous portrait of a troubled young man whose actions have led him into a life of crime and punishment.
Line by Line Meaning
Oh, man! He's such a good son.
Expressing sarcasm, someone who has actually committed a crime is labeled as a good son
Mama, see what your fine boy's done,
A commentary about how parents are sometimes blinded and fail to recognize their children's wrongful actions
Killer murdered that bad man.
A statement of the crime committed, straightforwardly indicating murder
Got caught. Wasn't that sad? Wasn't that real sad?
Expressing the irony of the situation where the good son who murdered a bad man is caught and punished
What a good, good son!
Sarcasm continues as the singer labels the killer as a good son yet again
Hold on, hold on. The good one.
Repeating and emphasizing the irony in labeling a killer as a good son
See him on television.
Talking about the attention the killer gets due to media coverage
Watch him being sent to prison.
Describing the next phase of the killer's life where he goes to prison
Poor boy! Lawyers have framed him.
Questioning the justice system and how lawyers can shape one's fate
Fifteen seconds of fame think we know his name.
Commenting on how people remember celebrity crimes and names but fail to remember victims' names
People hold on! Hold on.
A call for people to pause and think before glorifying criminal behavior
He said he was sorry, he could not help it.
Lamenting the fact that people in power often choose to excuse criminal behavior
They told em, "Don't worry, you'll make it out one day.
Commenting on how wealthy or powerful people are able to evade punishment through legal loopholes
Yeah, one day. Enjoy your time in Long bay!"
Sarcastically commenting on the time the killer spends behind the bars but with luxury
"Hey, boy. Was that a good book?"
A conversation between the killer and his cellmate, highlighting the mundaneness of life in prison
Cellmate's giving you a long hard look.
Imagining the steely glares the killer gets from his cellmate
Dahmer, you were his fan club.
Referencing Jeffery Dahmer, a notorious serial killer in a critical manner
You're sad, wrong in the head!
Commenting on the mental state of a criminal
Might be better off dead.
An abrupt and inconsiderate comment on the possible fate of criminals
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA/AMCOS
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