After recording their first album, which featured the single Talking to a Stranger, the band traveled to Germany to record with famed producer Conny Plank. In 1984, the band reorganized, adding a three-piece horn section and losing the second guitarist. By 1986, the band's style was moving away from the sweat-drenched rhythmic jams of their early days to a more song-centered aproach centered on Seymour (whose younger brother Nick was a member of Crowded House). Throw Your Arms Around Me was a successful single in many countries.
The band was never able to match the worldwide attention they reached in 1986, though they continued to record with considerable success in Australia, and maintained a loyal fanbase elsewhere.
They broke up in 1998, but returned to play one concert on 14 March 2009 for "Sound Relief" at the Melbourne Cricket Ground, which was a multi-venue rock music concert in support of relief for the Victorian Bushfire Crisis.
Blindeye
Hunters & Collectors Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
But true direction is missing
You know the Gods have lied - but you're still smitten.
By the stars in your eyes
I can tell you know where you are
Smile sweetly and you'll be forgiven.
You're almost free - almost free to come and go
Bed sitting room for ambitious prisoner.
Turn a blind eye to it all
Let sleeping dogs lie
Down in Queensway.
Like a bulldozer chasing butterflies
Down sad English streets you wander
Over sleeping bodies you step lightly.
All the snow on the ground
Lets you pass by without a sound
One last look before you disappear.
Walk away, don't take no for an answer
Turn a blind eye to it all
Let sleeping dogs lie
Down in Queensway.
The opening lines of "Blind Eye" by Hunters and Collectors suggest that the singer is struggling to reconcile their desire for success with their lack of a clear direction. Despite realizing that the "Gods have lied," they remain captivated by the stars in their eyes - perhaps indicative of their own self-confidence and ambition. The singer suggests that this person is almost free to come and go, yet they remain a prisoner to their own ambition, confined to a bed sitting room. The chorus urges them to walk away and turn a blind eye to the challenges that stand in their way of success, to let sleeping dogs lie down in Queensway.
The second verse of the song continues with vivid imagery, comparing the singer to a bulldozer chasing butterflies down sad English streets. They seem to be heedless of the sleeping bodies they trample lightly over, perhaps reflecting a blinkered approach to achieving their ambitions. As they prepare to disappear, they pause for one last look. The chorus reprises, urging them to walk away and turn a blind eye to the obstacles, regardless of the costs.
Overall, "Blind Eye" is a song about the pursuit of success and the sacrifices that this may entail. It portrays the singer as driven, focused, and determined, but also somewhat blinded by their own ambition. The chorus provides a warning against becoming too fixated on success, urging the person to consider when it is best to simply walk away and let sleeping dogs lie.
Line by Line Meaning
When success is on your mind
When your only goal is to achieve success
But true direction is missing
But you don't have a clear idea of how to do it
You know the Gods have lied - but you're still smitten.
You know that you cannot rely on luck, but you still believe in it
By the stars in your eyes
I can see your determination and ambition
I can tell you know where you are
I can see that you are aware of your surroundings
Smile sweetly and you'll be forgiven.
Be charming and you can get away with anything
You're almost free - almost free to come and go
You have some freedom, but not entirely
Bed sitting room for ambitious prisoner.
Your ambition has put you in a confined space
Walk away, don't take no for an answer
Don't give up easily, keep trying
Turn a blind eye to it all
Ignore the bad things and focus on the goals
Let sleeping dogs lie
Don't provoke trouble
Down in Queensway.
In the area of Queensway
Like a bulldozer chasing butterflies
You are chasing something fragile with too much force
Down sad English streets you wander
You are wandering in sad and gloomy streets
Over sleeping bodies you step lightly.
You are being careful not to wake people up
All the snow on the ground
The snow hides your footprints
Lets you pass by without a sound
You can move silently without anyone noticing
One last look before you disappear.
You take a final glance before leaving unnoticed
Lyrics © WORDS & MUSIC A DIV OF BIG DEAL MUSIC LLC
Written by: BARRY JOHN JOSEPH PALMER, DOUGLAS JAMES FALCONER, JEREMY STUART SMITH, JOHN ALBERT HOWARD, JOHN MELVILLE LEE ARCHER, MARK JEREMY SEYMOUR, MICHAEL BERNARD WATERS, ROBERT DAVID MILES
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@7brasa
When success is on your mind
But true direction is missing
You know the Gods have lied - but you're still smitten.
By the stars in your eyes
I can tell you know where you are
Smile sweetly and you'll be forgiven.
You're almost free - almost free to come and go
Bed sitting room for ambitious prisoner.
Walk away, don't take no for an answer
Turn a blind eye to it all
Let sleeping dogs lie
Down in Queensway.
Like a bulldozer chasing butterflies
Down sad English streets you wander
Over sleeping bodies you step lightly.
All the snow on the ground
- lets you pass by without a sound
One last look before you disappear.
Walk away, don't take no for an answer
Turn a blind eye to it all
Let sleeping dogs lie
Down in Queensway.
@malvingygyirak9819
The song is about the 'driven' , ambitious people who chose to ignore the suffering that surrounds to them. They turn 'a blidn eye'.
When success is on your mind
But true direction is missing
You know the Gods have lied - but you're still smitten.
By the stars in your eyes
I can tell you know where you are
Smile sweetly and you'll be forgiven.
You're almost free - almost free to come and go
Bed sitting room for ambitious prisoner.
Walk away, don't take no for an answer
Turn a blind eye to it all
Let sleeping dogs lie
Down in Queensway.
Like a bulldozer chasing butterflies
Down sad English streets you wander
Over sleeping bodies you step lightly.
All the snow on the ground
Lets you pass by without a sound
One last look before you disappear.
Walk away, don't take no for an answer
Turn a blind eye to it all
Let sleeping dogs lie
Down in Queensway.
@MrDrummerguy33
This is definitely in my top 5 favourite all time Aussie classics. H&C are a national treasure!!
@thomassimpson754
Their best song. Beautifully crafted and pretty much perfect.
The bridge climax brings tingles all over.
@MSKR111
Going out on a limb but probably my favourite Hunters track.
@hughmcinally907
I couldn't pick one to save myself - just too many great songs.
@Adam-nz2ti
It's my favourite
@sinjon
Too many great songs to choose. I also really like You Stole My Thunder
@silversuit66
I’m with ya
@peterbarry3892
Me too. My favourite.
@brucass93
such a beautiful track, such an underrated band....
@dougwoellner7895
Saw them at Selinas Coogee Bay and other places in Sydney mid 80s great live aussie band still got all the records