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.
Little Chalkie
Hunters & Collectors Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Here comes the saddest song you've ever heard
From somewhere else, somewhere good
In a warehouse painted red
Around my house, around my table
And I will testify, testify when I'm able.
Little Chalkie's gone out west to score
Passing by the metho's gate she dropped something
'Cos our town doesn't stand there anymore
And my town, it is a teacher
All trucks and beers and memories spread out on the road
And my town is a leader of children
To where caution is a long wide load
Long wide load.
You love me good, you work me hard
Three letters and a smile on a little white card
Oh yay, oh yay, oh there you lay
Lying in the road on Debt Collectors day.
The lyrics in Hunters & Collectors' "Little Chalkie" tell the story of a small town struggling with addiction and loss. The song begins with a ringing testimonial, likely a reference to a church bell, signaling the start of a somber event. The singer describes the saddest song we've ever heard, likely in reference to the message of loss conveyed by the song's lyrics. The setting is a warehouse painted red, perhaps symbolizing the town's economic struggles, and lending an eerie atmosphere to the song's message.
As the song progresses, the singer reflects on their town and the people who call it home. Little Chalkie, a tragic figure, has gone out west to score drugs, leaving a town that seems to be struggling just to survive. The singer remarks that "our town doesn't stand there anymore," perhaps referencing the loss of community and hope that goes hand-in-hand with addiction. However, the song is not without hope. The singer sees potential in the town and its people, describing it as both a teacher and leader of children, with a message of caution that is a "long wide load."
Overall, "Little Chalkie" is a powerful piece of music that masterfully captures the sadness and struggle of addiction alongside the hopefulness and resilience of small towns and their people.
Line by Line Meaning
Here comes a ringing testimonial
Someone is about to give an enthusiastic testimony
Here comes the saddest song you've ever heard
A very sorrowful song is about to be played
From somewhere else, somewhere good
The source of the song is from a positive place
In a warehouse painted red
The song is being played in a red-painted warehouse
Around my house, around my table
The testimony is being shared among me and my family
And I will testify, testify when I'm able.
I will share my testimony when I am capable of doing so
Everybody in this town is sleeping
The people in the town are not aware of what has occurred
Little Chalkie's gone out west to score
Little Chalkie has left the town to purchase something
Passing by the metho's gate she dropped something
Little Chalkie dropped something while walking past the methadone clinic
'Cos our town doesn't stand there anymore
The town is not as it once was
And my town, it is a teacher
The town serves as a learning environment
All trucks and beers and memories spread out on the road
The town is characterized by trucks, beer and memories that are visible on the streets
And my town is a leader of children
The town guides children towards being careful
To where caution is a long wide load
Being cautious is a burden but necessary
You love me good, you work me hard
You treat me well and demand a lot from me
Three letters and a smile on a little white card
A credit card is capable of bringing joy with the three letters, but concurrently increasing debt
Oh yay, oh yay, oh there you lay
Oh no, oh no, you're laying there
Lying in the road on Debt Collectors day.
Being unable to pay off debt, leading to creditor seizure of assets or physical harm.
Contributed by Elena T. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
@surfinmuso37
Ah pure heaven. "Here come's the ringing testimonial, here comes the saddest song u ever heard." ....and you're hooked. The bass. Oh my.
@edwardrush7421
I bought this album as a kid having no idea what it was about. Some cool dude in 78 records in Perth recommended it. Good man. Have listened to this album all my life
@patrickomeley9481
keep coming back for a listen - this is such a good song!!
@Geekman333
I liked this period the best. Epic stuff.
@theHentySkeptic
Brilliant!!!
@patrickomeley9481
Is this at the Espie?
@BendigoVenuesandEvents
The Venue, St. Kilda
@theHentySkeptic
The Way to go out mini lp. Had the espie on the cover - I always assumed it was recorded there