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.
Scream Who
Hunters & Collectors Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Lean your head to the wall
And these walls have ears
And those ears are ringing
Support this wonderful wall
And inside the mortar scared smells, oh what smells?
Lean your head to the wall
Hear you, hear me, hear who?
Help you, help me, help who?
My ears are ringing and the eyes have it
Lean your head to the wall
These walls have ears
And those ears are ringing
Support this wonderful wall
And inside the mortar there's talk about
Lean your head to the wall
Hear you, hear me, hear who?
Help you, help me, help who?
Scream you, scream me, scream who?
This can't be happening, this can't!
This can't be happening in the beauty of my home
In the beauty of my home
Scream who!
The lyrics of Hunters & Collectors' song, "Scream Who," conjure up the image of someone who is disoriented and overwhelmed by various stimuli. The phrase "My ears are ringing, and the eyes have it" suggests that the person is both hearing loud noises and seeing intense visuals, which is causing a sensory overload. The following lines, "Lean your head to the wall, and these walls have ears, and those ears are ringing," further emphasise the person's disorientation and a sense of paranoia, as if they are being watched and listened to all the time.
The repeated phrases, "Hear you, hear me, hear who? Scream you, scream me, scream who? Help you, help me, help who?" further highlight the confusion and desperation of the person. They seem to be either seeking help or trying to figure out who is causing their distress. The line "Support this wonderful wall and inside the mortar scared smells, oh, what smells?" implies that there is a hidden danger that the person cannot identify.
In conclusion, "Scream Who" appears to be a commentary on the prevailing sense of chaos and uncertainty in society, where individuals are feeling lost and unheard amidst the noise, which is causing paranoia, fear and a sense of helplessness.
Line by Line Meaning
My ears are ringing and the eyes have it
I'm overwhelmed and my senses are heightened
Lean your head to the wall
Listen closely to what's happening around you
And these walls have ears
The environment is watching and listening to everything going on
And those ears are ringing
The environment is affected by the chaos happening
Support this wonderful wall
The wall is a symbol of safety and protection
And inside the mortar scared smells, oh what smells?
The hidden secrets and emotions are overwhelming
Hear you, hear me, hear who?
Who is responsible for the chaos?
Scream you, scream me, scream who?
Who should we blame for the overwhelming emotions?
Help you, help me, help who?
Who needs help to overcome this chaos?
This can't be happening, this can't!
I am in disbelief that this chaos is happening
This can't be happening in the beauty of my home
The safety of my home has been violated by this chaos
In the beauty of my home
My home is a reflection of my inner emotions
Scream who!
Who is responsible for this chaos that has violated the safety of my home?
Contributed by Kayla G. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
@kevmac1230
Love these guys and find it fascinating how artists interpret their ideas so differently.Conventional is not a word that comes to mind with H&C.Austrailia has produced so many great bands.
@eyebandmusic
Their earliest work is pure raw honest brilliance.
@blorthorc
This is one of my favourite australian bands, playing one of my favourite tracks from my favourite hunters album. What's not to love?
@ThirstyEye
Awesome! I never knew of this band or song until recently watching an old horror flick.
@konfuzerkat
This early H&C is ‘the real deal’ Fireman’s Curse, Payload EP and this album in particular. This song is now getting airplay on my Internet Radio Station ‘Ground Zero’ along with heaps of other classic stuff from this era, Aussie and Kiwi included. Free for you to listen to at: live365.com/stations/nzgroundzero
@macpora
Yea, great song. Kinda weird it's not on youtube. Are we that obscure? It's on the "Jaws of Life" compilation. I don't even remember what the name of the cassette I bought in the 80's was named. And the song is just "Towtruck".
@blorthorc
This can't be happening, this can't, This can't be happening, this can't, This can't be happening, this can't, In the beauty of my home, In the beauty of my home, Scream who?