Jimmy Barnes is a popular Australian rock singer, with a unique vocal style. He was born James Dixon Swan on 28 April 1956 in Glasgow, Scotland. His father Jim Swan was a prizefighter and his older brother John Swan is also a rock singer. His career as both a solo performer and as the lead vocalist with the rock band Cold Chisel has made him one of the most popular and best-selling Australian music artists of all time. The combination of 14 Australian Top 40 albums for Cold Chisel and 13 charting solo albums, including nine No. 1s, gives Barnes the highest number of hit albums of any Australian artist.
INXS are an Australian rock/pop band, who achieved international success with a series of hit recordings through the 1980s and 1990s, including the albums Listen Like Thieves, Kick, X and Welcome to Wherever You Are and the singles "Original Sin", "Need You Tonight", "Devil Inside" and "New Sensation".
Their original lead singer, Michael Hutchence, died in 1997 and INXS did not perform publicly for a year. The band made appearances with several guest singers including Jimmy Barnes, Terence Trent D'Arby, and Jon Stevens; Stevens formally joined the band for a tour and recording session in 2002.
In 2005, members of INXS participated in a reality television series, broadcast worldwide, culminating in the selection of their new lead singer, Canadian J. D. Fortune, and the release of "Pretty Vegas" and "Afterglow" as singles, and its album Switch.
INXS has won six Australian Recording Industry Association awards including three for 'Best Group' in 1987, 1989 and 1992[8], and was inducted into the ARIA Hall of Fame in 2001. To date INXS have sold more than 30 million records.
Laying Down The Law
INXS and Jimmy Barnes Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Showdown in the north land
Just the whiff of corruption
Is the tip of the iceberg
Savor and sweet liberty
And there's trouble from the south
Shouting from the gallery
I'm searching for a light
To kill my sense of fear
To break through darkened nights
And take me through the years
There's no need to tell you
What I think has gone wrong
There's grey clouds of dissension
Let it show, let it show a silver lining
Sweet blood on the razor
Is it poetry or politics?
Forget about the nightmare
I'll make it a dream that changes everything
I'm searching for a light
To kill my sense of fear
To break through darkened nights
And take me through the years
Sweet blood on the razor
Is it poetry or politics?
Forget about the nightmare
I'll make it a dream that changes everything
I'm searching for a light
To kill my sense of fear
To break through darkened nights
And take me through the years
The song "Laying Down The Law" by INXS and Jimmy Barnes is a hard-hitting rock anthem with lyrics that are cryptic yet powerful. The song seems to be about standing up for what is right, even in the face of adversity. The opening lines, "I'm laying down the law, showdown in the north land", set the tone for the rest of the song. The singer is setting out to take on corruption, and he knows it is going to be a battle.
The lyrics go on to describe the difficulties the singer is facing, with trouble from the south and dissension all around him. He is searching for a light to guide him through, to "kill his sense of fear". There is a sense of urgency to his search, as he wants to break through the dark nights and take himself through the years. He knows that there is no need to explain what has gone wrong, as it is clear to everyone involved.
The line "sweet blood on the razor, is it poetry or politics?" is particularly striking, as it seems to imply that the fight the singer is engaged in is both an artistic and political endeavour. The song ends with a repeated chorus, with the singer continuing to search for that elusive light to guide him through the darkness.
Line by Line Meaning
I'm laying down the law
I'm taking charge and making my rules clear
Showdown in the north land
There's a tense situation happening in the northern area
Just the whiff of corruption
Even a small hint of dishonesty is a sign of a bigger problem
Is the tip of the iceberg
It's only the beginning of what's really going on
Savor and sweet liberty
Freedom is something to be enjoyed and cherished
And there's trouble from the south
There are problems coming from the southern area
Shouting from the gallery
People are making a lot of noise and disrupting things
Now I find I've got to shut it out
I need to block out the distractions and focus on what's important
I'm searching for a light
I'm looking for something to guide me
To kill my sense of fear
To get rid of my anxiety
To break through darkened nights
To overcome difficult times
And take me through the years
And help me navigate life's challenges over time
There's no need to tell you
I don't have to explain it to you
What I think has gone wrong
What I believe is the cause of the problem
There's grey clouds of dissension
There's conflict and disagreement causing unrest
Let it show, let it show a silver lining
Let the positive aspects of the situation be visible as well
Sweet blood on the razor
A violent situation that's at once disturbing and captivating
Is it poetry or politics?
Are the words meant to be figurative or literal?
Forget about the nightmare
Don't focus on the negative aspects of the situation
I'll make it a dream that changes everything
I'll transform it into something positive and impactful
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: JAMES DIXON BARNES, GARRY GARY BEERS, ANDREW FARRISS, JON FARRISS, MICHAEL HUTCHENCE, KIRK PENGILLY
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@wessexfox5197
I picture myself walking around an old 80s comic book store with this playing in the background. Such a kickass soundtrack this film
@julianborges1569
Say no to the great Reset
@wessexfox5197
@Julian Borges highly unrelated to the video.
But based, I agree completely.
@samanthamaxson4962
Frl
@rodrigodiniz403
@wessexfox5197 Actually, it's all connected
@wessexfox5197
@@rodrigodiniz403 I don’t see how the great reset has anything to do with a fun 80s comedy/vampire movie.
@reneehester5695
One of the BEST movies and soundtracks ever! Still my favorite after all these years.
@berniejessee5780
Good song,,the soundtrack ONE of thee best Ever Made for a movie...
@ThiefOfNavarre
Most certainly. At least the non-orchestral ones!
@glennschlegel7160
Great soundtrack fantastic movie!!! Made vampires young and relevant. No more of your grandparents 🧛♂️. Who didn't secretly want to be one of The Lost Boys!?!