Jeff St John was born in Newtown, Sydney and attended Cleveland Street Boys High School in Surry Hills, New South Wales. He was born with spina bifida and spent much of his life in a wheel chair..
He appeared with a number of bands during the late 1960s and early 1970s including; John The Syndicate aka The Wild Oats (1965), The Id (1966–67) with Bob Bertles (tenor sax '67), Jeff St John & Yama (1967–68), Jeff St John & Copperwine (1969-72), with Harry Brus (bass 70-72) and Wendy Saddington (co-lead vocals 70-71), Jeff St John Band (1972–73) and, Red Cloud (1975-76).
In 1980 he was the subject of an episode of the documentary series The Australians presented by Peter Luck. The episode was titled "Jeff St. John - Rock 'n' Roll Man".
In 1988 as part of Australian Bicentenary celebrations along with many other Australian celebrities, Jeff St John took part in a video shoot at Ayers Rock called Celebration of a Nation.
St John was involved in educating people about disabilities and was a member of spina bifida support group MOSAIC. Jeff appeared at the opening of the 2000 Summer Paralympics in Sydney where he sang the Australian National Anthem.
Jeff St John died on 6 March 2018, at his home in Perth, Western Australia.
Big Time Operator
Jeff St. John Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Everything in sight
I'm fighting for my freedom
For my life
Some bigshot with the money
Puts my back against the wall
The red brick's waiting
There's a Blitzkrieg on the border
It's a sexual pleasure/pain
I'm staring down an empty glass
Til the violence starts again
It's the big time for love
It's the big time
It's the right time for love
It's the big time for your love
The queen is in the palace
But my sister's in the rain
Neon girls and gunshots
Tickin' through my brain
They give you some detection
Bread and circus in your bed
A calculated showdown
It's very graphic bloodshed
Better put your house in order
There's a fireball in the sky
Kiss the wife and kids so long
Kiss your ass goodbye
It's the big time for love
It's the big time
It's the right time for love
It's the big time for love
This time it is
It's the big time
It's the right time for love
It's the big time for your love
We feel overdue
'Cause we know what it feels like
There's no more
No white flag
And communication too
It's the big time for love
It's the right time
It's the time for love
It's the big time for love
This time it is
It's the big time
It's the right time for love
Call a truce or forget it
Big time for love
The song "Big Time Operator" by Jeff St. John explores the struggle of an individual fighting for their freedom and life against someone with more power and money. The singer feels like they are fighting against everything they see and is staring down an empty glass waiting for the violence to start again. The image of a red brick wall waiting for another bullet hole conveys the sense of danger and unease.
The "Blitzkrieg on the border" could be a reference to the escalating tension and violence at the time the song was written in the 1960s. The sexual pleasure/pain can be interpreted as the complex feelings that come with defending oneself against someone with more power. The singer is grappling with their own emotions as well as the external threats posed by those who have more resources.
The chorus suggests that amidst all the chaos, it is still the "big time" for love. The queen's presence in the palace and the neon girls and gunshots in the streets juxtapose the power dynamics at play. The detection and bread and circus in the bed refer to the notion that individuals are being kept distracted and entertained to prevent them from asking for more rights and freedoms. The song ends with the singer suggesting it's time for love and possibly calling for a truce.
Overall, "Big Time Operator" is a powerful commentary on the struggle for freedom and love in the face of overwhelming opposition.
Line by Line Meaning
These days I feel I'm fightin'
The singer feels like he's in constant conflict.
Everything in sight
He feels like he's fighting against everything, all the time.
I'm fighting for my freedom
He's trying to maintain control over his life.
For my life
He feels like the stakes are high.
Some bigshot with the money
A wealthy person is controlling him.
Puts my back against the wall
The wealthy person has backed him into a corner.
The red brick's waiting
A violent confrontation is imminent.
For another bullet hole
The singer expects to be shot.
There's a Blitzkrieg on the border
There's an intense conflict happening.
It's a sexual pleasure/pain
The conflict is both thrilling and dangerous.
I'm staring down an empty glass
He's numbing himself with alcohol.
Til the violence starts again
He's waiting for the next violent episode to happen.
It's the big time for love
Love is in the air.
It's the big time
This is a big moment.
It's the right time for love
This is the perfect moment for love.
It's the big time for your love
This is a big moment for the singer's love life.
The queen is in the palace
The powerful people are in their positions of power.
But my sister's in the rain
Someone he cares about is struggling.
Neon girls and gunshots
The imagery around him is dangerous and violent.
Tickin' through my brain
The violence is affecting him mentally.
They give you some detection
They're trying to detect something about him.
Bread and circus in your bed
He's being placated with entertainment and luxury.
A calculated showdown
The confrontation is planned.
It's very graphic bloodshed
The violence will be intense and violent.
Better put your house in order
He needs to get his affairs in order before something bad happens.
There's a fireball in the sky
There's a big threat looming.
Kiss the wife and kids so long
He's saying goodbye to his loved ones.
Kiss your ass goodbye
He expects to die.
We feel overdue
His inner circle feels like they're overdue for something.
'Cause we know what it feels like
They've been through something like this before.
There's no more
They're at the end of something.
No white flag
They're not giving up.
And communication too
Miscommunication is making the problem worse.
Call a truce or forget it
He wants to end the conflict or move on.
Big time for love
This is a big moment for love.
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, Spirit Music Group
Written by: JOHN CHARLES WAITE, RICK NOWELS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@robertmarshall7938
A fantastic sound for its time Jeff s strong magnificent voice and great brass sound
@user-db2jb7cs1g
Pure Genius What A Voice And Sound The Brass Is Perfect Brilliant
@donnarawlinsfrench220
Aged 7, remember seeing Jeff and the band perform this on the ABC - I thought he was so cool in his RayBans and John Cale hair! Met him at a school when he was a public speaker about spinal safety - what a great guy! Am so sorry he's passed away: a wonderful man and a voice very much missed.
@maureenchuck7515
He didn't have a spinal injury. He was born with spina bifida.
@jenniferkuperman2589
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hb-PaRwieh0
@sonnyarroyo8732
The best version I ever heard, what a great vocals of Jeff, you gave your best. RIP.
@SHARKTIC5
A great song that has stood the test of time.
@bradnorman7535
Met Jeff when I was playing in the Sole Twisters about '83 one of the nicest dudes I have met. And that fucking voice!!
@allymayful
One of my favourite songs from the '60's.
@terencemcculloch3294
Man, dig those horns!!