While fronted by singer John Farnham from 1982–1986, the band's original members were Glenn Shorrock (vocals), Graeham Goble, Beeb Birtles and Ric Formosa (guitars and vocals), Roger McLachlan (bass) and Derek Pellicci (drums).
The group evolved from the harmony-rock group Mississippi in 1975. Prior to that, Birtles had been the bassist in 1960s pop band Zoot (which also included singer-guitarist Rick Springfield), and Shorrock had been the lead singer of leading Australian 60s pop band The Twilights and early 1970s country rock band Axiom.
They found immediate success in Australia, but individual members had greater ambitions. Like many other Australasian groups of the period, both Axiom and Mississippi had tried to break into the UK record market without success. Remembering the indifferent reaction they had received in the UK, they decided the new band would focus on establishing themselves in the United States.
A key factor in their eventual success was their manager Glenn Wheatley, who had been the bassist in the highly-regarded Australian rock band The Masters Apprentices. Wheatley's first-hand experiences of the rip-offs in the 1960s music scene, combined with his subsequent experience working in music management in Britain and the United States in the early 1970s, enabled him to help LRB become the first Australian group to enjoy sustained commercial and chart success in the United States.
Fuelled by a very successful Australian hit single "Curiosity Killed The Cat", the band began making promotional visits to the US in 1976. This resulted in a hit single, "It's A Long Way There", which broke into the Top 30 and galvanised the commitment of the band members. More concert performances in the US followed, and in 1977 "Help Is On Its Way" (an Australian number one single) and "Happy Anniversary"[4] both narrowly missed the US Top 10. During this period McLachlan left the group and was replaced by George McArdle while lead guitarist Formosa was replaced by David Briggs.
From 1978 until 1981, Little River Band achieved six consecutive US Top 10 singles with "Reminiscing", "Lady", "Lonesome Loser", "Cool Change", "The Night Owls" and "Take It Easy On Me". During their career the band have sold more than 25 million records and scored 13 American Top 40 hits.
Bassist/vocalist Wayne Nelson joined in 1980 and is currently the lead singer. In 1981 he sang lead vocals on their top ten US hit "Night Owls". Guitarist Stephen Housden joined the band in 1981 replacing David Briggs. Housden owns the rights to the name Little River Band. He co-wrote the band's last hit in Australia "Love is a Bridge".
In 1982 Shorrock was forced out of the band and went on to pursue a solo career. He failed to make an impression in the U.S., but he had a substantial hit in Australia with a cover version of Bobby Darin's "Dream Lover".
The pressures of success and constant touring gradually took their toll on LRB and members gradually left. John Farnham replaced Shorrock in 1982 and the first single with Farnham, "The Other Guy" reached #11 in the US. Subsequent singles were only minor hits. In Australia the band continued to be popular and songs such as "Down On The Border", "Playing To Win" and "Love is a Bridge" were major hits. Farnham's popularity in Australia was increasing at this time, and he left the band to return to his solo career, achieving huge success in Australia (he was also managed by Wheatley).
Birtles left in 1983 because he did not like the direction the band was taking and he was not a fan of Farnham's onstage performance. Farnham left in 1986 to be replaced by the returning Shorrock. Goble left the group in 1990. Shorrock left again in 1996; he was offered the option to buy out the remaining members but he decided instead to take a payment. Derek Pellicci left the band in 1999.
Little River Band are considered to be among Australia's most significant bands. The "classic lineup" of the band (Birtles, Shorrock, Goble, Pellicci, Briggs and McArdle) were inducted into the ARIA Hall of Fame at the 18th Annual ARIA Music Awards of 2004. They performed "Help Is On Its Way" that night.
Three founding members, Birtles, Shorrock and Goble, continue to perform reunion concerts but due to the fact they lost the rights to the name Little River Band, they appear under the name Birtles Shorrock Goble: The Original Voices of Little River Band.
"Reminiscing", written by Goble, was recognised by BMI as one of the most frequently played songs in the history of American radio, with more than four million plays to its credit. "Lady" has also accumulated more than three million plays, and Goble is the first and only Australian songwriter ever to win a Four "Million Air" award from BMI. According to Albert Goldman's biography, John Lennon named "Reminiscing" as one of his favorite songs.
Little River Band continues to work in the US and performs around 100 shows every year.
Down On The Border
Little River Band Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
And what I saw made me know for sure
We're out of order
I had a dream about New Orleans
At Jackson Square I heard their prayer
Down in New Orleans
But the people there, they just don't care
Livin' their life like a millionaire
Down on the border
You never see me in old Iran
The women there don't know who I am
In old Iran
And I never will go to Singapore
The people there will cut your hair
In Singapore
On their streets there's a life of plenty
Oh but they'll never know about the freedom show
Their livin' in darkness years ago down on the border
They built a wall at the border
Not to keep us out
But to leave no doubt
They're out of order, hey
And all the people who are trapped within
Serve to show just how far we'll go
And how dumb we've been
At the top life looks so easy
But they'll never know what they'll never know
They're much too busy countin' all their dough
From the border
In Little River Band's song Down On The Border, the singer describes their recent visit to the border and how it made them realize that the world is out of order. The singer had a dream about New Orleans where they heard a prayer in Jackson Square. They then mention their reluctance to visit certain places like Iran or Singapore due to the cultural differences, but they also mention that there are people living like millionaires around the world. Despite the wealth and abundance of life, there remains a lack of freedom, especially at the border where a wall has been built not to keep people out but to emphasize the order that has been imposed. The people are trapped and unaware of how privileged they are, leading to a realization of how far we'll go and how foolish we've been.
Line by Line Meaning
I just got back from the border
The singer recently returned from the border and has some observations to share.
And what I saw made me know for sure
The singer's observations of the border confirmed their previous suspicions of disorder.
We're out of order
The border exhibits a lack of order that is indicative of larger societal issues.
I had a dream about New Orleans
The artist had a dream about a particular city.
At Jackson Square I heard their prayer
While dreaming about New Orleans the artist heard a prayer at a specific location.
Down in New Orleans
Refers back to the dream mentioned at the beginning of the verse.
On the run, there's a life for livin'
Living life on the move can be exciting.
But the people there, they just don't care
The people in the area the artist is referring to are indifferent to their way of life.
Livin' their life like a millionaire
Despite not having material wealth, the people being referenced act like they do have it.
Down on the border
Refers back to the location mentioned in the first verse.
You never see me in old Iran
The singer has no plans to go to certain countries, including Iran.
The women there don't know who I am
The artist feels they wouldn't fit in and wouldn't be recognized in Iran specifically.
In old Iran
Reiterating the point that Iran is a place the singer doesn't want to go to.
And I never will go to Singapore
Similar to Iran, Singapore is not a place the singer desires to visit.
The people there will cut your hair
The singer has heard negative things about Singapore that make them feel it's not a desirable place to be.
On their streets there's a life of plenty
Despite the artist's negative opinion of Singapore, there is abundance and prosperity there.
Oh but they'll never know about the freedom show
Despite the material abundance, the artist signals a lack of genuine freedom in Singapore.
Their livin' in darkness years ago down on the border
Referencing the beginning location of the song, the singer intimates that the situation in Singapore is similar to the one at the border, where social progression hasn't occurred for years.
They built a wall at the border
Refers back to the line about being at the border mentioned earlier in the song.
Not to keep us out
The artist argues the wall wasn't built to prevent entry to the country.
But to leave no doubt
Rather, the wall was built to communicate a message of control and power.
They're out of order, hey
This line adds further emphasizing regarding the situation of disorder at the border.
And all the people who are trapped within
The people who are being contained or oppressed by the negative situation at the border are the focus of this line.
Serve to show just how far we'll go
The situation at the border highlights how far people are willing to go in order to assert and maintain control over others.
And how dumb we've been
The actions taken by people to impose order and control at the border are seen as foolish in retrospect.
At the top life looks so easy
The lives of others in privileged positions can look simpler and more straightforward than those of lesser status.
But they'll never know what they'll never know
Those in privileged positions cannot know what it's like to live the experiences of the less fortunate, and their knowledge or opinions may be limited as a result.
They're much too busy countin' all their dough
The privileged who have accumulated wealth may be too preoccupied with wealth accumulation and maintaining their status to have a full understanding of the experiences of others.
From the border
Recalling the location mentioned earlier in the song.
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: GRAHAM GOBLE
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@Razor9nyt
Who loves all LRB Songs?
@chuckhoy1024
Still listening 2023
@paulsagiahon9075
2020 anyone?
@MarcR1030
2021 :D
@j.cesar.353
No thanks. Already had one. 2020 that is.
@Razor9nyt
2021, YEAH!!
@BigRedRicketts
Sailing through 2021 currently july toward the shores of 2022
@Razor9nyt
@@BigRedRicketts that's amazing
@texmetzger
Unbelievable Bass in this song!
@jeffguenther223
As well as rhythm guitars