Like their contemporaries The Easybeats and The Twilights they tried unsuccessfully to break into the British music scene, but one of the later members of the band, Glenn Wheatley, learned valuable lessons from their travails, and since moving into artist management in the 1970s he has played a major role in the Australian music industry and the media over the last thirty years.
The Masters were hugely popular throughout Australia, scored a string of hits and were consistently hailed as one of Australia's best live and recording acts. They started out as an instrumental band, rose to prominence during the mid-Sixties "Beat Boom", moved through psychedelia and 'bubblegum' pop, finally becoming one the first and best Australian progressive/hard rock groups of the early Seventies. They went through many lineup changes, with vocalist Jim Keays being the only constant, and their membership also illustrates the intricate interconnections between so many Australian bands of that era.
They played mainly originals. One of their biggest Australian hits, "Undecided" (1967), was revived by Silverchair in 1997, and their best-known song "Because I Love You" has been revived many times, including its use in an Australian jeans commercial in the late 1980s. Swedish progressive metal band Opeth named the track "Master's Apprentices" (from their 2002 album Deliverance) in honour of the band, of which Opeth frontman Mikael Åkerfeldt is a fan.
The beginning of the song "Last Post on The Bugle" by The Libertines seems to
use the same words, notes and chords than their song "War or hands of time".
Undecided
Masters Apprentices Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
If you wanna lot of love in return
I wanna be your true lovin' man baby
I wanna' do the best I can
Believe in me this very day
Every word I got say
Accelerate at crawling pace
Your love is moving much too slow
You'll find that soon I'll have to go
The lyrics of the Masters Apprentices’ song “Undecided” convey a clear message to the listener about the importance of mutual affection in a relationship. The opening lines emphasize the need for reciprocity when it comes to love, with the singer calling on their partner to offer them a “little loving” if they want to receive a “lot of love in return.” It’s suggested that the singer wants to be a reliable partner for their loved one, as they profess that they want to be their “true lovin’ man” and do the best they can. The singer believes that their words should be taken seriously and that their partner should trust them.
As the song progresses, it becomes clear that the singer is becoming frustrated with their partner’s lack of reciprocation. They urge their partner to “get that grin right off [their] face” and “accelerate at crawling pace.” The latter line particularly emphasizes the singer’s frustration with the slow progress of their relationship. It seems that the singer is ready to move on and find someone who can reciprocate their feelings, as they warn their partner that they’ll “soon… have to go.”
Overall, “Undecided” is a song about the importance of mutual love, and the difficulties that can arise when one partner is not as invested in the relationship as the other. The singer urges their partner to offer them the love they deserve, but ultimately recognizes that they may need to move on if their partner cannot keep up.
Line by Line Meaning
You've gotta give me little lovin' honey
In order to receive a lot of love in return, you need to give me some affection, my sweetie.
If you wanna lot of love in return
To receive a huge amount of love in return, you've got to take the initiative, babe.
I wanna be your true lovin' man baby
My beloved, I want to be the man that you can trust and rely on with your heart and soul.
I wanna' do the best I can
I'm determined to put forth my best effort to make you truly happy, my love.
Believe in me this very day
Have faith in me, starting from today, that I will fulfill your every desire and wish, dear.
Every word I got say
Trust the words that come out of my mouth – they will be filled with love and honesty, sweetie.
Get that grin right off your face
Wipe that sneaky smile away from your face, my dear – this is serious business.
Accelerate at crawling pace
Come towards me with greater speed; don't move as slowly as a snail, my love.
Your love is moving much too slow
Your love for me is progressing far too gradually, my sweetheart.
You'll find that soon I'll have to go
You will realize swiftly that I'll have to leave you behind if you don't show me the love and affection that I need, dear.
Contributed by Emma F. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
@pepperstudiostv6628
I recorded this song in 1966 at Mastersound in Moger Lane off Pirie Street East. The Government garage opposite was used as an echo chamber and the Bass and Guitar amps were direct fed through a passive mixer. The drums had a kick mike and one overhead. At the end of the session the group couldn't decide on a name so I wrote Undecided on the tape box. A Phillips Limiter and Pultec equaliser were used in the session. Max Pepper
@wilsonmcphert
+Pepper Studios TV LIghtning in a bottle Max. Revolutionary stuff. Well done and thanks for your insights. If you don't mind, I will include your comment in the background info just under the video.
@ameagher2
+Pepper Studios TV. Fuck you Max and well done ... It was the wildest recording of it's time. My neighbours didn't enjoy it but everyone can't be pleased. I'll just play it once more ...
@ameagher2
+wilson mcphert. There's a number of Purple Hearts' tracks but I can't find - You Can't Sit Down. Why am I being tortured ...
@kramconley7972
+ameagher2 Yep, play it again for me too
@philiplindsay225
Thanks for doing a brilliant production Max Pepper ! This is one of my all time favourites from the 1960s.
@Kathy0851
The Masters Apprentices remain one of the best, most under-rated bands in Australian history! What a staggering talent they were .... Every one of their songs played in the background of a Baby Boomer's teen years living in the late 1960's and 1970's when our generation were a sounding board for the best music EVER written!
@gregfranz6863
At the time I don't think anyone could appreciate the greatness of this group. Truly trail blazers who still sound bloody fantastic now.
@stevegordon8474
What are you saying? UNDECIDED went to Number One!
@sexobscura
@stevegordon8474
People always write pointless, ridiculous stuff ie: Madonna's under appreciated