Mental As Anything is an Australian New Wave/rock music band who, since the… Read Full Bio ↴Mental As Anything is an Australian New Wave/rock music band who, since the late 70s have released numerous albums & singles and have produced many innovative music videos. Although they have worked in a much broader musical idiom, Mental As Anything are in many respects comparable to British band Madness, in that their music is typically delivered with a quirky, ironic sense of humour and a strong visual identity. Founding members Martin Plaza and Reg Mombassa met at art school and formed the band in 1976; all of the early members became accomplished painters, with Mombassa's work in particular becoming very well known through his designs for the Mambo clothing company.

The Mentals' music is characterised by poppy, accessible and well-crafted melodies and lyrics, and almost all their work showcases their ironic, satirical and self-deprecating sense of humour. They are arguably one of the most typically 'Australian' of rock groups, with their music and their satirical, good-time image deeply rooted in the milieu of Australian suburbia, despite the fact that two key members (the O'Doherty brothers) were in fact immigrants from New Zealand. The group's art school background and visual design skills also made them pioneers of the music video form in Australia in the late 1970s and early 1980s, and their videos rank as some of the funniest and most imaginative produced in Australia at that time.

The "classic" lineup of the group, which boasted four songwriters and lasted more than twenty years, was:

* Martin Plaza (né Martin Murphy) -- vocals, guitar
* Reg Mombassa (né Chris O'Doherty) -- lead guitar, vocals
* Andrew "Greedy" Smith -- vocals, keyboards, harmonica
* Peter O'Doherty -- bass, vocals
* Wayne "Bird" De Lisle (né David Twohill) -- drums

This article continues at http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mental_As_Anything

Surf
Mental As Anything Lyrics

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Big blond Max, waxy twin fin squeezed between her knees
Love her stacks, when she does her radical re-entry
I take her blatantly, hands grip her tanned girth
We stare so vacantly out at the glassy surf
Oceans, oceans of skin, stretched upon the sand
Like foaming crusts they're wrapped around each other
Seaweeds, seaweeds galore, hanging by the shore
Surf & mull & sex that's all life's for...

More and more, more total bulk and brilliant untold gag
What a score, ten points me ol' and here's a shoulder bag.
I never go to school, hardly need to work at all
The world has got no rules, it's just a coloured ball...
Surf and mull and sex and fun
Surf and mull and sex and fun
Surf and mull and sex and fun
Surf and mull and sex and fun

Surf and mull and sex and fun
Surf and mull and sex and fun

Overall Meaning

The lyrics to Mental As Anything's song Surf are about the carefree and hedonistic lifestyle of young surfers. The song seems to capture the excitement and freedom of the surfing culture. The opening lyrics talk about a surfer girl named Big Blond Max, and how the singer loves it when she does radical moves on her surfboard. The lyrics are full of sexual innuendos and suggest that the singer and Max have a physical relationship. They stare vacantly out at the surf, enjoying the beauty of the ocean and the waves. The chorus, "Surf and mull and sex and fun," emphasizes the central message of the song, that life is all about enjoying these pleasures.

The second verse continues the theme of enjoying a carefree life, without the constraints of work or rules. The nod to a "ten-point" score suggests that the singer has been successful in scoring waves or a sexual conquest. The song suggests that there is no need for education, work, or anything beyond the bare necessities needed to survive. The repeated chorus emphasizes that the simple pleasures of surfing, drinking, and sex are all that really matter in life. The song seems to celebrate a lifestyle of hedonism, and the youthful freedom that many people associate with the surfing culture.

Overall, the lyrics of Surf seem to tell a story of youth, freedom, and a seemingly carefree lifestyle. The song is evocative of the surf culture of the 80s, when the song was released, and it still has relevance today, as people continue to gravitate towards surfing and the surfing lifestyle.

Line by Line Meaning

Big blond Max, waxy twin fin squeezed between her knees
She's got a big blond guy with her, riding a surfboard with waxy fins, squeezed tightly between her knees.

Love her stacks, when she does her radical re-entry
I love it when she skillfully turns the board and comes riding back in with a splash, leaving an impressive wake of white water behind her.

I take her blatantly, hands grip her tanned girth
I openly take her in my arms, holding onto her tanned, sun-soaked body.

We stare so vacantly out at the glassy surf
We sit silently, staring off into the sparkling, clear water and the perfect waves in the distance.

Oceans, oceans of skin, stretched upon the sand
The beach is crowded with people laying in the sun, and the sight of so many bare bodies is overwhelming.

Like foaming crusts they're wrapped around each other
The people on the beach are intertwined with each other, rolling around in the sand and the surf like the foam on the waves.

Seaweeds, seaweeds galore, hanging by the shore
The seaweed is scattered everywhere on the beach, hanging from rocks and washing up on shore along with the waves.

Surf & mull & sex that's all life's for...
This life is all about surfing, hanging out with friends, and having sex. It's a simple and carefree existence.

More and more, more total bulk and brilliant untold gag
We want more: more waves, more fun, more laughs, more excitement. We want to have the best time possible.

What a score, ten points me ol' and here's a shoulder bag.
We've hit the jackpot and scored some great waves. We celebrate with a high score and a shoulder bag to carry our things in.

I never go to school, hardly need to work at all
I live a life of leisure, without any real responsibilities or obligations like going to school or working a job.

The world has got no rules, it's just a coloured ball...
There are no rules or restrictions in the world. We're all just spinning around on this big, colorful ball we call home.

Surf and mull and sex and fun
These are the things that make life worth living: surfing, hanging out with friends, having sex, and having fun.