The band shocked conservative middle Australia with their outrageous (for the time) costumes, lyrics, and on-stage activities, leading to seven of the ten tracks on their first album being banned from commercial radio. Much of the group's success derived from its distinctive repertoire, most of which was penned by bassist Macainsh.
Although Skyhooks was not the first Australian rock band to write songs in Australia, about Australians, for Australians (rather than ditties about love or songs about New York or other foreign lands), they were the first band to do so and be commercially successful, and the songs were set apart from much of the pop fare of the time thanks to Macainish's mordant humour.
The 'Hooks were the Australian pop success story of their era. Their first album, Living in the Seventies, rocketed to the top of the charts and stayed there for so long that it became the best selling Australian album ever up to that time, with the follow-up, Ego is not a Dirty Word, coming a close second. The band's success was also widely credited with saving the struggling Mushroom record label and enabling it to develop into the most successful independent Australian label of its time.
Both these LPs were produced by Ross Wilson, former lead singer of Daddy Cool, which had been the most successful Australian rock group of the early 1970s. Wilson championed the group, signing them to a publishing contract and convincing Mushroom Records boss Michael Gudinski to give them a recording contract.
Remarkably, the success of Living in the Seventies was mainly due to the enormous support the band were given by the TV pop show Countdown, rather than support from radio — in fact, most of the tracks on the LP had been banned by commercial radio because of their sex and drug references. Despite the ban, and as a deliberate act of provocation to commercial radio, the ABC's newly established 24-hour rock music station Double Jay chose the album's first track, the provocatively titled "You Just Like Me Cos I'm Good In Bed" as the first track played on air on its first day of broadcasting on January 19, 1975.
Over the next few years, Skyhooks gradually faded from the public eye with the departure of key members, and in 1980 the band announced its break-up in controversial circumstances. The demands for the band to reform were successful in 1983, with a record sum of money being paid for each of the original members to play a series of concerts. Further reformations took place in 1984 and then in 1990 the band finally recorded new material, "Jukebox in Siberia", which shot to the top of the charts.
"Shirley" Strachan and Red Symons both went on to successful careers in Australian commercial television. Symons was for many years a villain-cum-guitarist on the long-running TV show 'Hey Hey It's Saturday.' He was especially known for wielding the gong on the 'Red Faces' talent segment. He now works on ABC radio and writes humorous columns for the press. After the demise of Skyhooks, Starkie still plays locally, Freddie became the drummer in the later lineup of noted Melbourne rock band The Sports, and other acts such as The Bushwackers and the "Old Skydaddys". Greg Macainsh played with John Farnham, and in recent years has been a board member of both APRA and PPCA, and is currently completing a Law Degree. Strachan hosted a popular children's TV show 'Shirl's Neighbourhood' in the early 80s and went on to use his carpentry trade skills on air in various home improvement TV shows. He was also a familiar face at Hawthorn Football Club functions, of which he was a passionate supporter. Sadly, Strachan was killed in an air crash on August 29th, 2001, when the helicopter he was learning to fly crashed into Mount Alexander near Kilcoy, northwest of Brisbane. Strachan died instantly.
A Memorial was held to pay Tribute to Strachan at the Palais Theatre shortly after. Tribute were paid and Guest Vocalist and Producer Ross Wilson assisted on the night.
A Night to commemorate the 30th Anniversary of the release of the Living in the 70s album was held in 2004. It was a historic night with several different incarnations of the band performing. The only absences were Graham Strachan and Steve Hill.
The Skyhooks and Steve Hill then reformed in 2005 in Sydney for a One-Off gig. Hill had been diagnosed with Cancer and the Original Skyhooks, Peter Inglis, Peter Starkie, Fred Strauks and Greg Macainsh joined with Hill to show their support.
The name "Skyhooks" comes from an imaginary device created in the book Charlie and the Great Glass Elevator used to hold the elevator up in mid-air.
Women In Uniform
Skyhooks Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Hi there Lili Marlene
Good morning school girls
Welcome to the team
Beehive hairdo forty-five on the hip
Patrolwoman Saunders don't you give her no lip
Took me to the station for a breath test
Women in uniform sometimes they look so cold
Women in uniform but oooh they feel so warm
Flying to my hometown on a 747
Stewardess made me feel like I'm in heaven
Looking up the aisle trying to see what I could see
She leaned over and said coffee tea or me
White apron and brown leather shoes
The nurse at the clinic left my heart all bruised
Broke my left leg and sprained my right
Now she takes my temperature every night
Women in uniform sometimes they look so cold
Women in uniform but ooh they feel so warm
Women in uniform Women in uniform
Women in uniform Women in uniform
Commando raid on the Lebanese border
Sergeant Anita she gives the order
Khaki jacket and a sten gun
Baby I surrender let's have some fun
Khaki navy blue and brass buttons bring me to my knees
A peaked cap and a badge or two oooh they're such a tease
So girls if the man you need just won't come across
Put on a uniform show him who's the boss
Women in uniform sometimes they look so cold
Women in uniform but ooh they feel so warm
Women in uniform khaki white and blue
Women in uniform coming after you
The Skyhooks’ song “Women in Uniform” is a playful and rebellious tune about the allure of women in uniform. The lyrics describe men's fantasies about women in different professions such as policewomen, nurses, stewardesses, and soldiers. The song highlights the power dynamics played out through uniforms, as the female characters take control over their male counterparts. The song is not meant to be taken seriously, but rather as a fun, tongue-in-cheek commentary on societal expectations and gender roles.
The song starts with men being attracted to women in various uniforms, such as patrolwomen, stewardess, nurses, and soldiers. There is a sense of excitement and mystery surrounding these women, as they are cold on the outside but warm on the inside. The lyrics also suggest that women in uniform know their power and use it to their advantage. For example, the stewardess offers the choice of “coffee, tea, or me,” while the nurse takes the temperature of the singer every night. The song becomes a call-to-action for women to wear uniforms and take charge of their relationships, showing men who's boss.
Line by Line Meaning
Hello there sailor
Greeting a man in the navy
Hi there Lili Marlene
Greeting a female singer
Good morning school girls
Greeting a group of female students
Welcome to the team
Welcoming women to a particular group
Beehive hairdo forty-five on the hip
Describing the appearance of a policewoman with a particular hairstyle and gun
Patrolwoman Saunders don't you give her no lip
Addressing a particular policewoman by name and warning not to disrespect her
Took me to the station for a breath test
Describing a situation where the policewoman took the singer for a sobriety test
Then back to her bedroom for some house arrest
Describing how the policewoman took the singer back to her bedroom for some intimate time
Women in uniform sometimes they look so cold
Noting that women in uniform can appear stern or unapproachable
Women in uniform but oooh they feel so warm
Despite their outward appearance, women in uniform can be passionate and desirable
Flying to my hometown on a 747
Describing a plane ride
Stewardess made me feel like I'm in heaven
Noting the attractiveness and pleasantness of a particular stewardess
Looking up the aisle trying to see what I could see
Describing the singer's gaze up the aisle of the plane
She leaned over and said coffee tea or me
Describing the stewardess's flirtatious question to the singer
White apron and brown leather shoes
Describing the appearance of a nurse
The nurse at the clinic left my heart all bruised
Describing a situation where the nurse hurt the singer's feelings
Broke my left leg and sprained my right
Describing how the singer was injured
Now she takes my temperature every night
Describing how the nurse has become intimate with the singer
Commando raid on the Lebanese border
Describing a military operation
Sergeant Anita she gives the order
Referring to a particular female sergeant who is in command
Khaki jacket and a sten gun
Describing clothing and weapon of a military woman
Baby I surrender let's have some fun
Suggesting that surrendering to this woman in uniform would be enjoyable
Khaki navy blue and brass buttons bring me to my knees
Expressing an attraction to the uniform and its details
A peaked cap and a badge or two oooh they're such a tease
Noting the allure of a particular type of military uniform
So girls if the man you need just won't come across
Addressing female listeners and their desire for a particular man
Put on a uniform show him who's the boss
Suggesting that donning a uniform may make a woman more attractive to this man
Women in uniform khaki white and blue
Describing the colors of various uniforms
Women in uniform coming after you
Suggesting that the women in uniform may be pursuing someone
Lyrics © WORDS & MUSIC A DIV OF BIG DEAL MUSIC LLC
Written by: GREGORY J MACAINSH
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Andrew Francis
Great new audio quality on this now. Freddie's drums sound fantastic, Shirl's vocal's spot on. What a great band they were.
Owy Thomas
Totally agree. When is this classic album going to get a proper remaster? Superb.
LOBO WOLF
my first time hearing this band
Gustavo Leonardo Marques
Escuto Maiden há 20 anos e somente hoje descobri isso...vivendo e aprendendo hahahaha. Saudações do brasil!
TheSpacefanric
Skyhooks best song in my opinion. Vocals soar !
Paul Parker
I listened to the Kiss version, can not hold a candle to Shirl and the boys
Paul Parker
Mine too, Hooks version 10, listened to the other one for 20- seconds, shite
V. Neto
@Paul Parker What about Iron Maiden's?
Paul Parker
@V. Neto Mate maybe because I grew up with Hooks I am biased. Many of their songs are classics here. I do have an iron maiden t-shirt! unfortunately the lead singer Shirl died when the helicopter he was flying crashed into a small mountain .RIP shirl
Paul Joseph
This is the version I remember. Used to play in disco. Sure got us 💃