The Badloves signed a deal with Mushroom Records at the end of 1992 after label head Michael Gudinski saw them supporting Hall and Oates at the Melbourne Concert Hall. Initially then band's debut album Get On Board (June 1993) sold moderately, and the first two CD singles 'Lost'/'Green Limousine' , 'Stop' (March) and 'I Remember' (July), were only minor hits. Months of touring and opening for bands like The Sharp, Weddings Parties Anything and Baby Animals did not help sales. The band's fortunes began to change at the end of 1993 when they collaborated with Jimmy Barnes on his Flesh And Wood album.
In partnership, they recorded a cover version of The Band's classic 'The Weight', which reached #6 in December 1993. Following the success of 'The Weight' and the release of 'Green Limousine' as a single, Get On Board eventually made the Australian Top 5 (Selling in excess of 140 000 copies), and the band won three 1993 Australian Record Industry Association (ARIA) Awards (Best Debut Album for Get On Board, Best Debut Single for 'Lost' and Best New Talent).
In early 1994, The Badloves toured Europe with Jimmy Barnes, after which bassist O'Prey left the band to be replaced by John 'Bullfrog' Favarro. The CD single 'Memphis' appeared in March. The band then undertook the successful Travelling Salvation tour which saw The Badloves playing to packed houses across Australia. The beginning of 1995 was taken up with recording a new album with producer Doug Roberts, and the whole project was documented by filmmaker Clayton Jacobson. Black Crowes producer Jack Joseph Puig mixed the album Holy Roadside in Los Angeles.
Holy Roadside came out in September 1995, preceded by the CD single 'Caroline" in August. A limited edition collectors' album, Live In Amsterdam (recorded at 'The Paradiso' while the band was touring Europe with Jimmy Barnes), was also available for a short time with the purchase of Holy Roadside. The soulful 'Slave' appeared as the album's second CD single in November. The 'Barefoot Bride' CD single (May 1996) featured a live rendition of Paul Simon's 'Love Me Like A Rock'. The Badloves issued the live album Everybody Everywhere in April 1997.
The band didn't do much after this, many people said that they broke up, Tony Featherstone denied this in an email he sent me - he said it was a ploy so that they could get out of their Mushroom record deal - looks like it worked! Michael Spiby released his debut solo album in 2000, Ho's Kitchen. The Badloves then came together once more in mid 2000 to play a Victorian festival, the band enjoyed themselves, so they then set out on a small tour. They played more shows again in April 2001. Tony Featherstone left the band early in 2002 to pursue a career in web design. He has yet to be permanently replaced.
The Badloves have continued to tour again and released an EP "14" in March 2002.
Unfortunately, on September 21, 2003 - The Badloves played their final show.
Caroline
The Badloves Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Young summer sun in our eyes
With a voice that you save for strangers
You read loudly from your book of lies
I know but one thing is for sure
Our love's in a heap on the floor
Tell me
Caroline
How do you sleep there so soundly?
With bells on your toes and a lie on your lips
Tell me
Who am I if I'm not the one
Who is feeling used?
But now that it's done...
Who'll keep your sweet thing satisfied?
Caroline
(how I wish I was free)
Caroline
Blue masquerade in the evening
Words from some purple crusade
Delivering the loaves and the fishes
To the soulds of a passing parade
I clearly see your design
Pass me some more holy wine
Tell me
Caroline
How divine
Oh how you sleep there so soundly?
With bells on your toes and a lie on your lips
Tell me
Who am I if I'm not the one
Who is being used?
But now that it's done...
Who'll keep your sweet thing satisfied?
Caroline
(How I wish I was free)
Caroline
How divine
(How I wish I was free)
Caroline
The lyrics to The Badloves’ “Caroline” speak to a tumultuous love affair, full of deceit and desperation. The song's protagonist shares a glass of wine with Caroline, bittersweet memories of their tumultuous love affair clouding their relationship. Despite their complicated past, the singer cannot help but feel a desire for Caroline, even as he realizes that their love is in shambles. Caroline, on the other hand, seems to be skilled in masking her true intentions; she speaks with a “voice that you save for strangers” and reads “loudly from your book of lies.”
The chorus of the song is particularly poignant as the singer asks Caroline how she can sleep soundly, knowing the deceit and pain she has caused. He wonders who he is now that he is no longer the one who is being used, and wonders who will “keep your sweet thing satisfied.” The final chords of the song show the singer still pining for Caroline, wishing he could be free of the complicated emotions that bind him to her.
Overall, “Caroline” is a powerful song that explores the intricacies of a complicated love affair. The lyrics paint a picture of two people who are stuck in a cycle of pain and longing, unsure of how to break free.
Line by Line Meaning
We share a wine at your table
We spend time together at your place drinking wine.
Young summer sun in our eyes
It's summer and the sun is shining upon us.
With a voice that you save for strangers
You speak in a way that is reserved for people you don't know very well.
You read loudly from your book of lies
You read out a falsehood from a book in a loud voice.
I know but one thing is for sure
I am certain about one thing.
Our love's in a heap on the floor
Our love has fallen apart.
Tell me
Please answer my question.
Caroline
The person being addressed, Caroline.
How divine
How wonderful.
How do you sleep there so soundly?
How can you sleep peacefully while carrying on this way?
With bells on your toes and a lie on your lips
You seem happy and carefree, but you are hiding deception.
Who am I if I'm not the one who is feeling used?
If I am not the one being taken advantage of, who am I?
But now that it's done...
Now that our relationship has ended...
Who'll keep your sweet thing satisfied?
Who will fulfill your physical desires now?
Caroline
The person being addressed, Caroline.
(how I wish I was free)
I really wish I could be free of you and this situation.
Blue masquerade in the evening
A deceptive and false appearance.
Words from some purple crusade
Speech or actions meant to promote an idea or agenda.
Delivering the loaves and the fishes
Providing for others.
To the souls of a passing parade
To various people who come and go like a parade.
I clearly see your design
I understand your intentions.
Pass me some more holy wine
Give me more wine.
How divine
How wonderful.
Oh how you sleep there so soundly?
How can you be at peace while carrying on this way?
With bells on your toes and a lie on your lips
You appear carefree but are still hiding a deception.
Who am I if I'm not the one who is being used?
If I am not the one being taken advantage of, who am I?
Who'll keep your sweet thing satisfied?
Who will fulfill your physical desires now?
Caroline
The person being addressed, Caroline.
(How I wish I was free)
I really wish I could be free of you and this situation.
Caroline
The person being addressed, Caroline.
Contributed by Brody A. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
@shanebusby231
That switch to falsetto buttery smooth 😎
@fourbarsincollective-darwi6781
A few years back I spent a drunken couple of hours finding all the Caroline songs on YouTube, not including Sweet Caroline (apologies to Neil)
This is by FAR the best one, beautiful song. With thanks to the Badloves, from a Caro xx
@AN-hv1vm
How divine
@petaandrews6424
Just saw the Saturday, just gold & Micheal is the nicest guy.
@chaynedawson1205
Such a great song ...love your music still since the first day
@TheBadlovesOfficial
Cheers! We're out on tour at the moment so hope to catch you at a gig sometime 😀https://www.thebadloves.com.au/tour
@coolmale67
Best break up song ever. "I hope your happy in your dreams...".
@anicetune
I wish I could find the instrumental version. That's what I grew up listening to in old Neighbours episodes.
@Steven-gs6se
Me too, I've been trying to find out for years what the piece of music was called. Now I've finally found it. I'd love to hear the instrumental version again.
@BrisbaneBoy86
@@Steven-gs6se The instrumental version was never released officially. Mushroom Music Publishing used to have it in the Sync package back in the day along with a lot of other instrumental versions and demos from artists they published. However, it was never released commercially to the public and was only available in the Sync licensing package.