In 1981, a fan of the Clean founded the Flying Nun label to release their first single, "Tally Ho." A follow-up track off one of their early EPs, "Beatnik", also achieved success, as did the second single, "Getting Older". The Flying Nun label went on to be New Zealand's biggest independent record company, championing the Dunedin Sound, a loosely-connected style of music largely produced by bands from this southern city. Others on the label included The Chills, The Verlaines, The Bats, and Sneaky Feelings.
During much of the 1980s, The Clean disbanded, and during this time the Kilgour brothers worked together on an experimental album and EP using the deliberately punning titles "The Great Unwashed" and "Clean Out of Our Minds". Reforming in the late 1980s, the band explored a slightly poppier vein of music while still retaining their experimental edge.
In June 2008 a live album recorded during the 2007 New Zealand tour was released in New Zealand on Arch Hill Records, entitled "Mashed". A new studio album, titled Mister Pop was released on September 7, 2009 on Arch Hill, and on September 8 in the United States on the Merge label.
In December 2009, The Clean announced their first European dates in more than 20 years, supporting the cult U.S band Pavement at Brixton Academy on the 10th of May. They also played at the Pavement curated ATP at Butlins Minehead on the 14th of May. Other dates on the tour included Amsterdam (May 22), Hamburg (May 23), Berlin (May 25) and Barcelona's Primavera Sound festival May 29).
Tally Ho!
The Clean Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Had a lot of make believe, I don't know if it's you or
If it's me oh, I don't know, I don't know
Tally ho, tally ho
I'll meet you in your fantasy just anywhere you can obey
Ipsala, Bombay, this is the wrong way
Cause he'll see you I'll go into shock, it's true
Tally ho, tally ho
Well, where are you now?
And where have you been?
I've been untrue if this has all 'bout you
But who are you, yeah, asking me to, I can't tell
Now, you said it was yesterday, yesterday's another day
Had a lot of make believe, I don't know if it's you or if it's me
Oh, I don't know, I don't know
Tally ho, tally ho, tally ho, tally ho
In The Clean's song Tally Ho!, the lyrics seem to be a stream of consciousness, with the singer uncertain about their own identity and confused about reality. The opening lines suggest that the singer is being confronted with a memory from the past ('now, you said it was yesterday, yesterday's another day') but they are unsure whether it was real or imagined ('had a lot of make believe, I don't know if it's you or if it's me'). The repetition of 'I don't know' emphasizes this sense of confusion and uncertainty.
The chorus of the song, with its exclamation of 'tally ho', seems to be a rallying cry, a call to arms to face whatever lies ahead. The second verse introduces another character who may be a threat ('cause he'll see you I'll go into shock, it's true') and suggests that the singer's reality has been upended by this encounter. The final lines of the song return to the theme of uncertainty about identity ('who are you, yeah, asking me to, I can't tell'), effectively bringing the song full circle.
Overall, Tally Ho! is a somewhat disjointed and enigmatic song, but one that is full of energy and enthusiasm. It captures the feeling of being lost in one's own thoughts and unsure of what the future holds, but also of being determined to press on regardless.
Line by Line Meaning
Now, you said it was yesterday, yesterday's another day
The past is unchangeable, so dwelling on what happened yesterday is pointless.
Had a lot of make believe, I don't know if it's you or if it's me oh, I don't know, I don't know
I'm not sure if the relationship is real or just an illusion in my head.
Tally ho, tally ho
Let's dive into this adventure fearlessly!
I'll meet you in your fantasy just anywhere you can obey
I'll do whatever it takes to fulfill your desires and be with you.
Ipsala, Bombay, this is the wrong way
We may be heading down the wrong path, and need to reevaluate our choices.
Cause he'll see you I'll go into shock, it's true
If someone else were to take your attention away from me, I would be devastated.
Tally ho, tally ho
We still have to keep going and move forward, despite any roadblocks.
Well, where are you now?
I'm curious about your current whereabouts and situation.
And where have you been?
I'm also wondering about how you got to where you are now.
I've been untrue if this has all 'bout you
I may have not been entirely honest with myself or you about my feelings.
But who are you, yeah, asking me to, I can't tell
I'm not sure who you are or what you truly want from me, making it hard for me to respond appropriately.
Tally ho, tally ho, tally ho, tally ho
Despite the confusion and uncertainty, we need to press on fearlessly and chase our goals.
Contributed by Blake B. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
@duncanhunter2714
RIP 🙏 Hamish. Thanks for all the wonderful music.
@occhidinuvola1120
Sad loss
@jamesdignanmusic2765
RIP Hamish ❤ I've had the honour of knowing all three of these guys (plus their bandmate the late Peter Gutteridge) and been a supporting act for all of them in different musical incarnations. An absolute legend, and vital in the development of the "Dunedin Sound".
@thiscorrosion900
I just heard today that Hamish had passed on, I've heard of The Clean for decades but for some reason don't know their music at all, though I"m a major power pop nut, etc. Used to read about them in the indie mags. years ago, fanzines, etc. Along with bands like The Neats. I think R.E.M. mentioned them more than a few times years ago.
@jamesdignanmusic2765
@Scott Briggs The early singles (this one and "Beatnik" and their "Vehicle" album would be good places to start your Clean journey... other projects by the band's members (such as The Bats and The Heavy Eights) are also worth a listen.
@thiscorrosion900
@James Dignan music Hey thanks for replying! I need to go track all that music down and give it a spin. It took me the past 15 years or so to even catch up with the likes of Shoes and bands like that. Strawberries, et al. So many great power pop bands many of whom never got the recognition they deserved. Or airplay. Radio Birdman is a prime example. Anyway I'd heard of The Clean for literally decades.
@casinodelonge
Agreed, always loved listening to Hamish’s views and his constant streams of obscure and not so obscure 60’s music .. glad he renonnected with NZ, he seemed to have fallen out of love with NY, dare well on your next voyage Hamish!
@blackfrancis5490
RIP HAMISH great song and when nz was great!GOD BLESS
@unbroken1010
One of my all time favorite songs 😍
@Horus-Lupercal
Moving to Wellington tomorrow, downloading this song to listen to at the St. Clair lookout, while looking out at Dunedin city one last time.