Following the album's release, the Screaming Jets went to the UK where they based themselves for over two years, touring there and throughout Europe with a variety of hard rock and heavy metal bands. During a series of shows with Ugly Kid Joe, Heaney was fired and replaced for the rest of the tour by one-time Judas Priest drummer Dave Holland.
The band's next album Tear of Thought, which featured Heaney's drumming, was initially slow to gain acceptance until a cover of Boys Next Door's "Shivers" saw the Screaming Jets back in the charts. Heaney was permanently replaced in the line-up by former BB Steal drummer Craig Rosevear and after a US tour with Def Leppard Lara was replaced by Melbourne musician Jimi "The Human" Hocking, who had previously fronted his own band, Jimi Human and Spectre 7, that released an album and two singles at the turn of the decade.
While the Screaming Jets remained only moderately successful overseas, in Australia they were one of the top-drawing live bands of the early-mid 1990s and perhaps the last remaining example of the pub rock acts that had ruled the country's live scene in the late 1970s - mid 1980s. While their single releases rarely scored high on the charts, they won significant airplay on rock radio and the band's tours were wildly successful. In 1995 the Screaming Jets' self-titled album made history when it became the first CD launched via live Webcast.
By the late 90s the Screaming Jets were touring less often and had not released an album of new material since 1996. Hocking had left in 1997 to be replaced by former Judge Mercy guitarist Izzy Osmanovich and after an extensive Australian tour in 2000, Rosevear left to be replaced by Col Hatchman. Although no longer the force they had once been, the Screaming Jets could still draw large crowds and in 2001 were selected to tour with Kiss and Alice Cooper; at the end of that year the band announced an extended break from all touring and recording, playing a final series of shows.
In December 2002, the Screaming Jets did another brief tour in support of a self-financed live album that had been recorded the previous year, but then did not play live again until mid-2004. Since then have continued to record and tour, though more sporadically than during the early 1990s and have also signed a record publishing deal with Universal Records.
Figure It Out
The Screaming Jets Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Oh yeah but you gotta get it right before you due All around the world of institutions and new religions.
Gotta fear the blinkers from your eyes.
Well it is natural you gotta block out your solution.
Is it your right to refuse your right to care.
Is this one of the things that you refuse to dwell on.
Your just gonna beat around the bush.
Vanish in your lies.
What if they can't tell that you've been fighting.
Figure it out, you can't fight it Its dying while you speak.
Figure it out, don't block it out.
Wrap your mind up in a suitcase and hit the track.
Such a long way down, you'll never get back. Build your life a castle not you're throwing it all away.
That was your life you lived it yesterday.
What it it's the bed you have to lie in.
What if they can't tell that you've been fighting. Figure it out you can't fight it Its dying while you sleep.
Yeah figure it out, don't block it out.
What I really want, what I really wants you to love me
Do you love me.
What I really want, what I really wants you to hate me.
What I really want is you to help me
What I really want is you to break me.
I said what if its the bed that you gotta lie in. What if its the very same bed that I've gotta die in.
Figure it out, you can't fight it
Its dying now you're crying.
Figure it out, don't block it out
Its your life and the times we're living in.
The lyrics of The Screaming Jets's song "Figure It Out" touch upon themes of personal responsibility and accountability, as well as the struggle to find a sense of purpose and meaning in life. The song seems to address the idea that we only have one life to live and that we should not waste it on empty pursuits or distractions. Instead, we should take ownership of our choices and actions and make the most of the time we have.
The line "You never seem to get it right the first time" suggests that it is common to make mistakes, but we must learn from them and strive to do better. The chorus emphasizes the importance of facing our problems head-on and not shying away from difficult decisions. The idea of "blocking out your solution" and "vanishing in your lies" could be interpreted as avoiding responsibility or making excuses for one's mistakes.
The song's final lines suggest a yearning for connection and support, whether it be through love or even through adversity. The repetition of "what I really want" highlights a sense of longing or desperation, and the lines "What I really want is you to help me / What I really want is you to break me" suggest a desire for change and growth, even if it means going through difficult challenges.
Line by Line Meaning
You never seem to get it right the first time
You often make mistakes on your first attempt.
Oh yeah but you gotta get it right before you due
However, you must correct your mistakes before the deadline.
All around the world of institutions and new religions.
There are many different organizations and beliefs worldwide.
Gotta fear the blinkers from your eyes.
You must be wary of the narrow-mindedness that affects your perspective.
Well it is natural you gotta block out your solution.
It is common to have to disregard your own solution when faced with a different perspective.
Is it your right to refuse your right to care.
Do you have the right to ignore your own well-being?
Is this one of the things that you refuse to dwell on.
Do you avoid thinking about this topic?
Your just gonna beat around the bush.
You are avoiding the main point of discussion.
Vanish in your lies.
You are disappearing in your falsehoods.
What if it's the bed you have to lie in
What if you have to accept the consequences of your actions?
What if they can't tell that you've been fighting.
What if your efforts are unseen by others?
Figure it out, you can't fight it Its dying while you speak.
Realize that you cannot ignore the issue, as it is deteriorating even as you talk.
Figure it out, don't block it out.
Find a solution and do not disregard the problem.
Wrap your mind up in a suitcase and hit the track.
Get away from your problems temporarily and clear your mind.
Such a long way down, you'll never get back.
The road back from your mistakes is a difficult and long journey.
Build your life a castle not you're throwing it all away.
Do not ruin everything you have worked for by making the same mistakes.
That was your life you lived it yesterday.
You cannot change the past, focus on the present and future.
What it it's the bed you have to lie in.
What if you must accept the consequences of your actions?
What if they can't tell that you've been fighting.
What if your efforts are not visible to others?
Figure it out you can't fight it Its dying while you sleep.
Realize that the problem is getting worse even while you are oblivious in your sleep.
Yeah figure it out, don't block it out.
Find a solution, do not ignore the problem.
What I really want, what I really wants you to love me
What I truly desire is your love.
Do you love me.
Is your love for me genuine?
What I really want, what I really wants you to hate me.
What I really desire is for you to feel resentment towards me.
What I really want is you to help me.
What I truly desire is your aid.
What I really want is you to break me.
What I truly desire is for you to destroy me emotionally.
I said what if its the bed that you gotta lie in. What if its the very same bed that I've gotta die in.
What if we must live with the consequences of our actions that cause our own downfall?
Figure it out, you can't fight it Its dying now you're crying.
Realize that the situation is worsening and causing emotional distress.
Figure it out, don't block it out Its your life and the times we're living in.
Find a solution, don't ignore the issue for it is a problem present in the current era and your life specifically.
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
K.J Shakespeare est 1994
The Screaming Jets during their “All for One/Tear of Thought” periods were absolutely rebellious. They were even kicked off from the Divinyls “Love School” tour of Australia in May of 1991 following the second to last show of the tour after Dave’s statement of “G’day Sydney, are you here to rock or are you here for a tasteful Flash of the G*sh?” When the band recorded their “Gorilla Album” and after Rosie joined as drummer, they got more maturer.