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.
Helping Hand
The Screaming Jets Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Sometimes, I think I'm just a little crazy
I don't even know my own name
Soon all of me will go up in flames
Wearing scars, on my arms and in my eyes
Are you friends or enemies in disguise
So hard, when everything just runs against me
Jealous words, turn into a love/hate frenzy
Time is up, to the time thats left undone
Time to grab my hat, grab my coat, I gotta load my gun
Silly things always always are the ones that turn out worst
And it seams
The ones that love you always hurt you the most
Won't someone, please understand
Won't someone, lend me a helping hand
Won't someone, please take the time to think
That your actions and words
They don't always say what they mean
Since I was a child, I used to dream of many things
Superstars, the bizzare, kings and their pretty queens
Now it seems, I need a shot, a drink to jog my thoughts
Why does this happen all the time
Is ti, is it just because
Because no-one will understand
Won't someone, lend me a helping hand
Won't someone, take the time to think
That your actions and words
They don't always say what they mean.
The Screaming Jets's "Helping Hand" is a song that delves into the thoughts, emotions, and struggles of an individual who is grappling with their own identity, self-worth, and relationships. The opening lines "Sometimes, things get a little hazy, sometimes I think I'm just a little crazy" suggest that the individual is feeling overwhelmed and disoriented about their life. They express a sense of confusion and disconnection from themselves, their surroundings, and possibly the people around them. The lines "I don't even know my own name, soon all of me will go up in flames" indicate that they feel like they are losing their sense of self and are on the brink of self-destruction.
The lyrics also touch upon the theme of trust and betrayal in relationships. The lines "wearing scars, on my arms and in my eyes, are you friends or enemies in disguise" allude to the idea that the individual has been hurt before and is finding it hard to trust people. The lines "the ones that love you always hurt you the most" suggest that the individual might have experienced emotional pain and disappointment from those they were closest to.
The chorus of the song is a plea for help and understanding. The lines "Won't someone, lend me a helping hand, won't someone, please take the time to think, that your actions and words, they don't always say what they mean" reflect the individual's desire for someone to show them support, empathy, and kindness. They are also urging people to be more mindful of the impact their actions and words have on others.
Line by Line Meaning
Sometimes, things get a little hazy
At times, my life becomes a bit unclear
Sometimes, I think I'm just a little crazy
Occasionally, I believe I'm losing my mind
I don't even know my own name
I am disoriented to the point of forgetting who I am
Soon all of me will go up in flames
I am burning out and may self-destruct soon
Wearing scars, on my arms and in my eyes
Physical and emotional damage is present in my life
Are you friends or enemies in disguise
I'm unsure which people in my life are genuine and which are not
So hard, when everything just runs against me
When life's obstacles feel insurmountable, it's difficult
Jealous words, turn into a love/hate frenzy
Negative emotions can quickly escalate into intense feelings
Won't someone, lend me a helping hand
I require assistance to overcome my challenges
Time is up, to the time thats left undone
It's time to wrap up unfinished business
Time to grab my hat, grab my coat, I gotta load my gun
It's imperative that I prepare myself for the worst possible scenario
Silly things always always are the ones that turn out worst
Ironically, small mistakes can have big consequences
And it seams
The ones that love you always hurt you the most
It appears that those we cherish can inflict the deepest pain
Won't someone, please understand
I desperately need someone to empathize with me
Won't someone, please take the time to think
It would be appreciated if someone would contemplate the situation
That your actions and words
They don't always say what they mean
Sometimes, people's words and deeds have hidden implications
Since I was a child, I used to dream of many things
Superstars, the bizzare, kings and their pretty queens
As a youngster, I had grandiose aspirations of fame and surreal pleasures
Now it seems, I need a shot, a drink to jog my thoughts
Currently, I require a vice to stimulate my mind and make sense of things
Why does this happen all the time
Is ti, is it just because
I am struggling to comprehend why my misfortune is so persistent
Because no-one will understand
I feel like nobody can relate to my troubles
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
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Great work Grant Walmsley