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.
Impossible
The Screaming Jets Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Governments policies
You can't to much about the heresies
You can't do too much to stop the
Squeeze on society.
When your all out of touch
You can't have much to say.
We can put a man on the moon
Everybodys passing the buck
And there's no realisation.
Well ain't it like being impossible
And there ain't no harm in tryin
Said ain't it like being impossible
But I'm gonna die trying
You can't do much about the birth of a new age
You can't do much about the old days
You can't do much about the equal
And opposite reaction.
You can't do much about that satisfaction.
I don't know much about it
I didn't listen too much
There's no use in denying your piece of luck. ain't it like being impossible
There ain't any use in hiding
And I said hell man
ain't this like being impossible
But I'm gonna die trying.
You can't do much about what's gonna
Happen today
And you can't do much about yesterday
You can't say much against some
Angry individual
You can't say much against the majority.
Is there any use shouting about it
Will anybody listen.
Will anybody back you up
Is it gonna be your mission
Well ain't it like being impossible
But there ain't no harm in trying
And I say hell man
ain't this like being impossible.
But I'm gonna die tryin.
The Screaming Jets's song Impossible is a commentary on the feeling of helplessness that many people experience in the face of societal issues that they cannot directly influence. The verses list several examples of problems that individuals cannot readily solve: government policies, heresies, the "squeeze on society," the birth of a new age, the old days, and the equal and opposite reaction. These issues seem to dwarf the average person's impact on them, leading to a sense of futility.
The chorus, however, brings a glimmer of hope. Even though it may seem like progress is impossible, the singer is determined to keep trying. He acknowledges that there may be no use in shouting about the problems or denying one's relatively good fortune, but he still affirms that he will strive to make a difference, even if he doesn't know how.
The song captures a sense of frustration that many people have felt at one time or another, particularly in the current age of social media and worldwide news. The verses enumerate a litany of problems facing society, from hunger to political polarization, while the chorus serves as a call to action, urging listeners to persist even if the odds seem stacked against them.
Line by Line Meaning
You can't do much about the Governments policies
There's not much an individual can do to change the policies of the government.
You can't to much about the heresies
One person cannot do much to stop beliefs or opinions that go against established doctrine.
You can't do too much to stop the Squeeze on society.
It's difficult for an individual to prevent the negative effects that society may have on their life.
When your all out of touch You can't have much to say.
If one is disconnected from current events or topics, they can't contribute much to a conversation about it.
We can put a man on the moon But we can't find a cure for starvation
Despite technological advancements, global issues like hunger still exist and require solutions.
Everybodys passing the buck And there's no realisation.
No one seems to be taking responsibility for problems, and there is no acknowledgment or understanding of them.
Well ain't it like being impossible And there ain't no harm in tryin
The situation may seem hopeless, but it's worth trying to make a difference regardless.
You can't do much about the birth of a new age
One cannot stop the inevitable changes that come with the passage of time.
You can't do much about the old days
The past cannot be changed or undone.
You can't do much about the equal And opposite reaction.
In physics, for every action, there is an equal and opposite reaction. This line suggests that some things are out of our control.
You can't do much about that satisfaction.
It is difficult for an individual to change someone else's satisfaction or happiness.
There's no use in denying your piece of luck.
It's pointless to deny when one has had good luck or fortune.
There ain't any use in hiding And I said hell man ain't this like being impossible But I'm gonna die trying.
It's useless to try and hide from difficult situations. Even though the task at hand may seem impossible, the singer is determined to give it their all.
You can't do much about what's gonna Happen today
The future is unknown, and it is difficult to predict or control events that may happen on a given day.
And you can't do much about yesterday You can't say much against some Angry individual
The past cannot be changed, and it's difficult to argue with someone who is angry or upset.
You can't say much against the majority.
It's challenging for an individual to speak out against the beliefs or opinions of the majority.
Is there any use shouting about it Will anybody listen.
One wonders whether there is any point in raising their voice about a particular issue or if anyone will pay attention to what they have to say.
Will anybody back you up Is it gonna be your mission
There's no guarantee that anyone will support an individual in their mission or cause.
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Always Lookin'
Well that just goes to show your a born natural Jimi. Really good thanks,
for what you have produced over the years!!
Alistair Dove
Love this track
chad drennan
underrated song,the best off that album I've always wanted to ask WHY didn't you release this
Chris K
Love the Jets, love the dedication but hell yeah we can.
Jimi Hocking
Good tune that, I was just starting to play the mandolin at this stage.