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.
Life and Death
The Screaming Jets Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
A sedative ain't enough to clear my brain I don't want to live without you.
And they say just take the pain until its over But I say this ain't no game.
Its more like
Some kind of torture.
Its like a mirror hanging over me if I don't Lift my head.
I'm never gonna see its not the way
You win or lose
And things will never be the same.
Experience is that what its all about cause I'd much prefer the laughter.
Its serious but if life comes after death
Well I guess that's what we're after.
And they say just take the pain until its over But I say this ain't no game
Its more like some kind of torture.
Its like a mirror hanging over me.
If I don't lift my head I'm never gonna see.
Its not the way you win or lose
Its how you play
And things will never be the same, no no no.
I got no idea but I guess Ill have to live
With all the feelings I have for you.
And when tomorrow comes I'll probably
Make mistakes.
But to new grounds I can venture.
And I hope I'll be the same when its all over
And I hope I'm not insane just kind of
Wrapped up in torture.
Its like a mirror hanging over me
If I don't open my eyes.
Ill never see
Its not the way you win or lose
Its how you play
And things will never be the same.
Well I've always had the feeling that I was
Doing this for you.
And I've always known you're right beside
Me too.
But there's nothing in this whole damn world
that's ever
Been one linger ideal its so bizarre
At times its so unreal.
Now you feel so distant like you're
In another world
And I've gotta get my mind out of this sorrow.
Its like a mirror hanging over me
Its like a mirror hanging over me
If I don't open my eyes.
Ill never see
Its not the way you win or lose
Its how you play the game
And things will never be the same.
The Screaming Jets' song "Life and Death" explores the pain and struggles of losing a loved one. The lyrics express the intense emotional turmoil that comes with grief, stating that memories and sedatives are not enough to ease the pain caused by losing a brother. The pain is described as a type of torture, something that can hang over a person like a mirror if they don't lift their head and face it.
The lyrics also touch on the idea that life is not simply about winning or losing, but about how one plays the game. The experiences one has in life are what make it all meaningful, and while things will never be the same after a loss, the hope is that one can venture towards new grounds while keeping the same ideals and not losing their sanity.
Overall, the song is a moving tribute to the difficulties of coping with loss and the need to face it head-on, no matter how painful it may be.
Line by Line Meaning
A memory ain't enough to ease the pain from the loss of a brother.
Recalling past events is not sufficient in reducing the heartache caused by the demise of a beloved sibling.
A sedative ain't enough to clear my brain I don't want to live without you.
Even the strongest tranquilizers are inadequate in calming my nerves as I cannot imagine surviving without you.
And they say just take the pain until its over But I say this ain't no game.
Society suggests that the agony will subside eventually, but I disagree as this ordeal is not a trivial matter.
Its more like Some kind of torture.
I would compare it to being tortured in some way, mentally or emotionally.
Its like a mirror hanging over me if I don't Lift my head.
It feels like a reflection of my sorrow is constantly hovering over me, and unless I change my perspective, it won't disappear.
I'm never gonna see its not the way You win or lose Its how you play.
I might not realize that it's not about triumphing over adversity, but instead, it's about how we handle the challenges we face.
And things will never be the same.
The situation will always be distinctive than it once was.
Experience is that what its all about cause I'd much prefer the laughter.
The value of our existence stems from learning, but personally, I would rather cherish the happy moments.
Its serious but if life comes after death Well I guess that's what we're after.
Death is an extremely solemn matter, but if there is something beyond this world, then that's what we're striving for.
I got no idea but I guess Ill have to live With all the feelings I have for you.
I am uncertain how to proceed, but I don't have any option other than living with the intense emotions I possess for you.
And when tomorrow comes I'll probably Make mistakes.
It's likely that I will err in the future when I confront challenging situations.
But to new grounds I can venture.
However, I have the ability to explore new possibilities despite the mistakes.
And I hope I'll be the same when its all over And I hope I'm not insane just kind of Wrapped up in torture.
I aspire to remain the same person when everything subsides, and my mind is not deranged, just heavily affected by this painful experience.
Well I've always had the feeling that I was Doing this for you.
I have continually sensed that whatever I am tackling, it's for your benefit.
And I've always known you're right beside Me too.
Additionally, I am aware that you're always by my side, supporting and guiding me, just as I do for you.
But there's nothing in this whole damn world that's ever Been one linger ideal its so bizarre At times its so unreal.
However, there is nothing in existence that is entirely perfect, and it's absurd and unreal at moments.
Now you feel so distant like you're In another world And I've gotta get my mind out of this sorrow.
Currently, you seem so far away, as if you are in another realm, and I need to overcome my anguish to move on.
Its like a mirror hanging over me.
The distressing thoughts and feelings are like a reflection that haunts me.
If I don't open my eyes. Ill never see.
If I don't open up to the possibility of healing, I may never overcome this emotional pain.
Its not the way you win or lose Its how you play the game And things will never be the same.
The outcome of our endeavors is not the most important, but the manner in which we handle the situation, and accepting that everything will be different henceforth.
Lyrics ยฉ OBO APRA/AMCOS
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Alison Penelope Pitstop Scarborough
Absolutely love this song and the vid!
A powerful performance in classic Screaming Jets style.
Love the riffs ๐ธ๐๐
Long Live Aussie Rock ๐ค
Paula Jane
Hell yeah love this song ๐ธ๐ถโฅ๏ธ๐ฅ
Rebound Fifty
Absolute tune๐ค๐ผ
Alison Penelope Pitstop Scarborough
Cheers to that !! ๐ป๐
Alison Penelope Pitstop Scarborough
Love the film clip. Awesome. RNFR
Alison Penelope Pitstop Scarborough
Killah guirar riff ๐ธ๐๐๐ค
Malcolm Marriott
Cheers. ๐