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.
October Grey
The Screaming Jets Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
And still I remember,
The smile you kept for me
Lately I have missed you,
And It hits me in the morning,
When I'm cold
But I can't change a thing,
No I can't change a thing
If I knew, what I know
And If I said, what I meant
When all the big dogs get to grow their own
Everybody gotta' call some place home
(I have nothing to say)
Memories.....In October Grey
I can't change a thing,
I can't change a thing,
I can't change anything
I can't change.....a thing
(solo)
Ohhhhhhhh...Wrapped in October Grey.......
Now I have learned, not to trust
I have to watch everything I feel
You'll never know,
And I'll never let you see,
What I've done, what's become of me
(I have no words to say)
Memories.....
Memories of mother's day
I can't change a thing,
Oh I can't change a thing,
I just can't change anything,
I can't change......a thing
The Screaming Jets's song "October Grey" is a song about longing for someone from the past. The lyrics express the singer's longing for a person who used to smile at them, and who they have not seen in a long time. The singer admits that they have missed this person, and that the feeling hits them particularly hard in the morning, when they feel cold and alone. However, the singer also acknowledges that they cannot change anything about the situation, and that they are powerless to bring this person back into their life.
The song also includes a cryptic reference to "big dogs" growing their own, which may be a metaphor for people who have achieved success and stability in their lives. The line "everybody gotta' call some place home" suggests that even people who have achieved great success still need a place to belong. The song concludes with the singer acknowledging that they have learned not to trust easily, and that they keep their feelings hidden from others. The final line, "memories of mother's day," suggests that the singer may be reflecting on their childhood and the loss of a mother figure.
Line by Line Meaning
It's been awhile
It has been a long time since we parted ways.
And still I remember,
However, I still have vivid recollections of you.
The smile you kept for me
I remember the specific friendly look you reserved for me.
Lately I have missed you,
Recently, I have been yearning for your companionship.
And It hits me in the morning,
This feeling usually hits me during the early hours of the day.
When I'm cold
It comes along with the feeling of coldness.
(I have nothing to say)
I feel like there is nothing I could say to fix things between us.
But I can't change a thing,
Unfortunately, there is nothing I can do to change the current situation.
No I can't change a thing
I am fully aware that I have no power to alter anything.
If I knew, what I know
If only I was aware of what I know now before we went our separate ways.
And If I said, what I meant
If only I said everything that was on my mind.
When all the big dogs get to grow their own
When those in a superior position get to secure their future.
Everybody gotta' call some place home
Everyone has somewhere they can call home.
(I have nothing to say)
I find myself lost for words.
Memories.....In October Grey
The memories of our time together now seem like distant, cold memories.
I can't change a thing,
I keep remembering that I am completely powerless to change anything.
I can't change a thing,
The thought of my incapacity to change anything keeps coming back to me.
I can't change anything
I have come to accept that I do not have the power to effect any changes.
I can't change.....a thing
I cannot emphasize enough that I have no power to alter anything.
(solo)
There's a gap in the song for a musical solo.
Ohhhhhhhh...Wrapped in October Grey.......
Wrapped up in the emotions and memories of October Grey.
Now I have learned, not to trust
The experience with you has taught me not to trust easily.
I have to watch everything I feel
I have to scrutinize and control all my emotions and feelings.
You'll never know,
You will never know how much you broke me.
And I'll never let you see,
I would never let my guard down to reveal my vulnerabilities to you.
What I've done, what's become of me
I wouldn't want to show the change in my character and personality since we parted ways.
(I have no words to say)
I am speechless.
Memories.....
The memories we had together.
Memories of mother's day
Memories of a past Mother's Day with you.
I can't change a thing,
I keep reminding myself that I am powerless to change anything.
Oh I can't change a thing,
I wish I could change something, but I know I can't.
I just can't change anything,
I have fully accepted that there is nothing for me to change.
I can't change......a thing
I cannot stress this enough - I do not have the power to make any changes.
Lyrics Β© O/B/O APRA AMCOS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Mike Limb
Dave Gleeson is one of Australia's great rock singers.
bigadz0r
Gotta be the most underrated act in Aussie rock. Never got the credit they deserved. Proper hit makers
the Aussie D.I.Y. BUDGET FRIENDLY Guy.
I followed them for a long time.. and I believe they blew their chance at 'World domination' at the release of the Ape album. That was the ticket for all the right reasons.. and they missed the boat. Such a shame.
Michelle G
They where good really good back in the day still are there old music like this .ππ
mr biscuits
Years from now people will listen to this song and wonder about passion and heartache. What it feels like and how we survived such tumultuous times. And we survived because of music like this! Awesome band!!!! Awesome song!!!! Please make more
The Truth
Until covid and were doing it again if there are any try blue Aussies left cheers
v erbose
mrcrackers
travis reed
jets best song for me,never get sick of listening to this sog grew up with it and still love it now in my 40s seen over 10 times live their brillant
excardross
Yes agreed mate. Same played loud its bloody amazing. My favorite from SJets.
Billy Mack
These guys killed it early 90s before grunge. Killer live show with songs often sounded better than the studio cut. They toured hard out on the back of their first two albums. One of the last of long lineage of Australian bands that honed their crafts in the pubs and hotels and theatres everywhere around the country