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.
Sad Song
The Screaming Jets Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
So down like I'm drowning, so down like I'm dying
How about a song to pull the rug from under me
When I was OK, when I was sane
When I found my way, yeah
How about a warning when the body's already dowsed
And It's ready for burning, to late to learn
How about a reunion when everybody's gone away
They don't want to find out that you're doing OK
Will you be the first one when things get me down
Will you be the first one to bring me around
Resurrect my sense of believing
Cause' I sure could use the feeling
Got to get a handle, got to climb up another rung
I'm tired of being down, I don't want to drown
I'm gonna walk, gonna walk, like a walking time bomb
I don't want to go off, but I will if I'm forced to run
Will you be the first one when things get me down
Will you be the first one to bring me around
Resurrect my sense of believing
'Cause I sure could use the feeling
Something in the way I feel, makes me want to run
There's something in the way you lead me
That stop's my head from making my body go
How about a sad song to make me get further down
Got to get ahead got to climb another rung
Will you be the first one when things get me down
Will you be the first one to bring me around
Resurrect my sense of healing A Bm 'Cause I sure could use it
Will you be the first one when things get me down
Will you be the first one to bring me around
Resurrect my sense of believing
'Cause I sure could use the feeling
The Screaming Jets's song Sad Song is a depiction of the ups and downs of life, with a focus on the downs. The lyrics describe the desire for a sad song that is going to take the singer even further down, drowning and dying, as a way to cope with the pain and numbness. The idea of the song being a warning or a reunion offers a way to connect with people, hoping to find someone who can help resurrect the singer's sense of believing.
The repeated question asking if the person will be the first one to bring the singer around opens up to the idea that the singer is reaching out, looking for help to overcome the obstacles and challenges that are preventing them from moving forward. The imagery of a walking time bomb, getting tired of being down, and not wanting to drown further emphasize the urgency and the need for someone to help the singer get back on their feet.
Line by Line Meaning
How about a sad song to help me get further down
I need a song that will make me feel even more sad and depressed
So down like I'm drowning, so down like I'm dying
I want the song to make me feel like I'm suffocating and near death
How about a song to pull the rug from under me
I want a song that will completely knock me off my feet and make me feel vulnerable
When I was OK, when I was sane
I want the song to remind me of when I was in a better mental state
When I found my way, yeah
I want to be reminded of when I had purpose and direction in my life
How about a warning when the body's already dowsed
I want to be warned about the consequences of my actions when it's already too late
And It's ready for burning, to late to learn
I want to be reminded of the irreversible damage I've caused and how I can't change it now
How about a reunion when everybody's gone away
I want to be reunited with people who have left my life and moved on
They don't want to see you
I feel like the people I used to know don't care about me anymore
They don't want to find out that you're doing OK
I feel like people would be upset if they found out I'm doing well and moving on from my sadness
Will you be the first one when things get me down
I need someone to be there for me when I'm feeling low and depressed
Will you be the first one to bring me around
I need someone to help me snap out of my sadness and depression
Resurrect my sense of believing
I need to regain my faith and hope in life
Cause' I sure could use the feeling
I really need to feel better about myself and my life
Got to get a handle, got to climb up another rung
I need to take control of my life and make progress towards my goals
I'm tired of being down, I don't want to drown
I'm exhausted from feeling sad and I don't want to let my sadness consume me
I'm gonna walk, gonna walk, like a walking time bomb
I feel like I'm about to explode with negative emotions
I don't want to go off, but I will if I'm forced to run
I don't want my sadness to turn into anger and explode, but I'm afraid it might
Something in the way I feel, makes me want to run
I have an overwhelming urge to escape my negative emotions
There's something in the way you lead me
I feel like someone else has control over my life and emotions
That stop's my head from making my body go
My emotions are holding me back from taking action and making progress in my life
Resurrect my sense of healing A Bm 'Cause I sure could use it
I need to heal from my past traumas and find inner peace and happiness
Will you be the first one when things get me down
I need someone I can rely on when I'm feeling low
Will you be the first one to bring me around
I need someone to help me see the bright side of things and motivate me to keep going
'Cause I sure could use the feeling
I need to feel hope and positivity in my life again
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: GRANT WALMSLEY
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Earthy Irwin
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Great work Grant Walmsley