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.
Tunnel
The Screaming Jets Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
To the other side of night
I keep on searching for the tunnel's end
And I'm struggling for light
Who turned out the light
Well, I gather force as I'm moving
I'm feeling steely, I'm somber, I'm cold
'Cause tonight is gonna make you old
Well, I've got rhythm in my stride
I can't hide it
Yeah
I got the blues on my mind
Get out of my way
I'm coming through on my own
Well, get out of my way
I'm coming through all alone
Yeah, I wake up every afternoon
I got the fire burning in my head
On the outside I probably look very much alive
But on the inside I'm dead
Well, I've got rhythm in my stride
I can't hide it
Yeah
I got the blues on my mind
Get out of my way
I'm coming through on my own
Well, I said get out of my way
I'm coming through all alone
Hey, hey, get out of my way
I'm coming through well on my own
I said get out of my way
I'm coming through all alone, alone
I keep on searching for the tunnels end
And I don't need anybody
I have to find the key, show me the door
I can't take this shit anymore
I can't take no more
Well, I've got rhythm in my stride
Yeah
I got the blues on my mind
Get out of my way
I'm coming through on my own
I said get out of my way
I'm coming through all alone
I don't need nobody I said that before
I can't take any shit anymore
Well, get out of my way
I'm coming through all alone
The Screaming Jets' song "Tunnel" is a reflection on the struggles of life and the search for a way out. The singer, traveling in his "time machine" through the "other side of night," searches for the end of the tunnel, but he's overwhelmed by the darkness and the feeling of being alone. He remembers all the faces he's encountered on his journey, but tonight is going to make him old.
The lyrics express feeling trapped and isolated, like the singer is trying to break free from his mundane existence. He wakes up every afternoon with a fire burning in his head, but on the inside, he feels dead. He's got rhythm in his stride, but he can't hide the blues on his mind. He's coming through alone and doesn't need anybody's help.
The song's message is a reminder that life has its struggles, but we must push through them and stay determined until we find the light at the end of the tunnel. The lyrics paint a vivid picture of the challenges people face, but the song's ending is hopeful. The singer isn't giving up and will continue searching for a way out.
Line by Line Meaning
Well, as I travel in my time machine
As I move through time and space
To the other side of night
To the unknown, darker side
I keep on searching for the tunnel's end
Continuously seeking an escape
And I'm struggling for light
In need of guidance
Who turned out the light
Loss of direction and clarity
Well, I gather force as I'm moving
Gaining strength with every step
I'm feeling steely, I'm somber, I'm cold
Emotionally distant and unfeeling
But I remember all of the faces
Recalling the memories of those encountered before
'Cause tonight is gonna make you old
The events of tonight are going to challenge and age you
Well, I've got rhythm in my stride
Confidently moving forward
I can't hide it
My energy and determination are apparent
Yeah
A simple affirmation
I got the blues on my mind
Pained and troubled thoughts occupy my mind
Get out of my way
Remove any hindrance or obstacle
I'm coming through on my own
Making progress independently
Well, get out of my way
Reiterating the need to clear the path
I'm coming through all alone
Making progress unaccompanied
Yeah, I wake up every afternoon
Feeling jaded and lethargic
I got the fire burning in my head
Passion and drive still exist within
On the outside I probably look very much alive
Appearing active and healthy to others
But on the inside I'm dead
Internally struggling and unfulfilled
Hey, hey, get out of my way
Urging others to move aside
I'm coming through well on my own
Progressing confidently independently
I said get out of my way
Reiteration of the need to clear the path
I'm coming through all alone, alone
Traveling and growing independently
And I don't need anybody
Self-sufficient and independent
I have to find the key, show me the door
In need of guidance to reach a solution
I can't take this shit anymore
Enduring difficulties and looking for a way out
I can't take no more
Enduring too much and needing a change
I don't need nobody I said that before
Reaffirming self-sufficiency
Well, get out of my way
Urging others to move aside
I'm coming through all alone
Independent progress continues
Contributed by Eliana G. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
Earthy Irwin
on Better
Great work Grant Walmsley