The band revolves around the distinctive vocal style of songwriter Luke Steele. Stemming from a musical family, father Rick Steele is a local blues musician, two of Luke Steele's siblings are also musicians with brother Jesse a former member of The Sleepy Jackson (and currently performing with father Rick in The Hot Biscult Band) and sister Katy, who fronts another Perth indie rock band, Little Birdy.
The band formed in 1998 with the original lineup featuring Luke Steele (guitars/vocals), Jesse Steele (drums), and Matthew O’Connor (bass). This lineup recorded a self-titled debut and a subsequent single titled "Miniskirt". Both recordings were independently released. In 2000, as a result of non-musical commitments, Luke Steele suggested that his brother should redirect his attentions and concentrate on other happenings in his life which ultimately resulted in Jesse following his advice and departing the band.
The void created by Steele's departure was filled by Paul Keenan (who now drums with Eskimo Joe at their live performances). Along with numerous shows in their hometown of Perth, in late 2000, The Sleepy Jackson toured nationally with Jebediah. In March 2001, on the eve of the band’s signing with EMI Records, the band toured with Magic Dirt and Motor Ace with Ronan Charles on keyboards joining Steele, O'Connor and Keenan. Five weeks into the tour, with the band broke, exhausted, and sleeping in caravan parks rather than enjoying the luxuries their touring partners were enjoying, O'Connor, Keenan and Charles quit leaving Steele to complete the tour solo.
In signing to EMI, pressure was soon placed on Steele to produce a recording. The result was a 2001 released EP titled Caffeine In The Morning Sun which Steele recorded in Sydney with a collection of session musicians. In addition to playing solo, Steele recruited drummer Malcolm Clark into The Sleepy Jackson fold and, when some serious touring was required in support of the release, the services of Justin Burford (Guitar) and Rodney Aravena (Bass) were enlisted. In addition to The Sleepy Jackson, Steele's three colleagues were also playing around their hometown with Jonathon Dudman under the name End Of Fashion.
The Sleepy Jackson relocated to Sydney where they recorded another EP, Let Your Love Be Love. Songs from this and past releases were put together to form a self titled mini album for release on the UK market. A period of extensive touring quickly followed which saw the band playing in Australia, The United States, and Europe. The later bought the band some very enthusiastic attention from UK music paper NME. In between live appearances, The Sleepy Jackson worked on recordings that were to become their debut album Lovers. During a series of UK appearances in 2003, Burford and Aravena left the band. With a support slot for Silverchair's Diorama tour looming back in Australia, replacements were quickly sought. Clarke ironically called upon the only other End of Fashion member not previously part of The Sleepy Jackson, Jonathon Dudman.
Dudman joined the band in Sydney where he took over bass duties and the second guitarist position was filled by session musician Ben Nightingale. The Sleepy Jackson's revolving door continued when Nightingale was ultimately replaced by Jonathon Dudman's brother, Julian Dudman. But the Dudmans consequently left the band leaving Luke Steele and Malcolm Clark as the only official members of The Sleepy Jackson.
The Sleepy Jackson released their second full length album Personality - One Was A Spider, One Was A Bird in Australia on July 1 2006 where it debuted at No. 10 on the ARIA Albums Charts the following week. With its predecessor Lovers receiving generous support from both critics and radio alike, the band supported the new album's worldwide release with a series of live appearances in select markets. Joining Clark and Steele are Dave Symes and Felix Bloxsom, who both worked on the album, and Lee Jones who was formerly in Perth band Spencer Tracy.
The album was released in the United Kingdom on July 26th and in the United States on July 27th. In July 2006 the album was nominated for a J Award by Australian Radio Station, Triple J.
In 2007 The Sleepy Jackson performed at the 2007 Big Day Out, Southbound, Falls Festival and the St Jerome's Laneway festivals in Melbourne, Sydney and Brisbane.
Work Alone
The Sleepy Jackson Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Ma ma mo he ma hoo he deladeloo
Lately... I like alone on the show.
I don't get you on my mind.
I get on the thought of trying to get you off my mind.
Lately... Mia mia ma me arh ohoh babee.
Ma ma mo he ma hoo he deladeloon ooh.
I don't get you on my mind.
I get on the thought of trying to get you off my mind.
Lately... It's true, they tried to get me down with the morning weather.
You don't get clever, you don't see.
If you do not work early in the morning weather.
You don't get clever, you don't clever. You don't see...
The Sleepy Jackson's song Work Alone is a melodic and rhythmic track that expresses themes of isolation and the struggle to get over a past lover. The lyrics "Mia mia. Mia mia ma me arh ohon babee. Ma ma mo he ma hoo he deladeloo" in the chorus have a nonsensical tone to them, and this could represent the artist's inability to articulate his true feelings simply. The lines "Lately... I like alone on the show" and "Lately... I like alone" indicate that the artist is comfortable being alone, and possibly prefers it to being in a relationship that has ended badly. The repeated phrase "trying to get you off my mind" highlights his struggle to move on from his past relationship and the difficulty in freeing himself from those memories.
The verse "It's true, they tried to get me down with the morning weather. You don't get clever, you don't see. If you do not work early in the morning weather. You don't get clever, you don't clever. You don't see..." could be interpreted as a reference to life's difficulties, and the need to work hard to overcome them. The "morning weather" could represent the challenges that come early in life, and if you don't work hard to overcome them, then you will not become wise or clever. The repetition of the phrase "you don't get clever, you don't see" reinforces this message.
Overall, Work Alone is a reflective piece that delves into themes of isolation and self-growth. The song has a chilled-out vibe to it and could be the perfect accompaniment for a lazy Sunday morning.
Line by Line Meaning
Mia mia. Mia mia ma me arh ohon babee.
Expressing meaningless nonsense or babble.
Ma ma mo he ma hoo he deladeloo
Continuing with nonsensical language.
Lately... I like alone on the show.
Recently, I have been preferring to be alone rather than putting on a show for others.
I don't get you on my mind.
You are not occupying my thoughts.
I get on the thought of trying to get you off my mind.
Instead, my mind is occupied with trying to forget about you
Lately... Mia mia ma me arh ohoh babee.
Continuing with nonsensical language.
Ma ma mo he ma hoo he deladeloon ooh.
More meaningless babble.
Lately... I like alone.
Again, I prefer solitude over social interaction.
I don't get you on my mind.
You are still not occupying my thoughts.
I get on the thought of trying to get you off my mind.
My thoughts are still consumed with trying to forget about you.
Lately... It's true, they tried to get me down with the morning weather.
Recently, others' attempts to bring me down have been unsuccessful.
You don't get clever, you don't see.
If you are not smart, you will not understand.
If you do not work early in the morning weather.
If you do not work hard in the morning.
You don't get clever, you don't clever. You don't see...
If you are not intelligent, you will not understand.
Contributed by Penelope Y. Suggest a correction in the comments below.