The band's 2003 album Up All Night reached the top five of the Australian Albums Chart, it achieved double platinum status and won four ARIA Awards in October. Two further top five albums were issued, Sun Dirt Water in 2007 and Temptation in 2011. The Waifs have three top fifty singles, "London Still" (2002), "Bridal Train" (2004) and "Sun Dirt Water". The band supported Bob Dylan on his 2003 Australian tour and then his 2003 North American tour, including a gig at the Newport Folk Festival.
The Waifs founded the independent label Jarrah Records in July 2002, co-owned with fellow musician John Butler, and their common manager Phil Stevens, which handles their Australian releases.
Since I've Been Around
The Waifs Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Of the town where I was born
Looking at these things I've seen
So many times before
I take a deep breath, smile
And kick a stone along the ground
Been so long, since I've been around
That everything still looks the same
People that I bump into
They call me by my name
It almost feels as though
I never even left this town
Been so long, since I've been around
My girlfriend lived on Hawdon Street
Man was she a sight
Sometimes I would sneak
Into her bedroom late at night
Now she's not there
I'm told her family
Long since left the town
Been so long, since I've been around
Yeah many of my friends found
Some other place they'd rather be
But I still know of one good mate,
She gonna keep me company
I think I'm gonna call her up,
We'll go and paint the town
Been so long, since I've been around
I stopped on by her place,
Years ago I knew her well
Let's go drink to old times
At the Adelaide Hotel
She said it's twenty years now
Since they shut that old pub down
Been so long, since I've been around
Yeah but the hospital's still standing,
Down over by the river shore
That's the place where I took my
First breath, so many years before
I take a deep breath now and feel
My chest begin to pound
Been so long, since I've been around
Now I'm lying by the river
Feeling lazy in the shade
Children shout and splash about
In water where I played
And I'm thinking I could stay a while,
Maybe settle down
Been so long, since I've been around
The Waifs' "Since I've Been Around" is a song that tells the story of a person returning to their hometown after a long time away. The singer strolls down Main Street and observes the same sights he has seen many times before. The familiarity of the town provides comfort for him, but he also realizes how things have changed since he left. The song's nostalgic tone is reinforced by the remembrance of the singer's girlfriend who lived on Hawdon Street, and it's confessed that they would sneak into her bedroom late at night. The song captures the essence of being homesick and the feeling of being disconnected from one's past.
The lyrics also discuss the singer's relationships with his friends and how he has lost contact with many of them. The song emphasizes the importance of staying connected with one's friends and family. There's still one friend who is around, and the singer is planning to reconnect with her. The Adelaide Hotel is mentioned as a place of nostalgic memories, but it is now closed. Similarly, the hospital is still standing, the place where the singer took his first breath.
Throughout the song, the singer takes deep breaths, signaling a newfound appreciation for the town's familiarity and simplicity. In the final lines, the singer finds himself lying by the river, feeling lazy and at peace. The song describes how being back home has made him realize that he might want to settle down and stay for a while.
Line by Line Meaning
Walking down the main street
Walking down the main street of my hometown
Of the town where I was born
The town where I was born and raised
Looking at these things I've seen
Recognizing and reminiscing about the familiar sights and landmarks of the town
So many times before
Having seen these things numerous times before
I take a deep breath, smile
Taking a moment to appreciate and enjoy being back
And kick a stone along the ground
Engaging in a simple yet satisfying activity
Been so long, since I've been around
It has been a long time since I've been back to this town
There's comfort in the way
Feeling comforted by the familiarity of the surroundings
That everything still looks the same
Noticing that not much has changed over the years
People that I bump into
Meeting people from my past
They call me by my name
Being recognized and remembered by my name
It almost feels as though
Feeling like I've never even left this town
My girlfriend lived on Hawdon Street
Remembering where my past girlfriend used to live
Man was she a sight
Thinking about how attractive my past girlfriend was
Sometimes I would sneak
Recalling times when I would sneak into her bedroom at night
Into her bedroom late at night
Sneaking into my girlfriend's bedroom at night
Now she's not there
Realizing that my past girlfriend is no longer in the town
I'm told her family
Hearing from others about my past girlfriend's family
Long since left the town
Knowing that my past girlfriend's family has moved away from the town
Yeah many of my friends found
Knowing that many of my friends have left the town
Some other place they'd rather be
Realizing that my friends have moved to other places that they prefer
But I still know of one good mate,
Remembering one particular friend who still lives in the town
She gonna keep me company
Planning to hang out with my good mate who still lives in the town
I think I'm gonna call her up,
Planning to contact my good mate to make plans
We'll go and paint the town
Planning to have a good time and enjoy the town's offerings with my good mate
I stopped on by her place,
Visiting my good mate's residence
Years ago I knew her well
Having known my good mate for many years
Let's go drink to old times
Sharing memories over drinks
At the Adelaide Hotel
Going to the hotel where we used to hang out
She said it's twenty years now
Hearing from my good mate that it has been twenty years since something happened
Since they shut that old pub down
Finding out that our favorite hangout spot has closed down
Yeah but the hospital's still standing,
Noticing that the hospital where I was born is still standing
Down over by the river shore
Locating the hospital by the river
That's the place where I took my
Remembering that this is where I was born
First breath, so many years before
Knowing that it has been many years since I was born
I take a deep breath now and feel
Taking another deep breath and feeling emotional
My chest begin to pound
Feeling emotional and nostalgic
Now I'm lying by the river
Relaxing by the river
Feeling lazy in the shade
Enjoying the peacefulness and shade by the river
Children shout and splash about
Hearing the playful sounds of children splashing around in the river
In water where I played
Remembering playing in the same river as a child
And I'm thinking I could stay a while,
Contemplating staying longer in the town
Maybe settle down
Thinking about the possibility of living in the town permanently
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind