Formed in 1992, the band originally comprised Tim Freedman (lead vocals, piano), Stevie Plunder (lead vocals, guitar) and Andy Lewis (double bass, backing vocals). The line-up has changed many times over the years with Tim the only consistent member of the band, not to mention the only original member still alive. In the current line-up Terepai Richmond hits the drums, Warwick Hornsby plays the bass, and Jak Housden steals the scene on the electric guitar alongside the ever-present Tim Freedman.
Their style of music has been described as muscular piano based pop/rock, however it has been quite varied over the life of the band. Their latest album is titled Little Cloud and is a double album, separated by the two themes of New York and Tim's homeland Sydney.
The band played their final shows in 2010, taking an extended break for Freedman to pursue a solo career.
In 2012, the band were announced as one of the headliners of the Caloundra Music Festival on Queensland's Sunshine Coast.
Beauty In Me
The Whitlams Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
The lights of the city they can all go to hell
It'll all come good if she can put in the hours
She wants to get into film but it's gonna take years
She wishes she wrote songs like the ones that you hear
The boy's are all 20 and they leave her on the edge
they'll see the beauty in me
They'll see the beauty that's in my soul
they'll see the beauty in me
they'll see the beauty in me
They'll see the beauty that's in my soul
Her lift is waiting she'll be there soon
Rocking forwards and backwards eyeballing the moon
Unwired like a child of the rich
she's pretty and long and part of the scene
Playing with her phone like it's a rosary
Should get up and take them all on now
And she's telling herself "They'll see,
they'll see the beauty in me
They'll see the beauty that's in my soul
they'll see the beauty in me
they'll see the beauty in me
They'll see the beauty that's in my soul
First she can tell them why she's so sad
Why this girl is crying
Of all the excuses she's ever had
Well she's nearly 20 and so very old
Cross-legged on the front lawn she's had a bad pill
The lights of the city they can all go to hell
It'll all come good if she can put in the hours
The Whitlams's Beauty in Me is a beautifully melancholic and introspective song about a young woman who dreams of making it big in the film industry but is struggling to find her place in the world. The opening lyrics, "Cross-legged on the front lawn she's had a bad pill, the lights of the city they can all go to hell, it'll all come good if she can put in the hours," paints a vivid image of a woman who is lost, battling with depression, and disillusioned with the world around her. Despite this, she is determined to follow her dreams and work hard, even though her path is uncertain.
The next few verses explore the woman's desire to be more like the successful young men around her. She wishes she could write songs and be part of "the scene" but we get the sense that she feels left out, too old to fit in with the younger crowd. However, she still holds on to the hope that someone will see the beauty within her and appreciate her for who she is, as she repeats multiple times throughout the song, "They'll see the beauty in me."
The final verse is a poignant moment where the woman reflects on her current state, feeling sad and without direction. She is almost 20 years old, but she feels old and left behind, desperate to find her voice and express her sadness to the world. The final lines are a repetition of the opening lyrics, creating a cyclical feeling to the song, as though the woman is trapped in this cycle of depression and hope.
Overall, Beauty in Me is a powerful reflection on the struggle of finding oneself and pursuing one's dreams in the face of adversity. The Whitlams have crafted a beautiful and poignant song that captures the feeling of melancholy and hopelessness, making it relatable to anyone who has ever experienced these emotions.
Line by Line Meaning
Cross-legged on the front lawn she's had a bad pill
She is sitting with her legs crossed on the front lawn after consuming a bad pill.
The lights of the city they can all go to hell
She does not care about the city lights and is not interested in them.
It'll all come good if she can put in the hours
Putting in the hard work will eventually make things better for her.
She wants to get into film but it's gonna take years
Her desired career path in the film industry will take many years to achieve.
She wishes she wrote songs like the ones that you hear
She admires the songs she hears and wishes she could write music like those songs.
The boy's are all 20 and they leave her on the edge
The boys she meets are all around her age and they leave her feeling uncertain and on the edge.
And she's telling herself "They'll see, they'll see the beauty in me
She is reassuring herself that others will see her inner beauty.
They'll see the beauty that's in my soul
Others will be able to see the beauty in her soul.
Her lift is waiting she'll be there soon
Her ride is waiting for her and she will be leaving soon.
Rocking forwards and backwards eyeballing the moon
She is swaying back and forth while staring at the moon.
Unwired like a child of the rich
She is disconnected from reality, like a wealthy child who does not have to worry about money.
She's pretty and long and part of the scene
She is attractive and tall and part of the social scene.
Playing with her phone like it's a rosary
She is constantly fidgeting with her phone, treating it like a religious object.
Should get up and take them all on now
She should stand up and face her problems head-on.
First she can tell them why she's so sad
She can start by telling others why she is feeling sad.
Why this girl is crying
She wants to explain the reasons behind her tears.
Of all the excuses she's ever had
Out of all the excuses she has ever made, this one is the most genuine.
Well she's nearly 20 and so very old
She feels like she is almost 20, which is old in her eyes.
Contributed by Lila Y. Suggest a correction in the comments below.