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.
Coming up for Air
The Whitlams Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Glad you're here, cos I need you, I need you tonight
Yeah I'm coming up for air
Hello, how you doing up here?
How's your old boyfriend, the one after me?
He hasn't seen a piano from this angle has he?
Hello, how you doing up here?
Gonna kiss you now with you
Going up on my one knee
The middle of this it goes on forever
Yeah I'm coming up for air
Let it all out
The people 'round here can't hear themselves think
In the morning the planes
We can sleep right
Sleep right through them
Fine wine in the freezer
Some cat whining on the stereo, oh
Oh why did he leave her
Because we're all fools
My hand on your back, where your wings would have been if you had a pair
Now I'm not aching for you any more
Yeah I'm coming up for air
Hello, how you doing up here?
Gonna kiss you now with you
Going up on my one knee
The middle of this, it goes on forever
Yeah, I'm coming up for air
In the morning the planes
And we can sleep through them
Let it all out
The people 'round here can't hear themselves think
In the morning the planes
We can sleep right
Sleep right through them
Yeah, I'm coming up for air
Hello, how you doing up here?
Gonna to kiss you now with you
Going up on my one knee
In the middle of this it goes on forever
Yeah, I'm coming up for air
Yeah, I'm coming up for air
Yeah, I'm coming up for air
The Whitlams’s song Coming Up for Air features Tim Freedman’s trademark romantic melancholy. The song addresses themes of nostalgia, heartbreak, and getting over an ex. The opening lines “Glad you’re here, cos I need you tonight / Glad you’re here, cos I need you, I need you tonight” signify Freedman’s dependence on his new partner for comfort and support after a painful breakup. The chorus “Yeah, I’m coming up for air / Hello, how you doing up here?” suggests that Freedman has been drowning in his grief and is finally coming up for air by moving on and finding someone new.
The lyrics “How’s your old boyfriend, the one after me? / He hasn’t seen a piano from this angle has he?” allude to the idea that Freedman’s ex-partner was also a musician, with the piano being a metaphor for their relationship. The line “My hand on your back, where your wings would have been if you had a pair” is a nod to the idea of emotional support, and hints that Freedman is now providing this for his new partner.
Overall, Coming Up for Air is a poignant and bittersweet love song that perfectly captures the emotional complexity of moving on from a broken heart.
Line by Line Meaning
Glad you're here, cos I need you tonight
I am grateful to have you here because I need you tonight
Glad you're here, cos I need you, I need you tonight
It's reassuring to have your presence because I need you tonight
Yeah I'm coming up for air
I need a break from everything and I'm finally getting it
Hello, how you doing up here?
How are you doing here in this moment with me?
How's your old boyfriend, the one after me?
How is your ex-boyfriend who came after me?
He hasn't seen a piano from this angle has he?
Has he ever had a different perspective on something he once knew well like I do right now?
Gonna kiss you now with you
I'm about to kiss you now that you're here with me
Going up on my one knee
I am proposing or making a grand gesture towards you
The middle of this it goes on forever
This moment feels endless and timeless
Let it all out
Release all your emotions and thoughts
The people 'round here can't hear themselves think
The noise and chaos around us is deafening and prevents clarity of thought
In the morning the planes
The sound of airplanes is present in the morning
We can sleep right
We can still get rest despite the noise
Sleep right through them
We can completely ignore the sound of planes and sleep through them
Fine wine in the freezer
There is well-preserved wine in the freezer
Some cat whining on the stereo, oh
There is annoying and unpleasant music playing loudly
Oh why did he leave her
Why did someone leave their partner?
Because we're all fools
We make foolish decisions when it comes to relationships
My hand on your back, where your wings would have been if you had a pair
I'm comforting you in a way that is reminiscent of a guardian angel
Now I'm not aching for you any more
I have finally moved on from the pain of missing you
Yeah, I'm coming up for air
I am still seeking a break from everything and I am finally able to get it
Contributed by Isabelle J. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
@lmbk1
I've loved this song for 20 years and never even knew this amazing video existed
@MKPiatkowski
This song gets shit on a lot but I have always loved it. It's just plain fun. Thanks for posting the vid!
@Karu9010
When I was younger and I heard the song, I thought the Chunky Chunky Air Guitar lyrics was a funny sound and to this day, I still think it's funny. Tim Freedman said it was joke song which he thought would plug in to a sort of common Australian memory but it failed. But he said he thought that the best thing about this affair is the humorous video clip.
@mineo94able
You can't get more Aussie than the Whitlams
@Stoneman180190
Sadly this is one of those joke songs that never got big.
@merinfraser8957
wonderful world without Wires