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.
Cries Too Hard
The Whitlams Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
She wrote in red on her bedroom wall -
"Nothing's pure", the paint runs to the floor
She laughs too easily and cries too hard
Shouldn't drink alone, the colours run
How can she forgive
When we know well what we do?
Feather scratches on her wrist
Dry run with a bread knife for a final twist
It wouldn't be for show if it should come to this
She laughs too easily and cries too hard
Shouldn't drink alone, the colours run
How can she forgive
When we know well what we do?
She was born to feel it all, to see it all
When I feel so lightly it's still burning brightly
And she won't look away
She laughs too easily and cries too hard
She laughs too easily and cries too hard
Torch the moon, burn the schools
Why it's a man making all the rules
Frida Khalo poster on her door
She laughs too easily and cries too hard
Shouldn't drink alone, the colours run
How can she forgive
When we know well what we do?
When I feel so lightly it's still burning brightly
And she won't look away
She won't look away
She won't look away
The Whitlams's song Cries Too Hard is a powerful exploration of inner turmoil and distress. The lyrics describe a woman who is deeply troubled and struggling to find meaning in her life. She has written nihilistic messages on her bedroom wall, and is prone to laughing and crying excessively. The song suggests she is struggling with addiction, warning that "colours run" when she drinks alone. The woman is ultimately unable to forgive others for their actions, as they are all too aware of how their behavior has hurt her.
The lyrics paint a vivid portrait of a woman who is consumed by her emotions, and who is struggling to find any sense of hope or redemption in her life. She is described as having "feather scratches on her wrist," indicating that she may be self-harming, and has even gone so far as to make a "dry run with a bread knife for a final twist". The song reflects on the broader societal factors that contribute to her distress, such as a world in which men make all the rules and Frida Khalo posters are relegated to bedroom walls.
Throughout the song, there is a sense of empathy and compassion for the woman, who is clearly struggling to find her place in the world. The repeated refrain of "She laughs too easily and cries too hard" is both poignant and haunting, highlighting the delicate balance between joy and pain that characterizes the human experience.
Line by Line Meaning
Torch the moon, burn the schools
The singer is so frustrated that they could destroy the unattainable things and institutions.
She wrote in red on her bedroom wall -
The singer expressed her frustration through graffiti.
"Nothing's pure", the paint runs to the floor
The singer understands that nothing is perfect and her expression is full of emotions.
She laughs too easily and cries too hard
The artist is emotionally unstable.
Shouldn't drink alone, the colours run
The artist is inclined to do things that the artist should not be doing.
How can she forgive
When we know well what we do?
The singer is finding it challenging to forgive despite knowing that we are all human.
Feather scratches on her wrist
The singer has attempted self-harm before.
Dry run with a bread knife for a final twist
The artist thought of taking it a step further but didn't.
It wouldn't be for show if it should come to this
The artist wants to make it clear that it was not a publicity stunt.
She was born to feel it all, to see it all
The artist feels everything deeply, both the good and the bad.
When I feel so lightly it's still burning brightly
The singer's emotions are intense to an extent that it feels like it's burning inside.
And she won't look away
The artist is not running away from her emotions.
Why it's a man making all the rules
The singer questions the system where men are in power.
Frida Khalo poster on her door
The singer is inspired by Frida Kahlo, who is known for her self-expression in her art despite obstacles.
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
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