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.
Following My Own Tracks
The Whitlams Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Should I let myself down fast?
I don't think I want to know
It's over said but understated just how hard it can be
Hey I think I've seen this road before and it's so hard to believe
I'd be back this way again after I told myself to leave
You never said that it was gonna be easy
But I didn't know just how hard it would be
I'm lost and found
I'm never happy in the middle I've gotta be up or down
Just when I think I've found level ground
I turn around and destroy all of the life I've found
Well self-destruction's kinda dumb
But if you do it well
You can find heaven if you can handle hell
It's all a part of understanding
Just how strange life can be
Living a lie becomes so easy
But now I just want to be free
I feel inside out never thought I'd doubt
My ability to work it all out
Going forward to fall back
Working hard to relax
I never thought that I would be following my own tracks
It's going 'round
It's going 'round
It's going 'round
The Whitlams's song Following My Own Tracks is a reflective piece on the difficulties that come with trying to find one's place in life. The lyrics highlight the internal struggle of trying to make decisions and find direction, and the constant battle between self-doubt and self-destruction. The opening line, "It's getting harder to decide on which way I should go", sets the tone for the uncertainty and confusion that the singer is feeling. They question if they should take the easy way out and let themselves down fast, but they realize that they don't really want to know. The singer admits that it's hard to understand just how difficult life can be, and how they find themselves back on familiar roads even after they've tried to leave them behind.
The chorus talks about the constant cycle of feeling lost and found, and never being happy in the middle. The singer wants to be up or down, and finds themselves destroying the life they've found just when they think they've found level ground. They acknowledge that self-destruction is dumb, but if done well, it can lead to finding heaven if they can handle the hell that comes with it. The lyrics suggest that it's all a part of understanding the strange nature of life, and that living a lie becomes easy. However, the singer ultimately desires to be free from the internal turmoil and move forward in life, even if it means following their own tracks.
Overall, the lyrics to Following My Own Tracks are a poignant reflection on the struggles of decision-making and self-doubt, and the constant battle between finding direction and self-destruction. The song is a reminder that life is not always easy, but it's important to continue moving forward and following one's own path.
Line by Line Meaning
It's getting harder to decide on which way I should go
I am finding it more difficult to make decisions about my life direction
Should I let myself down fast?
Should I take the easy way out and be disappointed in myself?
I don't think I want to know
I am uncertain and scared about what lies ahead
It's over said but understated just how hard it can be
People talk about the difficulty of life, but it is still harder than they let on
Hey I think I've seen this road before and it's so hard to believe
I have been in this situation before but it's hard to accept that I am here again
I'd be back this way again after I told myself to leave
Despite making a promise to myself to move on, I have found myself in the same place again
You never said that it was gonna be easy
I knew it wouldn't be easy, but I didn't know it would be this hard
But I didn't know just how hard it would be
I underestimated the difficulties and challenges that life would throw my way
I go 'round and 'round
I keep repeating the same patterns and mistakes in my life
I'm lost and found
I feel both directionless and like I have found myself at different times
I'm never happy in the middle I've gotta be up or down
I find it hard to be content with a stable, neutral situation - I need highs and lows in my life
Just when I think I've found level ground
Just when I think I have found stability and balance in my life
I turn around and destroy all of the life I've found
I self-sabotage and ruin the good things in my life
Well self-destruction's kinda dumb
I recognize that my self-destructive tendencies are not intelligent or helpful
But if you do it well
But if I am going to engage in self-sabotage, I might as well commit to it fully
You can find heaven if you can handle hell
If you can endure the difficulties and challenges of life, you can appreciate and enjoy the good things
It's all a part of understanding
This struggle and my poor decisions are part of my journey towards self-awareness
Just how strange life can be
I am realizing how weird and unexpected life can be
Living a lie becomes so easy
It's tempting and effortless to pretend that everything is okay when it's not
But now I just want to be free
But now I want to break free from this pattern and be my true self
I feel inside out never thought I'd doubt
I feel confused and uncertain, and I never expected to doubt myself like this
My ability to work it all out
I used to be confident in my ability to solve my problems
Going forward to fall back
I try to make progress but often end up right back where I started
Working hard to relax
It takes a lot of effort and work for me to feel calm and at ease
I never thought that I would be following my own tracks
I never imagined that I would be retracing my steps and following my past mistakes
It's going 'round
My life feels like it's on a constant loop, repeating the same struggles and challenges
It's going 'round
My life feels like it's on a constant loop, repeating the same struggles and challenges
It's going 'round
My life feels like it's on a constant loop, repeating the same struggles and challenges
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, TUNECORE INC
Written by: H JONES
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Matt Curr
still my fave Whitlams track. Miss you Stevie, hope the pinnies in heaven treat you bettter than the Sando's :D
Rory Steele
Can’t believe this video doesn’t have millions of views.. not only is it a song by one of the greatest bands in Australian history, it’s also a music video concept way ahead of its time
myempathy
Remember the good times.