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.
Fondness Makes The Heart Grow Absent
The Whitlams Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Looked down at the gravestones guarding St Patricks in the snow
And I thought if that’s where it all ends
I should get home again with you
When fondness makes the heart grow absent
I gotta find an orbit a little closer to the ground
When fondness in my heart is absent
In the morning the cliffs of fear still rising from my sleep
A note from the demons is lying accusing at my feet
The parks are empty and the tea’s gone cold
I could slip so easily from the earth’s hold
The life has been lived and the story sold
When fondness makes the heart grow absent
I gotta find an orbit a little closer to the ground
When fondness in my heart is absent
I’m in awe of the sabotage within
Black ice is creeping over the pavement
An overcoat slips to the ground like the Angel of Death
Is playing on Prince Street
They’re falling and not making a sound
When fondness makes the heart grow absent
I gotta find an orbit a little closer to the ground
When fondness in my heart is absent
I’m in awe of the sabotage within
When fondness makes the heart grow absent
I gotta find an orbit a little closer to the ground
When fondness in my heart is absent
I’m in awe of the sabotage within
To this evening and what a pleasure
Here in Balthazar’s red leather
A little private toast and a vow to die
A natural death in my own good time
The Whitlams's song "Fondness Makes the Heart Grow Absent" is a haunting piece that is deeply introspective in its tone. The song is about the feeling of displacement that one experiences when they are away from the one they love. The singer of the song is feeling lost in the world, unable to find his way back to the person he cares about the most. The opening line of the song, "I woke twice last night, walked to the window," sets the mood for the rest of the song, which is somber and melancholic.
The first verse of the song tells a story of the singer looking out of his window at Saint Patrick's graveyard through the snow. The cold and stark imagery of a cemetery filled with gravestones contrasts with the warmth and comfort the singer is seeking. He's lost and alone, and the only thought that comes to his mind is that he needs to find his way back home to his loved one. The chorus of the song "When fondness makes the heart grow absent, I gotta find an orbit a little closer to the ground" depicts the uncertainty of the singer that arises from the absence of his fondness.
The second verse provides a vivid description of the singer's state of mind. He is plagued by fear and demons. He feels disconnected from the world and has come to the realization that he could easily slip away from it. The imagery used in the second verse "Black ice is creeping over the pavement" and "An overcoat slips to the ground like the Angel of Death" adds substance to the singer's emotional turmoil. The final verse of the song, "To this evening and what a pleasure, Here in Balthazar’s red leather, A little private toast and a vow to die, A natural death in my own good time," paints a peaceful image of the singer finding comfort in the company of his loved one which he then complements with his own private vow.
Line by Line Meaning
I woke twice last night, walked to the window
I couldn't sleep, so I got up and looked out the window.
Looked down at the gravestones guarding St Patricks in the snow
I saw the cemetery covered in snow.
And I thought if that’s where it all ends
If death and the end of life is the same as burying oneself in a grave, then
I should get home again with you
I want to be with you at home again.
When fondness makes the heart grow absent
Sometimes we can be so familiar with each other that it feels like we're not even there anymore.
I gotta find an orbit a little closer to the ground
I need to come back down to earth and be grounded.
When fondness in my heart is absent
When I don't feel love or care in my heart,
I’m in awe of the sabotage within
I'm amazed at how I can damage myself when I don't have those feelings.
In the morning the cliffs of fear still rising from my sleep
When I wake up in the morning, I still feel scared and uncertain.
A note from the demons is lying accusing at my feet
I feel like my own thoughts are attacking me.
The parks are empty and the tea’s gone cold
Everything outside the house feels abandoned and lonely.
I could slip so easily from the earth’s hold
I feel like I could lose my grip on reality and slip away easily.
The life has been lived and the story sold
I feel like my life has already been told and there's no more to do.
Black ice is creeping over the pavement
The roads and sidewalks are slippery and dangerous.
An overcoat slips to the ground like the Angel of Death
A person falls to the ground, as if death itself came to collect them.
They’re falling and not making a sound
Even as they fall, the person is silent and accepting of their fate.
To this evening and what a pleasure
What a wonderful evening we've had.
Here in Balthazar’s red leather
We're sitting in a nice restaurant, Balthazar, on red seats.
A little private toast and a vow to die
We make a small toast and promise each other that we'll die naturally in our own time.
A natural death in my own good time
I don't want to die before my time, and I want to die naturally when it's my time to go.
Contributed by Hudson R. Suggest a correction in the comments below.