The Whitlams are an Australian four-piece band hailing from Newtown, New So… Read Full Bio ↴The Whitlams are an Australian four-piece band hailing from Newtown, New South Wales.

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.

Melbourne
The Whitlams Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

She paints pictures on the wall
She eats all of the garden
And has an aversion to conviction
And she calls her dog "the bear"

In love with this girl
And with her town as well
Walking 'round the rainy city

What a pity there's things to do at home

She paints pictures on the wall
I awake to see the feelings
from the night before
She eats all of the garden, it's a jungle out there
And we won't return by dawn

If I had three lives
I'd marry her in two
I'm dreaming of a time
That we sit when the music stops

She has an aversion to conviction
She's more confused than ever
Won't pay her fines and wonders when the cops will get her
She calls her dog "the bear"

And walks me with him to the corner
In her pyjamas

Overall Meaning

The lyrics to The Whitlams' song "Melbourne" depict the romantic admiration the singer feels for a girl who lives in the city. The verse "She paints pictures on the wall, she eats all of the garden, and has an aversion to conviction, and she calls her dog 'the bear'" describes the girl's unique personality and quirks. The singer describes being in love with the girl and the city, and feeling reluctant to leave the rainy streets and return home. The chorus repeats the image of the girl painting pictures on the wall, and the final verse describes her aversion to following rules and regulations, with the singer dreaming of a future in which they can sit together and enjoy one another's company.

Line by Line Meaning

She paints pictures on the wall
She expresses herself through visual art

She eats all of the garden
She enjoys fresh produce and probably has a green thumb

And has an aversion to conviction
She's not very decisive and may be hesitant to commit to things

And she calls her dog 'the bear'
She has a quirky sense of humor and enjoys giving odd names to things

In love with this girl
The artist is deeply infatuated with the woman in question

And with her town as well
The singer is also fond of the girl's hometown

Walking 'round the rainy city
The singer and the girl are taking a leisurely stroll through Melbourne, which happens to be rainy

What a pity there's things to do at home
The artist wishes they could spend more time wandering around Melbourne, but they have responsibilities at home

I awake to see the feelings from the night before
The artist is reflecting on their emotional state after spending time with the girl the previous night

And we won't return by dawn
The artist and the girl are having a wild night out on the town and don't plan to head back home until later

If I had three lives
The singer is expressing how much they would like to spend more time with the girl

I'd marry her in two
The artist is emphasizing how strong their attachment to the girl is

I'm dreaming of a time
The singer is lost in reverie, imagining a perfect future with the girl

That we sit when the music stops
The singer is describing a moment of peace and contentment he hopes to share with the girl

She's more confused than ever
The girl in question may be facing some personal turmoil or confusion

Won't pay her fines and wonders when the cops will get her
The girl may not be very good at following rules and may be facing some legal trouble as a result

And walks me with him to the corner
The girl enjoys going on walks and likes to share this experience with the artist and her dog

In her pyjamas
The girl is comfortable being herself around the singer, even if it means wearing sleepwear outside

Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS

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