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.
No Aphrodisiac
The Whitlams Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
'Cause we don't write anymore
Gotta make it up quickly
There's people asleep on the second floor
There's no aphrodisiac like loneliness
Truth beauty and a picture of you
You'll be walking your dog in a few hours
You're a thousand miles away
With food between your teeth
Come up for summer I've got a place near the beach
There's room for your dog
There's no aphrodisiac like loneliness
Truth beauty and a picture of you
There's no aphrodisiac like loneliness
Truth beauty and a picture of you
There's no aphrodisiac like loneliness
Youth truth beauty fame boredom and a bottle of pills
There's no aphrodisiac like loneliness
You shouldn't leave me alone
There's no aphrodisiac like loneliness
Bare feet like a tom-boy and a crooked smile
Truth youth beauty fame boredom red hair no hair
Innocence Saturday and a picture of you
A letter to you on a cassette
You shouldn't leave me alone
Forty shaved sexy wants to do it all day
With a gun-totin' trigger-happy tranny named Kinky Renée
Tired teacher twenty-eight seeks regular meetings for
masculine muscular nappy-clad brutal breeding
While his wife rough-wrestles with a puppy all aquiver
on a wine-soaked strobe-lit Asiatic hall
of mirrors and a dash of loneliness
There's no aphrodisiac quite like it
Truth youth beauty fame boredom red hair no hair
innocence impunity and a picture of you
I got a video set-up me love you short time
she pay me suck his finger with some fine wine
And a dash of loneliness
Truth youth beauty fame boredom red hair no hair
Innocence awkwardness impunity
And a picture of you
The Whitlams' song "No Aphrodisiac" explores the theme of loneliness and the impact it has on a person's emotions and desires. The song opens with the singer referencing a cassette tape which they use as a means of communication since writing letters has become outdated. There is a sense of urgency to the message being relayed, as the singer implies they need to make it up quickly before people on the second floor fall asleep. The first verse ends with the line "there's no aphrodisiac like loneliness, truth beauty, and a picture of you," which sets the tone for the rest of the song.
As the song progresses, the singer talks about wanting to spend time with someone they care about who is far away. Despite the distance between them, they offer a place to stay and even make accommodations for the person's dog. The chorus repeats the phrase "there's no aphrodisiac like loneliness" several times, emphasizing the importance of human connection.
The second half of the song takes a darker turn as the singer starts listing various sexual scenarios and preferences. Throughout this section, the chorus repeats the same phrase, but with additional words added after "loneliness" such as "youth," "fame," "boredom," and "red hair." The final refrain ends with "and a picture of you," bringing the focus back to the theme of finding solace in someone else's presence.
Overall, "No Aphrodisiac" is a poignant exploration of how loneliness can affect a person's psyche and the lengths they will go to fill that void.
Line by Line Meaning
A letter to you on a cassette
I'm writing to you on a cassette tape, since we don't really send each other letters anymore.
'Cause we don't write anymore
We don't correspond the way we used to, so I'm using this old-fashioned medium to reach out to you.
Gotta make it up quickly
I need to think fast and record this tape quickly, since there are people sleeping upstairs.
There's people asleep on the second floor
I need to be quiet while recording this cassette tape, because there are others sleeping nearby.
There's no aphrodisiac like loneliness
There's nothing that makes me feel more attracted to you than my own sense of loneliness and longing.
Truth beauty and a picture of you
The things that attract me to you are your honesty, your beauty, and the memory of your image.
You'll be walking your dog in a few hours
Soon, you'll be out and about with your dog while I'm stuck here recording this tape.
I'll be asleep in my brother's house
By the time you get this message, I'll probably be fast asleep at my brother's place.
You're a thousand miles away
We're physically separated by a vast distance and I miss you terribly.
With food between your teeth
You're dealing with the mundane details of life, like having food stuck in your teeth.
Come up for summer I've got a place near the beach
Here's an invitation for you to come visit me over the summer - I have a great spot near the beach.
There's room for your dog
Don't worry about your furry companion - there's plenty of space for them here too.
Youth truth beauty fame boredom and a bottle of pills
These are some of the things that can get in the way of true connection and lead to feeling bored or unfulfilled.
You shouldn't leave me alone
I'm scared to be without you and need your company, your presence, your love.
Bare feet like a tom-boy and a crooked smile
You have a carefree, natural quality to you that I love - like the way you look with bare feet and a mischievous grin.
Innocence Saturday and a picture of you
You embody a sense of youthful innocence that makes me feel happy and free - it's what I think of when I look at your picture.
Forty shaved sexy wants to do it all day
This line references a classified ad looking for sex - it represents the idea that people are searching for something to fill their loneliness.
With a gun-totin' trigger-happy tranny named Kinky Renée
The ad mentioned earlier specifies a sexual encounter with someone who's unconventional or edgy, like a gun-toting trans person named Kinky Renée.
Tired teacher twenty-eight seeks regular meetings for masculine muscular nappy-clad brutal breeding
Another ad mentioned, this time from a tired teacher looking for sexual encounters that are rough and animalistic.
While his wife rough-wrestles with a puppy all aquiver on a wine-soaked strobe-lit Asiatic hall of mirrors
This line describes another scene of someone trying to fill their loneliness through sexual exploration - this time with a partner, getting wild and drunk in a strange room with mirrors.
And a dash of loneliness
This line seems to reference all the disconnected, lonely people looking for fulfillment through sex.
Innocence awkwardness impunity
These are some of the qualities that make you unique and special to me.
And a picture of you
All these different emotions, experiences, and people are compared to my simple but powerful attraction to you - just by seeing your picture.
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@HaydenXxM2401
When I was a kid we’d play their albums on trips.
I memorised the lyrics but was just a kid and I loved it.
Fast forward 20 years it’s such a different song. It’s like a bittersweet nostalgia.
You realise it’s a really sad song and worse, you relate.
Then you listen to Charlie songs and wow man you can feel the pain.
Losing a band mate and friend to gambling addiction then suicide.
The gambling facilities here are so extremely available and you always see ads for it. That and alcohol ads and you’re at the footy. Sorry I got distracted
Anyhow
Hope you’re well
@miraclemiler71
“There’s no aphrodisiac like loneliness”…. I don’t think there’s anything quite so accurate. Profound and incredibly insightful.
@jackspry9736
RIP the two members of The Whitlams
Stevie Plunder (August 15, 1963 – January 25, 1996), aged 32
Andy Lewis (June 16, 1966 – February 12, 2000), aged 33
You both will be remembered as legends.
@strictlysega
who?
@theragoooverlord5021
Looks like sacrifices
@Ducatirati
That's sad jackspry , that equals my present age 65 yo , luv on- ya bro RARARA
@mrsgritoli1
One of the best Australian songs of all time.
@CJArnold-hq3ey
👌🇦🇺
@florencepierce1864
Along with "Blow Up The Pokies", this is one of the best, dark, desperate, most soul-crushing songs ever. I used to have them on repeat & discovering The Whitlams again on YouTube has brought it all back to me. Wow!
@adamsalt9554
What a song . How it starts so sweet and ends in a very dark place. Brilliant.
@Mookie70
Walked into the breakfast creek hotel a few years back with some mates, just there for a routine drink…..the planets aligned and the Whitlams were playing an impromptu concert….one of the best I’ve experienced!!