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.
Out the Back
The Whitlams Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Trees with their majesty back
I walk down to the sea
Yeah, I'll borrow some wax
I can sit out here like a teabag
No more exercise for me
Now I've made it out the back
Breathing in the colors
While it was kicking back
They were glass-blowing these waves
Its how the gum trees
Are stamped into the sky
I could be eight years old
With these colors in my eyes
Waking up in a dream out here
Sun is so low
It's throwing its shimmers at me
Skimming its stones
I can sit out here like a teabag
No more exercise for me
Now I've made it out the back
Back there they're bitching
I'm guilty of it too
Out here if you want a wave
there's another one coming soon
I'm not surfing
I'm sitting out the back
All the kids are dropping in
On the old man on the plank
The kids are dropping in
On the old man on the plank
The Whitlams’s song “Out the Back” paints a vivid picture of a peaceful morning on the beach. The persona wakes up to the sun returning, and the trees regaining their majesty. He walks down to the sea and borrows some wax, sitting out there like a teabag, free from exercise. The colors around him are breathing in, and the blue was resting up for today, while kicking back. The waves were glass-blowing, and the gum trees were stamped into the sky. He could be eight years old, with those colors in his eyes. In a dream state, the sun is throwing its shimmers at him, skimming its stones. The persona is not surfing, but he’s sitting out the back, and all the kids are dropping in on the old man on the plank.
The song captures the feeling of being in the moment, of taking time to appreciate the beauty around you. The persona was in a place where he could escape the worries and conflicts of the world, where there was no need for exercise, and he could just relax and bask in the beauty of nature. It is a reminder of the importance of self-care and taking time off from the daily grind.
Line by Line Meaning
I wake and the sun has returned
I wake up to find that the sun has risen again
Trees with their majesty back
The trees have regained their natural magnificence and beauty
I walk down to the sea
I go for a walk towards the sea
Yeah, I'll borrow some wax
I plan to borrow some wax that I require
I can sit out here like a teabag
I can simply sit here and do nothing
No more exercise for me
I don't need to do any exercise anymore
Now I've made it out the back
I've managed to come out here
Breathing in the colors
I am taking in the vibrant colors around me
The blue was resting up for today
The blue color of the sea was taking some rest for today
While it was kicking back
During that period, the sea was in its relaxed state
They were glass-blowing these waves
The waves were formed with such precision that they looked artificially made
Its how the gum trees
This is similar to how the gum trees
Are stamped into the sky
Are embedded into the sky
I could be eight years old
I feel like I'm eight years old again
With these colors in my eyes
I am mesmerized by the colors around me
Waking up in a dream out here
It feels like I'm waking up in some kind of dream world here
Sun is so low
The sun is very low, maybe during a sunrise or a sunset
It's throwing its shimmers at me
The sunrays are reflecting a beautiful light
Skimming its stones
The sea is gently skimming it's stones along the shore
Back there they're bitching
Back at home, the people are complaining
I'm guilty of it too
I am also a part of it and complain at times
Out here if you want a wave
Out here, if you want to ride a wave
There's another one coming soon
You don't have to wait much as another wave will arrive soon
I'm not surfing
I am not surfing but just sitting back and relaxing
I'm sitting out the back
I am sitting in the back and away from the crowd
All the kids are dropping in
All the kids are stealing my waves and riding them without my permission
On the old man on the plank
I am that old man who sits on a plank on the sea, watching the kids surf on his waves
Lyrics © OBO APRA/AMCOS
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