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.
Start My Cellar Again
The Whitlams Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
And Friday seems like a year ago
There are broken glasses all over the place
And you've gone home
You know that I love you nearly every day
Looks like I'm going to have to
Start my cellar again
You deserve better
Tuesday is on the phone again
But I got a couple of days o get well
And then we'll start our engines again
Try and ignore where we fell
You deserve better
Maybe I am the best for you right now
Or you could try leave the anchor
Where you left it
Yeah and I want an intervention
But no-one has got the guts
I suppose we can hide a lot from our friends
Me I just don't come home from lunch
The Whitlams's Start My Cellar Again is a song about a relationship that seems to be approaching an end as the singer reflects on the weekend and the wreck it made of him and his partner's relationship. The singer refers to the weekend as being the longest on record and emphasizes that it feels like Friday was a year ago. This shows the extent to which the weekend was overwhelming and how it left the singer feeling exhausted and lost. The broken glasses scattered all over the place is symbolic of the shattered relationship, and the fact that the partner has gone home suggests that the relationship may be over. The singer then acknowledges that they love their partner almost every day, but they may not be the best person for them right now suggesting a load of self-doubt in his mind.
The singer also acknowledges that the partner deserves better, and they may not be able to provide that at the moment. They then mention Tuesday on the phone again, but they need a few days to recover before they can start again. The singer acknowledges the fall of their relationship but hopes that they can ignore it and start over again. The line "you could try leave the anchor where you left it" is an acknowledgment of the issues that are pulling the couple down and a suggestion that they need to move past them to move forward as a couple. Ultimately, the singer acknowledges that they cannot always hide their problems from friends and loved ones, and they themselves may be struggling to come to terms with what is happening.
Line by Line Meaning
That was the longest weekend on record
The recent time spent apart has felt unbearable.
And Friday seems like a year ago
The last time they were together feels like a distant memory.
There are broken glasses all over the place
Evidence of a wild, tumultuous evening.
And you've gone home
The other person has left and is no longer present.
You know that I love you nearly every day
Expressing a consistent and ongoing feeling.
Looks like I'm going to have to
It appears that a particular action is necessary.
Start my cellar again
Metaphorically indicating a desire to rebuild their relationship from the ground up.
You deserve better
Acknowledging that the other person deserves more than what they are currently getting.
Maybe I am the best for you right now
Offering the possibility that they should stay together, even if it's not ideal.
Tuesday is on the phone again
Reference to a specific person who is possibly causing issues.
But I got a couple of days to get well
Taking time to recover and regroup after a chaotic time.
And then we'll start our engines again
The intention to get back to normal or to try again.
Try and ignore where we fell
Attempting to move on from past mistakes or setbacks.
Or you could try leave the anchor where you left it
Suggesting that the other person could move on completely and leave the past behind.
Yeah and I want an intervention
Acknowledging the need for outside help or support.
But no-one has got the guts
Implying that there is a fear of confrontation or taking action.
I suppose we can hide a lot from our friends
Acknowledging that they may be keeping secrets or not fully revealing the truth to others.
Me I just don't come home from lunch
Possibly indicating a fear or reluctance to face the other person or deal with the issues in their relationship.
Lyrics © OBO APRA/AMCOS
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