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.
Tangled Up In Blue
The Whitlams Lyrics
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You bought this new for me and now it's full of holes
Remember baby talk in the morning
What's the hurry my girl?
You don't need any coffee if you take the day off school
We're all over and I'm all over town
We've got work here tearing it down
'Cause I'd see these things again
I loved you in this T-shirt of mine
You can have it - it say's "Life's a Beach"
There's a beach umbrella, couple lying in the sun
And for once in my life it's not the people from the suburbs
It's me's got it wrong
On through the evening and into the dawn
Journey me, journey me
Where love keeps on
Burning all the photos, they have a habit of mocking a single man
I'm keeping the first one, we're not even holding hands
We're all over and I'm all over town
We've got work here tearing it down
There's a beach umbrella, couple lying in the sun
And for once in my life it's not the people from the suburbs
It's me's got it wrong
The lyrics of "Tangled up in Blue" by The Whitlams are about going through the end of a relationship, dealing with the aftermath, and finding a new sense of freedom. The lines "Burning all the photos, sorting through the clothes / You bought this new for me and now it's full of holes" express the singer's desire to erase the past and move forward. The reference to the T-shirt and beach umbrella symbolizes a new, carefree lifestyle without the constraints of the previous relationship.
The chorus "We've got work here tearing it down" expresses the idea of deconstructing the past to make room for something new. The line "And for once in my life it's not the people from the suburbs / It's me's got it wrong" suggests that the singer has gained a new perspective and sense of self-awareness, no longer blaming external circumstances for their problems. The final lines "Journey me, journey me / Where love keeps on" show a willingness to move on and keep exploring, even though the singer's heart has been broken.
Line by Line Meaning
Burning all the photos, sorting through the clothes
Getting rid of all the old memories and possessions
You bought this new for me and now it's full of holes
The things you once cherished are now worn out and destroyed
Remember baby talk in the morning
Nostalgia for better times with a loved one
What's the hurry my girl?
Wondering why things had to end and move so quickly
You don't need any coffee if you take the day off school
Suggesting to escape from reality and responsibilities temporarily through skipping school
We're all over and I'm all over town
Feeling lost and disconnected after a breakup
We've got work here tearing it down
Trying to move on and start fresh
You know it's quicker packing for a holiday
Traveling and running away from problems is easier than facing them
'Cause I'd see these things again
Holding onto possessions as a reminder of past love
I loved you in this T-shirt of mine
Sentimental attachment to a shared item of clothing
You can have it - it says 'Life's a Beach'
Offering the item as a symbol of their relationship, despite it being over
There's a beach umbrella, couple lying in the sun
Observing a happy couple and feeling envious
And for once in my life it's not the people from the suburbs
Realizing that they are the ones with problems and not everyone else
It's me's got it wrong
Acknowledging personal faults and mistakes as the cause of a failed relationship
On through the evening and into the dawn
Continuing to mourn and dwell on the past
Journey me, journey me
Asking for guidance and direction in moving on and healing
Where love keeps on
Hope that love will endure despite the pain and heartbreak
Burning all the photos, they have a habit of mocking a single man
Attempting to remove reminders of past love, as they only highlight loneliness
I'm keeping the first one, we're not even holding hands
Hanging onto the first photo as a reminder of a time before the relationship went wrong
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
Written by: TIMOTHY FREEDMAN
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind