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.
The Curse Stops Here
The Whitlams Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
They made the easy way look hard
We never thought too much about letting go
They took it all too far again
My first days back and I was rolling round the town
Saying stay away from edges and from ropes if you can
'Cause I am the last one...
The curse stops here
Ghosts dont drag you towards their light
They make it brighter here for you
Seeing Stevie helped me through from over there
But will his friend now help him out?
My first days back and I was rolling round the town
Saying stay away from edges and from ropes if you can
My friends said I was saying it, too many times
Leave the gallow humour for the gallow people that it finds
'Cause I am the last one...
And the curse stops here
The curse stops here
The Whitlams’ song The Curse Stops Here is a reflection on the passing of their band member Stevie Plunder, who committed suicide in 1996. In the opening stanza, the lyrics suggest that his departure left a profound impact on the band, “They made the easy way look hard,” while also alluding to the destructive behavior that Plunder allegedly exhibited, “They took it all too far again.” The singer seems to distance himself from this behavior by stating, “We never thought too much about letting go,” acknowledging the band’s culpability in the situation.
The chorus, “I am the last one...and the curse stops here,” contain a powerful message about the mental struggles that lead to Plunder’s death. The singer seems to suggest that he will take responsibility for his own mental health and will not let his struggles dictate his life. He acknowledges that there are influences around him (such as ghosts and friends with “gallow humor”) that may exacerbate these struggles, but he will do his best to avoid them. In the final stanza, the singer expresses hope that the ghostly presence of Stevie Plunder has helped him to find strength, and he wonders if Plunder’s friend who “helped him through from over there” will also find peace.
Line by Line Meaning
Stevie left on a Friday too
Stevie, probably a friend or family member, had also left on a Friday like the others before him.
They made the easy way look hard
The people who left chose a difficult way out, making it seem like an arduous decision.
We never thought too much about letting go
They did not give too much consideration to the idea of letting go of people they loved or cared about.
They took it all too far again
The people who left took it to an extreme and went too far with their decision.
My first days back and I was rolling round the town
The singer was back in town after what seems like a while and was probably reminiscing about the past.
Saying stay away from edges and from ropes if you can
The singer advises people to avoid dangerous or risky situations that could lead to harm or possible suicide.
'Cause I am the last one...
The singer is the last remaining or survivor from the group, who did not take their own life or leave on a Friday.
And the curse stops here
The idea of a curse is symbolic of the negative cycle that has been broken since the singer did not follow in the same path as the others.
Ghosts dont drag you towards their light
The idea of ghosts or spirits is used as a metaphor, suggesting that no one is forced to follow a negative path after someone has passed away.
They make it brighter here for you
Rather than dragging someone down, ghosts or spirits are seen as entities that can illuminate or bring light to a situation.
Seeing Stevie helped me through from over there
The singer, who may have been struggling to deal with the loss of Stevie, found some solace in Stevie's memory or presence.
But will his friend now help him out?
The singer wonders if anyone else will be able to offer the same comfort or support as Stevie did.
My friends said I was saying it, too many times
The singer's friends pointed out that they were repeating their advice to others too often.
Leave the gallow humour for the gallow people that it finds
The suggestion is made to keep dark humor or jokes related to death for people who actually understand it or who are going through similar situations.
Contributed by Noah C. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
Mike F
Tragic tune. Beautiful.
Ben Leavitt
Get a pop filter, amirite tho?