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 Road Is Lost
The Whitlams Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Grandma waiting for him brother, playing outside in the rain
Wishing it all to end
Enraged by the slaughtering
Thoughts explode like my heads a grenade and I drawed the pin
Talking to men with one choice to run off or defend
Must punish the win, gotta let that gun off for ya kin
From the smell of blood violence is absorbed into their skin
And the thoughts of kids caught up should torture people to death
Now freedoms with them see if them orphans see any sense
Can you picture a little boy, dragging wood down the lane?
Grandma waiting for him brother, playing outside in the rain
Each day we hear the score, before not after shots of war
And the road to him is love, but the love is never more
Not all true pictures of war are drawn in the news
So we painted a little more like George Gittoes do
Jaded because we didn′t hear them calls coming through
How we'd savor our days if we had to walk in them shoes
Countries can't build without support for the youth
They lost when their most important resources abused
Forming our views, and not picking up on the clues
Inner-city blues stop many from listening to the clues
Voices on mute, so we whisper this to you
No time for school, many children be enlisted to be troops
And we walk, thinking that the system got us screwed
Like we taught, just to keep a short distance from the truth
When scores... are born only to be drifting to a noose
Where they gone well say, lord forgive we never knew
Gotta question why many, got there scriptures misconstrued
And why spending on weapons and not aistance is the rule
Can you picture a little boy, dragging wood down the lane?
Grandma waiting for him brother, playing outside in the rain
Each day we hear the score, before not after shots of war
And the road to him is love, but the love is never more
We′re caught up in the pictures that they have shown us
And not the millions of innocents that been blown up
Cold hearts disconnecting us from our own blood
For their objectives its best that they blindfold us
Can you picture a little boy, dragging wood down the lane?
Grandma waiting for him brother, playing outside in the rain
We′re caught up in the pictures that they have shown us
And not the millions of innocents that been blown up
Cold hearts disconnecting us from our own blood
For their objectives its best that they blindfold us
Can you picture a little boy, dragging wood down the lane?
Grandma waiting for him brother, playing outside in the rain
The lyrics of "The Road Is Lost" by The Whitlams are a powerful commentary on the devastating effects of war on innocent people, particularly on children. The imagery in the opening lines of the song paints a picture of a young boy hauling wood down a lane, with his grandmother and brother waiting for him. The innocence of this scene contrasts sharply with the rage and violence that pervades the rest of the song.
The lyrics speak directly to the horrors of war, with lines like "Enraged by the slaughtering" and "From the smell of blood violence is absorbed into their skin." The violence and destruction of war are portrayed as all-encompassing and inescapable, with no laws to mitigate the brutality. This leaves individuals with only the choice to "run off or defend," leading to a cycle of retribution that only spreads more violence.
However, despite the bleakness of the subject matter, the song also speaks to the power of love and connection in the face of incredible adversity. The repeated refrain of "And the road to him is love, but the love is never more" underscores the tragedy of lives lost and the failure to protect innocent people.
Overall, "The Road Is Lost" is a haunting critique of the devastation wrought by war, and a call to recognize the immense suffering it causes.
Line by Line Meaning
Can you picture a little boy, dragging wood down the lane?
Can you imagine a young child struggling to carry wood while walking down a quiet street?
Grandma waiting for him brother, playing outside in the rain
The child's grandma eagerly waits for him while his sibling enjoys playing outside in the rain.
Wishing it all to end
Feeling exhausted and desiring for the difficult circumstances to come to an end.
Enraged by the slaughtering
Feeling furious and outraged by the killing and violence that is taking place.
Thoughts explode like my heads a grenade and I drawed the pin
Feeling intense and overwhelmed with thoughts, comparing it to the sensation of a grenade exploding and feeling like the trigger has already been pulled.
Talking to men with one choice to run off or defend
Engaging in conversation with individuals who only have two options: to flee or to fight back.
Must punish the win, gotta let that gun off for ya kin
Feeling the need to seek revenge and use violence for the sake of family.
The only laws is ?no laws at all' once it begins
In situations of chaos, there is no law or order to abide by.
From the smell of blood violence is absorbed into their skin
Being so exposed to blood and violence that it becomes a part of who they are.
And the thoughts of kids caught up should torture people to death
Thinking about the innocent children who are caught up in the conflict, causing immense emotional distress.
Now freedoms with them see if them orphans see any sense
Wondering if those who have lost everything, including their freedom and their families, can still find meaning in their lives.
Each day we hear the score, before not after shots of war
Hearing the constant updates and death tolls of the ongoing war before the sound of gunfire fades away.
And the road to him is love, but the love is never more
The child's path towards a happy life is supposed to be guided by love, but it seems like that love is no longer present.
Not all true pictures of war are drawn in the news
There are aspects and consequences of war that are not shown or fully understood by the public through media outlets.
So we painted a little more like George Gittoes do
Attempting to depict the reality of war through art, similar to how George Gittoes does.
Jaded because we didn?t hear them calls coming through
Feeling disillusioned and cynical because the warnings and cries for help were ignored or unheard.
How we'd savor our days if we had to walk in them shoes
Reflecting on how much more grateful and appreciative we would be if we had to live through the same experiences as those in war-torn areas.
Countries can't build without support for the youth
The proper development and progress of a country cannot be achieved without investing in and supporting the next generation.
They lost when their most important resources abused
Society and its future suffer when the potential and well-being of the youth are neglected or exploited.
Forming our views, and not picking up on the clues
Shaping our perspectives and beliefs without accurately understanding or noticing important details and signs.
Inner-city blues stop many from listening to the clues
The struggles and hardships of inner-city life can make it difficult for individuals to recognize and respond to important messages and indications.
Voices on mute, so we whisper this to you
Feeling as though our voices and concerns are being ignored or silenced, so we speak discreetly to those who will listen.
No time for school, many children be enlisted to be troops
In some areas affected by war, children are forced to forgo an education in order to serve in the military.
And we walk, thinking that the system got us screwed
Feeling defeated and hopeless because we believe that the societal systems and institutions are unfairly stacked against us.
Like we taught, just to keep a short distance from the truth
Following what we were taught, primarily to avoid facing difficult truths or harsh realities.
When scores... are born only to be drifting to a noose
Children are born into a world where they are doomed to meet a tragic end.
Where they gone well say, lord forgive we never knew
Those responsible for the cycle of violence may regret their actions and seek forgiveness for their ignorance.
Gotta question why many, got there scriptures misconstrued
Wondering why so many misinterpret religious texts as a justification for violence.
And why spending on weapons and not aistance is the rule
Questioning why resources are being poured into weapons and military efforts instead of providing aid and support to those affected by war and conflict.
We?re caught up in the pictures that they have shown us
Being consumed by the images and narratives that are presented to us through media and other sources.
And not the millions of innocents that been blown up
Failing to recognize the countless innocent lives that are lost in the midst of war and violence.
Cold hearts disconnecting us from our own blood
Feeling emotionally detached and disconnected from our fellow human beings, even those who are our family or kin.
For their objectives its best that they blindfold us
Those in power have a vested interest in keeping us unaware and blind to certain truths or realities.
Writer(s): Timothy Freedman, John Denis Chmielewski, Daniel Marco Bartulovich, Brendon Costello
Contributed by Jason M. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
Kevin Claros M.
Muy buena su música siga adelante
GAVSTAAH
fave whitlams song
kuroroillusion
My SOng LoVe & a broken silence - the road is lost