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.
shining
The Whitlams Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
It's coming for me comin' out of the night
Everything is hummin' it's scarin' me now
It ain't feelin' right
Think I might just hide a while wait for the night to return
Dark and cold and lonely
Is how I feel and it feels nice
I used to be so happy I could smile
And everything seemed to work out
Now my eyes are starting to close down
I can see you again in my dreams
You're starring my lost and lonely friend
We used to have such good times
Why did you leave before our time was through?
Everything looks pretty we're far from the city
And I'm holding you in my arms
You feel so alive and so do I
Isn't it a pity that soon I'll wake and soon I'll cry
I can't stop reminiscing about what is missing in my life
I'm scared of everything
I got nothing to hold onto
If I believed in God then maybe I could give myself up too
But I'm not too sure about the after-life
So I'm just gonna go on dreamin' of you
The Whitlams' song "Shining" is a melancholic and dreamy ballad about the singer's feelings of loneliness and despair. The song's main idea revolves around the singer's sense of disconnectedness from the world around him, and his yearning for connection and companionship.
The first verse sets the tone for the song, with the singer feeling apprehensive about the world around him. He feels scared and decides to hide, waiting for the dark and cold night to come back. In the second verse, he reminisces about happier times and imagines a world where he is holding his lost friend, feeling alive and loved. The chorus reinforces the melancholic feel of the song, with the singer feeling like he has nothing to hold onto.
The bridge of the song introduces a theme of spirituality, with the singer questioning his belief in God and the afterlife. However, he decides to keep dreaming and reminiscing about his lost friend, hoping to find some solace in those memories.
Overall, the song's lyrics paint a vivid picture of a person struggling with feelings of isolation and loneliness. The dreamy and atmospheric music adds to the melancholy feel of the song, creating a haunting and emotional listening experience.
Line by Line Meaning
I can see it shinin'
I can see a bright light or hope shining in my future.
It's coming for me coming out of the night
This light or hope is slowly approaching me from the darkness.
Everything is hummin' It's scarin' me now
There's a lot of activity or movement happening around me that's making me feel anxious.
It ain't feelin' right Think I might just hide a while
I'm not comfortable with what's happening, so I'm considering avoiding it by hiding for a while.
Wait for the night to return
I will wait until things calm down or seem safer to come out.
Dark and cold and lonely
I feel isolated and distant from others in this darkness.
Is how I feel and it's feels nice
Despite feeling lonely, I enjoy the peace and quiet away from others.
Don't want any company it just wouldn't feel right
I don't feel like being around others right now, it doesn't seem like the right thing to do.
I used to be so happy I could smile
I remember being happier in the past when I had a reason to smile.
And everything seemed to work out
Things in the past were simpler and more straightforward, without as many problems.
Now my eyes are startin' to close down
I'm starting to feel sleepy or lifeless, losing my spark or energy.
I can see you again In my dreams you're starring
In my dreams, you're the main character or focus, and I can see you clearly.
My lost and only friend
You were my best and closest friend, but now you're gone.
We used to have such good times
We have many happy memories together.
Why did you have to leave before our time was through?
I don't understand why you had to go before we finished making more memories together.
Everything loos pretty We're far from the city
Looking around, everything is beautiful and serene where we are, away from the hustle and bustle of city life.
And I'm holding you in my arms
In this memory, I have you in my arms, and it feels warm and comforting.
You feel so alive and so do I Isn't it a pity
You and I were both happy and alive in this moment, but it's sad that it's just a memory now.
Soon I'll wake and soon I'll cry
Soon I'll wake up and realize that this beautiful memory is just that - a memory, and it's gone now.
I can't' stop reminiscing about what is missing
I keep thinking about what's not here anymore, and it's hard to move on.
In my life I'm scared of everything
I'm afraid of the future and what it holds, and I don't feel secure in my current situation.
I got nothing to hold onto
I don't have anything that feels safe or comforting in my life right now.
If I believed in God then maybe I could give myself up too
If I had faith or belief in a higher power, maybe I could surrender myself to it for guidance and protection.
But I'm not sure about the after-life
I don't know or understand what comes after this life, so it's hard to have faith in it.
So I'm just gonna go on dreamin' of you
For now, I'll hold onto your memory and the happy times we had together as a source of comfort.
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind