The band's 2003 album Up All Night reached the top five of the Australian Albums Chart, achieving double platinum status and winning four ARIA Awards in October. Two further top five albums were issued, Sun Dirt Water in 2007 and Temptation in 2011. The Waifs have three top fifty singles, "London Still" (2002), "Bridal Train" (2004) and "Sun Dirt Water". The band supported Bob Dylan on his 2003 Australian tour and then his 2003 North American tour, including a gig at the Newport Folk Festival.
The Waifs founded the independent label Jarrah Records in July 2002, co-owned with fellow musician John Butler, and their common manager Phil Stevens, which handles their Australian releases.
The Waifs formed in August 1992 in Albany, Western Australia as a folk rock band. The Simpson sisters, Donna and Vikki (now Vikki Thorn), had formed a duo, Colours, in Albany to perform cover versions of Bob Dylan and Everly Brothers at local pubs. Their father, Jimmy Simpson, was a seasonal salmon fisherman at Cosy Corner beach and had bought Donna her first guitar when she was 15. In February 1992, 20-year-old Donna and her 16-year-old sister, Vikki headed off in a Kombi van to tour the state as Colours. Josh Cunningham, a Moruya farmer's son, had started playing guitar in 1987, he was touring Australia playing bass guitar for a band.] The Simpsons met 18-year-old Cunningham while Colours were playing twelve-bar blues in Broome. After a ten-minute jam session, Donna invited Cunningham to join Colours, Cunningham later recalled, "there was a connection that Donna felt that I felt as well ... it's always felt very much like a family to me and I felt instantly welcomed into that right from the very start". Upon return to Albany, Colours changed its name to The Waifs (initially styled as The WAiFS) with Cunningham on guitars, ukulele, mandolin, dobro and vocals, Donna on vocals, guitar and tambourine, and Vikki on vocals, harmonica and guitar. The Waifs used the Kombi van from 1992 to 1996 to travel to gigs across Australia.
Discography
The Waifs (1996)
Shelter Me (1998)
Sink or Swim (2000)
Up All Night (2003)
Sun Dirt Water (2007)
Live From The Union Of Soul (2009)
Temptation (2011)
Rescue
Waifs Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
And you're tired of traveling
When you got nowhere to call your own
You know my place can be your home
To the rescue here I come
To the rescue here I come
With my big attitude and my broken heart
Poison my only friend
And my drinking addiction
To the rescue there you were
To my rescue there you were
Now we're both out there floating around
I still got to space but you're on the ground
You're in my heart you're in my head
Right now we don't need no rescuing
To the rescue I'll never let you fall
To my rescue you've been on call
The Waifs' song "Rescue" is a heartfelt ode to friendship and the importance of having someone to rely on in tough times. The first verse sets the tone, speaking to the weariness and rootlessness that can come from a life of constant travel. But even when there seems to be no place to belong, there's comfort in the knowledge that there is someone who can offer shelter and a sense of home. The chorus speaks directly to this, with its repeated refrain "to the rescue here I come."
The second verse shifts the perspective to the singer herself. At one point in her life, she was struggling with addiction and heartache, but found solace in knowing that someone was there to support her. This connection is reinforced in the bridge, where it's clear that both individuals are still grappling with the ups and downs of life, but they're doing so together. They don't necessarily need to be rescued from anything at the moment, but they know that they have each other's backs if things get tough again. The final lines of the song affirm this, with the singer promising to never let her friend fall and acknowledging that her friend has been there for her in the same way.
Overall, "Rescue" is a simple but powerful tribute to the role of friendship in our lives. It speaks to the idea that even when we're struggling, having someone we can count on can make all the difference.
Line by Line Meaning
When your boots are well worn in
When you've been traveling for so long that your shoes are starting to show significant signs of wear and tear
And you're tired of traveling
When you're feeling exhausted from constantly being on the move and you're looking for a place to rest
When you got nowhere to call your own
When you feel like you don't have a place where you belong and you're searching for a sense of home
You know my place can be your home
You can always find a sense of comfort and belonging at my home, whenever you need it
To the rescue here I come
I'm here to help you and provide you with a safe place to stay
To the rescue here I come
I'm here to offer you support and assistance whenever you need it
When I was out there playing hard
When I was living recklessly and ignoring the consequences of my actions
With my big attitude and my broken heart
With my tough, defensive persona and my emotional pain and vulnerability
Poison my only friend
I found comfort in harmful substances instead of seeking healthy relationships and coping mechanisms
And my drinking addiction
I became reliant on alcohol as a way to numb my emotions and escape reality
To the rescue there you were
You came into my life and offered me support and guidance when I needed it most
To my rescue there you were
You saved me from my destructive habits and showed me a healthier way to live
Now we're both out there floating around
Now we're both navigating life without a clear direction or sense of purpose
I still got to space but you're on the ground
I may have achieved some level of success or contentment, but you're still struggling and need my support
You're in my heart you're in my head
Your presence and influence is always with me, even when we're physically apart
Right now we don't need no rescuing
We're currently in a good place and don't require any immediate help or intervention
To the rescue I'll never let you fall
Even when things get tough, I'll always be there to support you and prevent you from falling
To my rescue you've been on call
You've been a consistent source of help and support for me, and I'm grateful for your presence in my life
Lyrics © OBO APRA/AMCOS
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