Throw Your Arms Around Me: An Australian Classic
June 11th 2008 11:22
Hunters and Collectors' most enduring song needs no introduction.
I will come for you at nighttime
I will raise you from your sleep
I will kiss you in four places
I'll go running along your street
I will squeeze the life out of you
You will make me laugh and make me cry
We will never forget it
You will make me call your name
And I'll shout it to the blue summer sky
We may never meet again
So shed your skin and lets get started
And you will throw your arms around me
I dreamed of you at nighttime
And I watched you in your sleep
I met you in high places
I touched your head and touched your feet
So if you disappear out of view
You know, I will never say goodbye
Though I try to forget it
You will make me call your name
And I'll shout it to the blue summer sky
We may never meet again
So shed your skin and lets get started
And you will throw your arms around me
Yeah you will throw you arms around me…
Written by the band’s front man, Mark Seymour and originally released in 1985 and on the Human Frailty album, this loveliest of love songs failed to make a splash on the charts and Aussie pub band Hunters and Collectors re-recorded the song as a slower more acoustic version in 1990 for their Collected Works best-of album. Although it was never a top seller for the band that created it, it is nonetheless impossible to overestimate the influence this song has had on Australian (and world) music. It has been covered by everyone from Crowed House to The Doug Anthony All Stars to Kate Ceberano to Pearl Jam. Before performing a live acoustic version on Rollingstone.com, Neil Finn introduced it as “a song that became a classic without ever having been a hit”.
A friend of mine who was lucky enough to see Pearl Jam in concert in 1995 at the Eastern Creek Raceway in Sydney said the highlight for him was watching and listening to Eddie Vedder sing an a Capella version of this song. Vedder came on stage with no introduction and no other musicians just sang the haunting lyrics in his unmistakable voice. A personal highlight of mine was seeing Crowed House perform this song at their farewell concert at the Opera House steps. In 1998 it came in at Number 2 on triple JJJ’s all-time Hottest 100. No prizes for guessing Number 1 (hello, hello, hello, hell-o).
This was my favourite song when I was a teenager. My best friend and I used to sit for hours deciphering the lyrics. Was he about to break up with his long-term girl friend? Was it an illustrious affair that was coming to an end? Was his partner dying?
I have since found out that the underlying theme of the song is a one-night stand. Not as romantic as our childhood imaginings, that’s for sure. And I kinda wish I didn’t know that…but then, why do I have to accept the songwriter’s meaning for this particular piece of art? When Raymond Carver, the legendary American short story writer was asked to explain the meaning of his stories, he refused to and simply stated, “There is no interpretation”.
Well, in this instance I will subscribe to that point of view. Throw Arms Around Me needs no interpretation, no hard and fast meaning attached to its lyrics. It is what it means to you. Kate Ceberano sang this song to her unborn child on Enough Rope with Andrew Denton. Crowded House chose it to say goodbye and thank you to their millions of fans on a golden summer’s day in 1996.
And I still remember been an innocent fifteen year old girl scribbling, in chalk, the entire lyrics of this song on the pavement in Sydney’s Botanical Gardens, dreaming that one day I too will know what the delicious heart break of a love affair gone wrong would feel like. And that then, and only then will I truly be able to understand the emotion that goes into creating a song like this.
Here are some comments that appear on the youtube page for this song:
Not my all-time favorite band, but my all-time favorite song. The tune and lyrics are beautiful. Makes me long for…a hot summer night at Mean Mr. Mustard's on High Street in Columbus. Simply an incredible song.
This is the song that I "lost it" to with my girlfriend in high school. We were so in love man that was like 20 something years back, we…have since split up but we still hold each other fondly in our memories. Thanks for the fond memories!!!!
this song was played at my uncle garys funeral. he died in a dirt bike accident 8 years ago. to this day at every important moment of my life this song comes on to the radio right when i need him. kinda sppokey (sic). loves this song.
I think that sometimes, the hallmark of a truly great song is one that can transcend literal interpretation and mean something different to nearly everyone who loves it. In achieving exactly that, Throw Your Arms Around Me remains a true classic.
Here is the Doug Anthony All Stars Version. Besides the 1985 original, this mid-nineties cover by the comedy trio is my favourite:
Neil Finn performing live and acoustic on Rollingstone.com in 2002. In all the live versions I have seen of Neil playing this song, he always gives props to the songwriter. What a great guy (*lovesick sigh*):
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Comment by Morgan Bell
Deep Pencil
Current Business News
Movie Train
Artist Quirk
now let me really jog your memory: that pearl jam concert from 95 was broadcast on Triple J, do you remember Vedder singing the first line of Split Endz "I Got You" as a tribute to his wife? (thats if you listened to the radio relay like little nerdy me lol)
Comment by StephenP
NRL News
I vaguely remember attending one of their live shows in the early '90's and I gurantee that 99% of the crowd not only sung along, but knew every word as well!!
You can have your Holy Grails and Blind Eye, but this is their best!!
Cheers,
StephenP
Comment by RubySoho
Music Zone
Thought Zone
I have not actually listened to that concert by Pearl Jam. But i do remember been very upset when Mr Vedder tied the knot. How dare the voice of our generation do something so boring and conformist actually getting married? Oh, yes, I was a rebel back then...haha.
Hi StephenP...I agree this is their best....but I am a fan of many of their other songs as well. I saw them play in the mid-90's and my friend and I decided to stalk Mark Seymour and followed him around after the concert....from the harbour all the way to Kings Cross. We thought we were been discreet but I'm sure he was getting freaked out by the two crazy girls in trashy clothes who just kept appearing in all the same bars as him. Oh good times...good times...
Comment by Nomad
Awesome Food
so um yeah,
nomad
Comment by Norm
Consumption Malfunction
Equal and Opposite
Arses and Elbows
Footy Power
Comment by Norm
Consumption Malfunction
Equal and Opposite
Arses and Elbows
Footy Power
Bitter irony.
Comment by postmoderncritic
Postmodern Critic
Daily Inspirations
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Padsoc
I've seen a lot of people spell it 'Hello, hello, hello, how low?', but, as you say, it's all about interpretation.
Comment by postmoderncritic
Postmodern Critic
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Padsoc