This song seemingly tackles the methods of deception those who manipulate others use to get victims to follow their demands, as well as diverting attention away from important issues. They'll also use it as a means to convince people to hate or kill others by pretending acts of terrorism were committed by the enemy when the acts themselves were done by the masters of control to promote discrimination and hate. It also reinforces the idea that these manipulative forces operate in various locations, infiltrating everyday life without detection, and propagate any and everywhere.
In general, it highlights the danger of hidden agendas, manipulation, and distraction, serving as a critique of those who exploit chaos and confusion to control and gain power, depicting a cautionary tale against falling into their traps. It encourages us to question the narratives presented to us and remain vigilant against manipulation in various parts of society.
A.O.
Children mustn't know that we're living in a city that's built on bones
A.O.
All the army go, please enjoy this city before it explodes
A.O.
Here we here we go, it's a pity it's a feeling I can't control
A.O.
The children mustn't know this is adults only
Adults only
Adults only
Kookaburra sits in a tree unnamed
You can feel the sorrow, I can feel the shame
Coz there's no-one laughing round here no more but he
I flew back to the coast on New Year's Day
Little plane tossed 'round by a southerly
And when I stepped outside the streets were clean
But I know deep down lies undiscovered
Past the bone foundations of a town corrupted
Under creaking piers, under iron cover
Past the concrete crime of a million lovers
Past strutting and swagger, under coldest rubble
Past torn down shanties of forgotten troubles
Through its ills and evils, past rants and ravings
Lies the cold dark soul of an emerald city, I
A.O.
Children mustn't know that we're living in a city that's built on bones
A.O.
All the army go, please enjoy this city before it explodes
A.O.
Here we here we go, it's a pity it's a feeling I can't control
A.O.
The children mustn't know this is adults only
Adults only
Walking through the streets I can feel its sting
Metal blue snakes screaming round this head I'm in
Keeps railing all the way to bed
And from the time it sleeps to its dawn awake
City's dreams rang out like a melody
\"I finally recognize the tune,\" he said
Through fears and fervour, past lies and secrets
Of ink stained, panic-stricken 5 star heathens
Under storms of hell, through tropical fevers
Excitement of the first days of bushfire seasons
All those planning disasters, monuments to the masters
And the dog dark dealings of its backroom bastards
Every long lost dream, every failed endeavour
Every ice beer trail of a rum rebellion
Now I, huddle these feelings of pity
Watching new years colours rain down on the city
Where our beautiful beaches suffer photo ops
To watch schizophrenic tourists get shot by cops
Generation of kids with the toughest teeth
Still haunted by the visions of shocking ink
Where little old ladies die afraid and alone
Now surrounded by yuppies small bars and coke, I
A.O.
Children mustn't know that we're living in a city that's built on bones
A.O.
All the army go, please enjoy this city before it explodes
A.O.
Here we here we go, it's a pity it's a feeling I can't control
A.O.
The children mustn't know this is adults only
Adults only
Adults only
Adults only
Children mustn't know that we're living in a city that's built on bones
A.O.
All the army go, please enjoy this city before it explodes
A.O.
Here we here we go, it's a pity it's a feeling I can't control
A.O.
The children mustn't know this is adults only
Adults only
Adults only
Kookaburra sits in a tree unnamed
You can feel the sorrow, I can feel the shame
Coz there's no-one laughing round here no more but he
I flew back to the coast on New Year's Day
Little plane tossed 'round by a southerly
And when I stepped outside the streets were clean
But I know deep down lies undiscovered
Past the bone foundations of a town corrupted
Under creaking piers, under iron cover
Past the concrete crime of a million lovers
Past strutting and swagger, under coldest rubble
Past torn down shanties of forgotten troubles
Through its ills and evils, past rants and ravings
Lies the cold dark soul of an emerald city, I
A.O.
Children mustn't know that we're living in a city that's built on bones
A.O.
All the army go, please enjoy this city before it explodes
A.O.
Here we here we go, it's a pity it's a feeling I can't control
A.O.
The children mustn't know this is adults only
Adults only
Walking through the streets I can feel its sting
Metal blue snakes screaming round this head I'm in
Keeps railing all the way to bed
And from the time it sleeps to its dawn awake
City's dreams rang out like a melody
\"I finally recognize the tune,\" he said
Through fears and fervour, past lies and secrets
Of ink stained, panic-stricken 5 star heathens
Under storms of hell, through tropical fevers
Excitement of the first days of bushfire seasons
All those planning disasters, monuments to the masters
And the dog dark dealings of its backroom bastards
Every long lost dream, every failed endeavour
Every ice beer trail of a rum rebellion
Now I, huddle these feelings of pity
Watching new years colours rain down on the city
Where our beautiful beaches suffer photo ops
To watch schizophrenic tourists get shot by cops
Generation of kids with the toughest teeth
Still haunted by the visions of shocking ink
Where little old ladies die afraid and alone
Now surrounded by yuppies small bars and coke, I
A.O.
Children mustn't know that we're living in a city that's built on bones
A.O.
All the army go, please enjoy this city before it explodes
A.O.
Here we here we go, it's a pity it's a feeling I can't control
A.O.
The children mustn't know this is adults only
Adults only
Adults only
Adults only
Lyrics submitted by cooperw, edited by daveydaveson
A.O. Lyrics as written by Kimberley Moyes Julian Hamilton
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Lyrics powered by LyricFind
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I'd agree with what FasterLouder (and yourself) said; ultimately about it being about Australian society that is going downhill. Or society in general really.
The world is heading down a path that is not forward.
Planned disasters, cops shooting skitzo tourists, excitement from bushfires (like do people dont have anything else to talk about? If I understand that line properly), kookaburras are the only ones laughing and old people dying afraid and alone (cause Australia isnt like how it used to be anymore).
Certainly paints a picture and I love this track, not for the lyrics but its on my favourites of theirs.
Powerful song. Surprised nobody has commented!
Pretty sure this is talking about the dark side of Sydney... in a very clever, visual way. I especially love the last stanza, particularly the last two lines - "Where little old ladies die afraid and alone Now surrounded by yuppies small bars and coke"
Just shows how much the city has changed. It all appears so beautiful and shiny on the outside, but look a little closer, and you'll find crime and misfortune and the city isn't so 'pretty' anymore.
A reviewer on Faster Louder wrote this: "The six minutes of ‘Adults Only’ return to the unpleasant truths of Australian society, rewriting John Birmingham’s history of Sydney’s consumptive reinvention, 'Leviathan', to provide a subject that can accommodate Hamilton’s snarl. He takes in the Rum Rebellion and “schizophrenic tourists shot by cops”, before culminating in old lonely old ladies expiring in old apartment buildings while the yuppies in nearby bars snort coke." Read more at fasterlouder.com.au/reviews/music/33697/The-Presets--Pacifica