You Sound Like Louis Burdett

The Whitlams

About You Sound Like Louis Burdett

"You Sound Like Louis Burdett" is the lead single by The Whitlams from their 3rd album, Eternal Nightcap. It was released on January 11, 1997 and did not chart. It was included on The Whitlams compilation album, Truth, Beauty and a Picture of You. The single was placed at number 53 of Triple J's Hottest 100 of that year. Louis Burdett is an eccentric inner-west Sydney personality. Tim Freedman once shared a cottage in Tempe with Burdett, who is described on the Whitlams' official site as "an underemployed avant-garde musician. " The song's narrator repeatedly scolds himself for sounding like Louis Burdett. 


Year:
1998
4:01
309 

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Had a little bit to drink
There's a little thing I want at a do out East
Nothing too emotional, my good miss
I couldn't be serious in a room full of jack-knife eyes
Stop talking 'bout the years - you sound like Louis Burdett
And we roll on to my backshed, play some poker, scratch my head
Look at the sky and spot the planes, where would I go on holidays?

Roll with the punches, down the aisles, and down the street the weeks roll by
I'm chewing ice and grinning, I'm spewing up and spinning
It's billiousness as usual in my corner of the kitchen
Hey you, lose that friend before we go anywhere
What? Someone might see you alone?
Stop bagging out the band, you sound like Louis Burdett

All my friends are f*ck-ups but they're fun to have around
Banana chairs out on the concrete, telling stories to the stars
how Gemini's love Wooden Dragons, and how down the street the weeks roll by
The moment the night wears off, the bombsite reappears
They're all asleep but the morning tastes like wine

It tastes like wine in Tempe
I feel so good I just might wake him up
Pat him on the bald head - tell me about a dream Louis, something
obscene Louis, your life's an open magazine Louis
I'm stoned in a bookshop, sober in a nightclub
Sex is everywhere but nowhere 'round me

By the time she gets to Marrickville we'll be masturbating
never rains in Tempe but the planes remind me of family money and the lack down here
Stop talking frustrated, 'cause I sound like Louis Burdett
Most of my friends are very fruity indeed, such fun to have around
Terror, like charity, begins at home
Chris don't like madness, but madness likes him
He's got a finger in his chest saying how it should have been

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The Whitlams

The Whitlams are a rock band based in Sydney, Australia. The original band consisted of Tim Freedman, Stevie Plunder and Andy Lewis. more »

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Written by: MARK WELLS, TIMOTHY FREEDMAN

Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind


10 facts about this song

Creation and Inspiration
"You Sound Like Louis Burdett" was written and performed by the Australian band, The Whitlams. It is one of their most famous songs that turned them into a significant act in Australian music.
Release History
The track was released in 1997 as part of the second studio album "Eternal Nightcap".
Songwriting
It was written by Tim Freedman, the lead singer and keyboard player of The Whitlams, during a particularly challenging period of his life. It is reputed to reflect his life at the time.
Chart Performance
Though not one of the band’s biggest commercial success stories, it resonated deeply with their fanbase and remains a fan-favorite, even being voted at #57 in Triple J Hottest 100 in 1997.
Track Meaning
The song speaks about Freedman's struggle with mental health issues and substance abuse. It delves into his wild lifestyle in a mix of chaotic but engaging storytelling.
Cultural Impact
As an anthem for those dealing with similar issues, it became iconic for its raw, emotional honesty and is often regarded as a breakthrough song for the band.
Live Performances
"You Sound Like Louis Burdett" has been a staple in The Whitlams' live performances, often being the show-closer due to its popularity.
Louis Burdett
The song is named after real-life Louis Burdett, an eclectic jazz drummer known in the Sydney music scene, and the son of a prominent politician. Freedman, in the throes of his chaotic lifestyle, appears to put himself in Louis' more structured life while writing the lyrics.
Music Video
The music video for the song, like the lyrics, is wild and chaotic. It features the band performing in a variety of scenarios with Freedman as the main focus throughout.
Reception
Critics praised "You Sound Like Louis Burdett" for its candid portrayal of what it's like to struggle with mental health and substance abuse. It's seen as a landmark song that helped remove the stigma surrounding these issues.

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