The Hi-Fives

Get Down (& more)

This digital album contains all the songs from Lookout #205 Get Down LP (1998), and some other songs from compilations of the time. Get Down was produced, recorded, and mixed in 1998 by Craig Silvey (and Robert Shimp) at Toast (formerly Coast Recordings) in San Francisco. It was mixed by Craig at Konk Studios, London.

The cast: John Denery (vocals, guitar), Christopher Imlay (guitar, vocals), Steve Faine (bass guitar), Gary Guttfeld (drums), and guest Russel Quan plays harmonica on the song She Makes Me Good.

And A Whole ‘Lotta You

Liner notes

By Dr. Framk

To be on a lake fishing with The Hi-Fives is an experience that would enrich the life of any man. I know because I've been lucky enough to share many tranquil hours on a lake with them, fishing, dreaming, philosophizing, and generally learning what life is all about. The Hi-Fives feel their emotions very deeply, and have the courage to express them in no uncertain terms, whatever the consequences. Years of hard experience have taught them how to lift the veil that obscures some of life's grimmest realities; they know how to reach within and grasp the mysterious truth, and hold aloft its wriggling body for everyone to see. Above all, they know when to remain silent, when words would only obscure the truth about life's bitter and terrible majesty. It's a lesson I've learned time and time again: go fishing with The Hi-Fives, and you'll catch more than fish. If only the great leaders of the world were to have such an opportunity, perhaps there would be hope for us after all.

Well, forget it. It's not going to happen. But I bring it up to demonstrate just how remarkable these Hi-Fives really are. For the world of The Hi-Fives is a world of contrasts. One moment, we find them sitting calmly, their backs against an old hollow tree, idly whispering their homespun words of wisdom into the void; you'd never guess that that very evening, however, they will bound onto a stage in some fashionable nightclub, cavorting under the bright lights as legions of gyrating, stylish young people degenerate to the beat of their soul-wrenching love songs and state-of-the-art rock and roll. Underneath it all, how-ever, despite the unbridled frenzy of their live performances, John, Chris, Gary, and Steve are simply well-dressed and well-behaved young men who just happen to be pop stars. How well-dressed? Well, it's not uncommon for an unwitting fan, milling about before one of their sold-out concert appearances, to mistake one of them for a waiter. How well-behaved? Well, likely as not, The Hi-Five in question will then scurry off to the bar without missing a beat, returning shortly with a drink, a bow, and a smile. They are the kind of boys a girl could bring home to mother (though she'd probably prefer to keep them to herself).

Social critics and guardians of the public trust have professed themselves to be mystified by the strange power these young men seem to hold over their young fans. I'm not mystified. I think it's because The Hi-Fives approach pop music in much the same spirit as they approach fishing, and the result is that the kids come to dance, but they leave having learned a little bit about themselves in the process. The Hi-Fives are just like everyone else, only moreso. In fact, they are so much like the rest of us that they feel the same things we feel, only twice as hard. You say: "That's silly. No one can feel my pain more than me, or laugh half as heartily when the seed I planted becomes a flower." Well, my friend, there's the crux. Most of us know only what touches us and we try as hard as we can to keep those things we fear or don't understand from getting too close. But not The Hi-Fives! Accept their invitation, dig their groove, people, and you won't either.

As for The Hi-Fives' unique "sound," how to describe it? What is it? Where did it originate? There's some indescribable something in the make-up of the "sound" (indescribable because it's a "feel"...an emotion...rather than a specific set of notes.) It's really not like any one style of the past, but more like a blend. Does it resemble early basic rock? No-- not unless that's where it got its spontaneity. Rock? In name only. Pop rock? Nope, though some of The Hi-Fives' free-wheeling riffs are reminiscent of this era. The Big Beat... yes, The Hi-Fives have the big beat-- but not the plink-plink. Are they punk? Well, they're good punk, but they're not evil. Now we know the ingredients: spontaneity, free-wheeling riffs, rock, a beat. There's one other ingredient, and it's probably the most important one. It's something The Hi-Fives didn't borrow from anyone or anything. It's a definite, happy "free feel" that's always in their performance, and this is what flashes that subliminal neon sign to the listener..."It's The Hi-Fives!! It's The Hi-Fives!!!." It's kind of hard to explain, but you'll know it when you hear it.

As always, Lookout Records brings you music the way you like it-- performed by leading artists, backed by exciting arrangements and dynamic orchestrations, and recorded with the newest techniques-- a combination that can't miss. Add The Hi-Fives, and you're cookin', baby, with gas. Life begins as a panorama of limitless possibilities. As time passes, we watch helplessly as, one by one, these possibilities wither away with clock-like regularity. Before too long you're left with nothing but who you are and a dark, lonely space inside that you'd rather not examine too closely. It's all part of growing up. But while you're staring helplessly into the void, you might as well be listening to some great rock and roll, and The Hi-Fives are the perfect soundtrack for every stage of the process of degeneration. In all my years as a famous show-business personality, I've never seen anything quite like them. You may never have the chance to go on a Hi-Fives fishing trip, but once you experience the magic in these grooves I guarantee that you, like me, will not be able to forget them. And like legions of other fans, you'll wake up each morning asking yourself: "Who are these Hi-Fives, and what are they doing in my head?"

-Dr. Frank

Get Down

Song lyrics

(for non-cover songs)

I'd Be So Pleased

The sound that you make betrays the way that you move. Ili trade seeing for believing if you're longing for proof. Could I believe, that you might see in me someone who, you would pursue? While I'm pining away must you give me what-for? If my affections at a ceil-ing, it's a state you adore, 'cause I can't see, what you would want with me but were it true and it could be you... yeah! I'd be so pleased! All hope against reason if my attention's undue, 'cause I've got this funny feeling and it isn't the flu, 'cause I can't see, what you would want with me but were it true, and it could be you...yeah! I'd be so pleased!

Conversations Like These

"I can't get it off with a mop" she said. She's got a certain sort of way of wording what in her head. Conversations like these it's no wonder why I'm ill at ease and I get to thinking that maybe my life is a wreck. But I know it all depends on what she'll say next. Baby's on the kitchen floor, I pray she's scrubbing but I can't be sure because I just get confused, I just get confused when she talks to me. "I can't get it off with a mop" she said. She's got a certain sort of way of wording what in her head. Conversations like these it's no wonder why l'm ill at ease and I just get confused when she talks to me, cuando hable a me.

She Is The One

We each lay on pillows startled to find, left shame in a discotheque and not on our minds. The smell of a hair tie, a whisper in ear, my salt in a tear-eye might be what makes it appear that she is alight, she is the one she teaches the light, you know her pupil is the sun. My surroundings eclipsed as softly we sup, your lips in the sips that you can cull from your cup. It's not what she'd say would prompt my acclaim but that she'd say it a way in which I must proclaim that she is alight, she is the one she teaches the light, you know her pupil is the sun yeah, she is the one.

Won't Take Much

I walked in and duly noted that I hardly had to notice that it won't take much. A lost thought, a moments passing, a cracked beer was the last thing 'cause it won't take much. I'm not saying I'm getting bored and I'm only saying we don't got much of a chore 'cause it won't take much for you and I to fall asleep in fall so deep in love. Like a smile that's got a dimple our love's so plain and simple and it won't take much. A single breath, a 45, the time it took to realize that it won't take much. That night I concocted a photograph for your love locket and it won't take much to fall so deep in fall asleep in love. 

When You Destroy Our Love

I'd never but I know you could. I'd consider but it's you who would and there's nothing that I can do to stop you from destroying my love. I'd try and you might give in. I could walk and you might choose to listen. But there's nothing that I can do to stop you from destroying our love. There's nothing that I can do, you'll decide what you want to and all that I can do is watch is fall down when you destroy my love.

She Makes Me Good

I can't remember did I surrender up my yesterdays. Where'd they go I just don't know but hope they stay away. No more bloated trips or candy coated lips baby's done what no-one could I think it's understood she makes me good. I'm a hunch she's betting on there's a stump for getting on close my eyes hope to die put an ax right through my side cause baby's splitting wood and the closer that she gets sets me straight like no one could I think it's understood she makes me good.

Black Sand Beach (Instrumental)

(Kosaku, Don {Yuzo Kyama}) Watanabe Music Publ Corp(JASRAC)

Contemplating Coups

A healthy learning curve and the grain of truth, we'll get what we deserve if it's the last we do. Like a warm returning to the lovers' bed, or the sitters yearning to get out again, I can taste the waning chaste for you, it lay in wait contemplating coups. The slight of hands turning all heads to you, why don't we adjourn back to the drawing room, 'cause I can't take the wanting haste with you, it lay in wait contemplating coups. Is it healthy, wealthy, wise or don't you know if this new union should be left alone, 'cause I can't take the wanting haste with you, it lay in wait contemplating coups, I can taste the waning chaste for you, it lay in wait contemplating coups.

Back Again

Here's what I know it's all I know no one could ever take your place occupy my time and space and that's all I know. So here I am, back again, trying somehow to define a way you'll understand that I'm here today and I'm back again. And I'm here to report back that it was cold, damp and my Kodak could never capture the moment of knowing enough that I have no business being here when you're not so I'm back again.

Don't You Know? (Now That's A Girl!)

Well you know l've tried to find some peace of mind, but don't you know, now that's a girl! And it seems like just the thing-if I could bring into my world, now that's a girl! And she is cute, but the point is moot, until I know, now that's a girl! Now I just don't want to try to deny, what's begun, now that's a girl! 'Cause you know we're telling lies that I can't buy, what's become, now that's a girl! Well she is cute, and if it's love to boot, then I'll know, now that's a girl! And when it comes all down to foes trading blows, don't you go, now that's a girl! Seems big blue eyes beget lies, and don't you know, now that's a girl!

In The Meantime Please Don't Leave

It's not that I don't see you I'm just trying not to stare but when I look over your way it's your friends who fill you in. And it's not how it's suppose to be I need a little more time you see, I need a little more time to slow my heart beat down I need a little more time before I come around and in the meantime please don't leave. Just stay right there I'll put me back just as I came when I wasn't aware that you could blow my mind away and I need to recover from what I discovered recover from the swelling up inside my heart which led to a transplant and a brand new start and in the meantime please don't leave. It may sound funny but my heart rings out to you these complications acting up are nothing new

Cat And Comb

I sleep well wrapped up on the floor, try not to be what nature abhors, feeling like I'm holding something but my hands are free, breathing in the little spaces between your feet. Shoulder it yourself and it grows until it starts to breathe on its own, reeling in the golden promise where two minds meet, feeding on the little spaces between your teeth. I'm not at home with your sense of what's alone nor with a cat and her comb and now l've just stopped waiting at all. Just for the record I still think of you, l'd like to thank my parents too, feeling like I'm holding something but my hands are free, breathing in the little spaces between your feet. I'm not at home with your sense of what's alone nor with a cat and her comb and now l've just stopped waiting at- all this to say I told you so? Well I don't know, I don't- no where is difficult to go so I won't.

It Won't Happen To You

Dreams do die as lives grow old, plans that were made are quickly sold and you don't know where they've gone, now you're wondering what went wrong. Well take a look around that's me standing there l've been standing in your shadow going nowhere, just waiting for a chance to put it back back in tact cause I'm in love with you girl more than I can do girl and all I gotta say it won't happen to you. There's a remedy I could prescribe to stop all the breaking things inside just a simple cure for another dream deferred and it's only a moments time away just a single glance or look my way that's all you gotta do I promise baby it won't happen to you cause I'm in love with you girl, more than I can do girl and all I gotta say it won't happen to you. You'll never sink into the bay and have to think why'd it end this way cause I'm not willing to risk spilling you along the way.

Class Dismissed

This class is dismissed there'll be no looking back. This class is dismissed and I'm only sorry that I didn't listen long ago to my own advice I dished out to you collated and stapled too. This class is dismissed but first before you go and get dignified and old here's something you should know. I'm leaving all of this behind, I'm packing up and now it's time, time to say good-bye to you. This class is dismissed this class is terminated this class is dismissed go now let's not delay it. This class is dismissed there'll be no looking back this class is dismissed this class is gonna be my