Versions

Version	Length	Source	Availability
Studio	3:21	The Jaws Of Life album.	Extremely common. Available new in CD and digital form.
Studio	3:21	Australian Collected Works album.	Extremely common. Not available new.
Studio	3:21	Anthology album.	Moderately common. Available new in digital form.
Live [1]	3:47	Living Single in Large Rooms and Lounges single.	Moderately rare. Not available new.
Live [1]	3:47	Living in Large Rooms and Lounges album.	Extremely common. Available new in CD and digital form.
Live [2]	3:49	Under One Roof / Greatest Hits Live album and video.	Extremely common. Available new in CD, DVD and digital form.
Live [3]	5:54	Live 2014 box set – Enmore 2 album.	Extremely rare. Not available new.
Live [4]	4:10	Live 2014 digital album (2014 version).	Moderately rare. Not available new.
Live [4]	4:47	Live 2014 digital album (2017 version).	Moderately common. Available new in digital form.
Live [4]	4:47	Live 2014 box set – Palais 2 album.	Extremely rare. Not available new.
Live [5]	4:22	Raw Material #06 1985 09 14 The Venue album.	The Vault Desk Tape streaming audio.
Live [6]	4:31	Raw Material #07 1986 07 05 Seaview Ballroom album.	The Vault Desk Tape streaming audio.
Live [7]	4:07	Raw Material #08 1987 05 21 RPM album.	The Vault Desk Tape streaming audio.
Live [8]	3:34	Raw Material #10 1989 04 04 Middle Park Hotel album.	The Vault Desk Tape streaming audio.
Live [9]	4:03	Raw Material #13 1994 01 06 Transformers album.	The Vault Desk Tape streaming audio.

Recommended Version.

Commentary

42 Wheels was inspired by an incident where a man drove a 25 ton Mack Truck into the crowded Inland Hotel at Yulara, killing five and injuring 16.

The Supreme Court of the Northern Territory reports:

“CRABBE, Douglas John Edwin…

…[2] In the early hours of 18 August 1983 the respondent drove his 25 ton Mack Truck into a crowded bar of the Inland Hotel at Yulara. Five persons were killed and 16 were injured…

…[24] On 17 August 1983 the respondent spent the day driving his 25 ton Mack Truck to various localities and unloading his trailers. That evening after a meal the respondent went to the Inland Hotel where he drank at the bar for an hour or so before the barman refused to serve him because he was causing trouble. The respondent walked behind the bar and confronted the barman. A scuffle followed during which the respondent was forcibly removed from behind the bar and restrained. The respondent and another man fell to the floor briefly before the respondent was let up. He dusted himself off and, at about 12.30pm left the bar.

[25] The respondent walked approximately 500 metres back to his truck. He then drove the truck and two attached trailers a small distance to the Uluru Motel. At the motel the respondent unhitched one of the trailers. That was an exercise that required a degree of skill and dexterity, although it must be recognised that the respondent was very experienced in the operation of the truck and the trailers.

[26] After unhitching a trailer, the respondent drove the truck and trailer back to the Inland Hotel. The affidavit of Mr Martin Fisher sworn in support of the Director’s application summarises the events at the hotel as follows:

“Crabbe then manoeuvred the 25 ton Semi and trailer, at speed, around a blind bend, through a car park, around a minibus, turned and drove it through the bessa brick wall into the crowded bar, crushing the people there. Leaving the engine running, he then got out of the truck, smiled down at one of his victims, stepped over some bodies and ran.

This was at 1.10am. It had been 40 minutes between being thrown out and driving the truck into the bar. He was captured the next morning walking out of the bush 22 kilometres away.”…”

Lyrics

I got a heavy little number
I got 42 wheels of pleasure and pain
I got a heavy little number
I’m gonna head it on down upon the Alice again

With a paralytic weapon I can hardly miss
Gotta give the bricks another everlasting kiss

Had to spit the dummy, do a Jaws of Life job
Had to leave a big impression on the paralytic mob

Make it a Jaws of Life job