Formed in 19… Read Full Bio ↴Powderfinger were a rock band from Brisbane, Australia.
Formed in 1989, the band managed to keep the same line up since they hit the big time, Bernard Fanning (Vocals, guitars), Darren Middleton (guitars), Ian Haug (guitars), John Collins (Bass) and Jon Coghill (drums). Powderfinger are winners of nearly every major award in Australia – including the ARIA (Australian Record Industry Awards) for Album of the Year, Best Rock Album and Song of the Year.
Their musical style changed significantly over the years from a predominantly Grunge influenced one (Parables for Wooden Ears, Double Allergic) to their own brand of Alternative Rock on the following albums Internationalist and Odyssey Number 5. Several songs on Vulture street were in tribute to classic rock bands like Led Zeppelin and AC/DC and Songs on Dream Days at the Hotel Existence feature a prominent Neil Young influence- to whom they owe their band name from his song of the same name.
The band released seven studio albums and a greatest hits album, Fingerprints - The Best of Powderfinger 1994-2000, in 2004. Their final album, Golden Rule, was released in late 2009. Despite their popularity in Australia, Powderfinger never achieved similar success overseas.
They toured with Silverchair on the "Across the Great Divide" Concert, from August to October 2007, trying to raise awareness of the indigenous people of Australia.
On the 9th of April 2010, it was announced at a press conference and on the band's website that after 20 years together, Powderfinger would be disbanding after their farewell Sunsets Tour. Of the split, frontman Bernard Fanning stated:
With the completion of our last album, Golden Rule, we feel that we have said all that we want to say as a musical group. We firmly believe that it is our most complete and satisfying album and can't think of a better way to farewell our fans than with music that we all believe in and also with, hopefully, our best tour to date.
Walking Stick
Powderfinger Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
A diet designed only to agitate
A veil of pride and gospel truth
To cover the hidden fist that he used
And I won't say a word
You've sewn me in my skin
Hypocrite walking stick man
Silent grave
And the sunken heel kinda slows me down
Dogs and children lift their legs
To tattoo a teenage mothers breasts
Widows of precocious days
Wear slogans resurrected late
Parables for wooden ears
Steer vehicles of wisdom
All the wisdom
And I won't say a word
You've sewn me in my skin
Hypocrite walking stick man
Silent grave
And the sunken heel kinda lights my way
And I won't say a word
You've sewn me in my skin
Hypocrite walking stick man
Silent grave
The song "Walking Stick" by Powderfinger is a social commentary and criticism of the society we live in. The lyrics describe a world where people are spoon-fed a diet of information designed to agitate rather than enlighten. The use of a walking stick as a metaphor for the hypocrisy and weakness of the human condition is embodied in the lyrics in a powerful and thought-provoking way.
The first verse describes a person who uses a veil of pride and gospel truth to mask their hidden agenda, represented as a hidden fist. The singer of the song is struggling against this person, but feels powerless to speak out against them. They are "sewn in their skin" and cannot break free from the hypocrisy they see around them. The chorus repeats the refrain of "hypocrite walking stick man," emphasizing the metaphor of the walking stick as a symbol of weakness and duplicity.
The second verse continues this commentary on society, describing how even the most innocent creatures, dogs and children, are co-opted into the corruption and hypocrisy of the world. The image of teenage mothers with tattoos on their breasts and widows wearing resurrected slogans suggests a society in decline. The final two lines of the verse, "parables for wooden ears/steer vehicles of wisdom," suggest that even though we are bombarded with meaningless information, there is still a chance for us to gain wisdom and insight.
Overall, "Walking Stick" by Powderfinger is a powerful statement on the state of society in the modern world. The metaphor of the walking stick used throughout the song is a symbol of the weakness and duplicity that exists in all of us. The song is a call to arms to break free from the shackles of hypocrisy and corruption and to strive for a better, more enlightened world.
Line by Line Meaning
Spoon fed from a dirty plate
He's been given a meager and unsanitary existence to sustain himself
A diet designed only to agitate
His circumstances have been purposely crafted to cause unrest and friction within him
A veil of pride and gospel truth
His sense of superiority and blind adherence to doctrine helps to conceal his underlying motivations
To cover the hidden fist that he used
Those underlying motivations are likely abusive and manipulative
And I won't say a word
The artist chooses not to speak out against this individual
You've sewn me in my skin
The singer feels trapped or stuck in this situation
Hypocrite walking stick man
The subject of the song is a two-faced and deceitful person who uses a cane to hide his true nature
Silent grave
The artist imagines a future where the subject's deceptive ways are no longer a concern because he's dead and buried
And the sunken heel kinda slows me down
The artist feels weighed down by his association with the hypocrite walking stick man
Dogs and children lift their legs
Even the most basic creatures and innocent people somehow end up getting involved in this person's drama
To tattoo a teenage mothers breasts
His influence spreads far and wide, corrupting even the most vulnerable members of society
Widows of precocious days
Older women who were once young and naive
Wear slogans resurrected late
These women cling to beliefs and messages that are outdated and no longer relevant
Parables for wooden ears
They repeat moral tales to deaf ears - those who don't want to listen
Steer vehicles of wisdom
Despite this, they still try to pass on useful knowledge and guidance
All the wisdom
It's a noble and commendable pursuit, but they're ultimately fighting a losing battle
And I won't say a word
Again, the artist chooses not to speak out
You've sewn me in my skin
He feels like a prisoner in his own life
Hypocrite walking stick man
The subject of the song is again referred to in the same manner
Silent grave
The artist still imagines a future where the person is no longer a concern
And the sunken heel kinda lights my way
Despite the negativity associated with the person, the artist is able to use their presence as a guiding force in life
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
Written by: BERNARD J. FANNING, DARREN S. MIDDLETON, IAN D. HAUG, JOHN A. COLLINS, JONATHAN R. COGHILL
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind