Fanning was taught the piano by his mother at an early age. At the age of 12, while attending St. Joseph's College, Gregory Terrace, Fanning began writing music, and upon graduating from St. Joseph's, moved on to the University of Queensland, where he studied journalism for a short time. He would go on to drop out to pursue a music career after meeting Ian Haug in an economics class. Fanning joined Haug, John Collins, and Steven Bishop, who had recently formed Powderfinger, and took the role of lead singer. Subsequently, Bishop left and guitarist Darren Middleton joined.
From 1994 to 2004 Powderfinger released five albums, a double CD live album, and a Best Of, after which they decided to take a break. Fanning's solo album Tea & Sympathy was released in October 2005 and debuted at #1 on the Australian ARIA Albums chart. Singles released from this album were Wish You Well, Songbird and Watch Over Me.
Fanning won three ARIA awards in 2006, Best Male Artist, Album of the Year for Tea and Sympathy, and Best Music Video for Wish You Well. In the same year Wish You Well was voted in at #1 on Australian youth radio station Triple J's 2005 Hottest 100 poll.
Fanning also contributed songs to the 2003 film Ned Kelly including Shelter For My Soul and a cover of the traditional song Moreton Bay.
Powderfinger released their 6th studio album, Dream Days At The Hotel Existence in June 2007 and toured with Silverchair that autumn.
After the disbanding of Powderfinger in 2010, Fanning moved to Spain with his family where he began writing and recording demos for his next solo album. In January 2013 Fanning announced on his website blog that he had been recording the follow up to 2005's "Tea and Sympathy" in Los Angeles. In March 2013 he announced via his blog that recording had been completed and he had returned back to Australia. On 22nd April 2013 the first single Battleships was released. Fanning's second album, Departures, was released on 7th June 2013. Since the album release, two more singles have been released: Departures (Blue Toowong Skies) and Tell Me How It Ends.
Wish You Well
Bernard Fanning Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I didn't get much sleep last night
A freight train rattled through my head
Whistle blowing', love is dead
Is dead
Heart attacked by fear and doubt
Won't be long 'til the truth comes out
First impressions never lie
Lover's bonds they hold so fast
Restless future burnin' bright
The past is holdin' on so tight
I never heard the warnin' bell
And I just want to wish you well
I just want to wish you well
Welcome swallows dip and swing
Take their cue from the slightest thing
Rollin' fog into my room
Why'd you give up on me so soon?
So soon
Restless future burnin' bright
The past is holding on so tight
I never heard the warnin' bell
And I just want to wish you well
I just want to wish you well
I just want to wish you well
I just want to wish you well
Why'd you give up on me so soon?
Why'd you give up on me so soon?
I just want to wish you well
I just want to wish you well
The song "Wish You Well" by Bernard Fanning is about heartbreak and moving on. The opening lines describe the singer's lack of sleep due to a freight train rattling through their head, symbolizing the turmoil in their mind caused by the end of a relationship. The line "whistle blowing', love is dead" further emphasizes the finality of the breakup.
The second verse speaks to the singer's fear and doubt about their future and the impending truth that will inevitably come out regarding the relationship's failure. They reflect on how first impressions never lie, indicating that their initial feelings about the lover were accurate but ignored.
The bridge of the song references the natural world, with the swallows and rolling fog representing the cyclical nature of life and the inevitability of change. The singer questions why their lover gave up on them so soon, but ultimately concludes that they wish them well and are ready to move on to their restless, burning bright future.
Overall, "Wish You Well" is a poignant and introspective track that speaks to the universal experience of heartbreak and the difficulty of letting go.
Line by Line Meaning
Up so early, feel so bright
Despite having not slept much the previous night, the singer is currently feeling energized and alert
I didn't get much sleep last night
The singer did not sleep well the previous night
A freight train rattled through my head
The singer is experiencing a heavy, insistent mental burden
Whistle blowing', love is dead
The artist associates the loud train whistle with the concept of lost or failed love
Is dead
Emphasizes the finality of the loss of love
Heart attacked by fear and doubt
The singer is overwhelmed by negative emotions
Won't be long 'til the truth comes out
The singer is anticipating a difficult confrontation or revelation
First impressions never lie
The artist believes in the importance of first impressions as indicators of true character
Lover's bonds they hold so fast
The artist recognizes the strength of romantic relationships
Restless future burnin' bright
The future is full of potential and energy, but is also anxiety-inducing
The past is holdin' on so tight
The singer struggles to move beyond past experiences and emotions
I never heard the warnin' bell
The artist did not anticipate or recognize a significant event or warning
And I just want to wish you well
Despite difficulties, the singer holds no ill will towards the person being addressed
Welcome swallows dip and swing
The behavior of the birds indicates to the singer a sense of comfort or familiarity
Take their cue from the slightest thing
The birds are adapting and responding to their environment with ease
Rollin' fog into my room
The artist describes a sense of confusion or uncertainty
Why'd you give up on me so soon?
The artist is questioning a rejection or abandonment
So soon
Emphasizes the swiftness or unexpectedness of the rejection or abandonment
I just want to wish you well
Despite difficulties, the singer holds no ill will towards the person being addressed
Why'd you give up on me so soon?
The artist is questioning a rejection or abandonment
I just want to wish you well
Despite difficulties, the artist holds no ill will towards the person being addressed
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: Bernard Joseph Fanning
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind