Neil Finn and Paul Hester decided to form a new band during the Split Enz farewell tour 'Enz with a Bang'. Nick Seymour approached Finn during the after party for the Melbourne show and asked if he could try out for this new band. The first incarnation of the band, The Mullanes, formed in Melbourne in 1985 and also included guitarist Craig Hooper, formerly of The Reels. They secured a record contract with Capitol Records and moved to Los Angeles, at which time Hooper left the band. At the label's behest, the band changed its name to "Crowded House," which alluded to the cramped quarters the three members shared at an apartment in North Sycamore Street in West Hollywood during the recording of the album. They also invited former Split Enz keyboard player Eddie Rayner to join, and he produced the track "Can't Carry On" for the debut self-titled album. He initially joined them on tour in 1988 on keyboards, but had to leave for family reasons before he could be made a full member.
Bursting onto the international scene in 1987 with Don't Dream It's Over from the album Crowded House, the band seemed destined for greatness. However, despite eking out one more hit from the album, Something So Strong, the follow up Temple of Low Men failed to repeat its commercial success, despite critical acclaim. Radio had a hard time categorizing them, but within the industry they quickly gained a stellar reputation as "musicians' musicians", and outside the industry as one of the best live acts, featuring mixed setlists and improvisations. A set of three shows at one venue would often feature less than half the the songs being played more than once.
It wasn't until 1991's Woodface that the band hit international success again, specifically with the jointly written Finn brothers track Weather With You.
In fact, the album that emerged wasn't the one originally proposed. Neil had been working on a side project with his brother Tim Finn, a solo artist in his own right and former Split Enz frontman (in fact, several members had a history in Split Enz - Tim formed the band and Neil was responsible for their biggest hit I Got You, while Paul Hester was the drummer during their final days). When the record company rejected the material he'd composed for the third Crowded House album Neil asked his brother if he could use some of their songs in their place. Tim agreed, allegedly joking he would only do so if he could join the band. Whether or not Neil took this literally, Tim did indeed become the fourth member of Crowded House during the Woodface phase.
Whilst Weather With You became an international hit, particularly in the UK (where it was followed by smaller chart successes for Four Seasons in One Day and It's Only Natural), in the US, at least, history didn't repeat - a situation some put down to the choice of Chocolate Cake - a scathing attack on the American lifestyle - as the first single.
During touring in the UK, Tim was asked to leave the band. Mark Hart joined the band for their next album. Together Alone was a similar international success and the band even managed to score a minor hit in the US with Locked Out after it featured on the soundtrack for the Winona Ryder flick Reality Bites.
Shortly after, Paul Hester decided to leave, although he did return to record three new tracks for a Best Of... compilation, Recurring Dream. By 1996, however, Neil decided to fold the band, choosing instead to focus on a solo career. The band's final concert, on the steps of the Sydney Opera House, was an emotional and memorable event, and has been captured on the DVD / CD Farewell to the World.
A B-sides compilation, entitled Afterglow, was released in 1999.
Paul Hester died tragically in 2005 when he committed suicide in Melbourne, Australia.
January 2007 brought a surprise announcement that Crowded House would be re-forming. Frontman Neil Finn once again linked up with Nick Seymour and Mark Hart and, after picking up Beck's drummer Matt Sherrod to replace Paul Hester, produced a new album entitled Time on Earth.
Members of the band include frontman and guitarist Neil Finn, bassist Nick Seymour (brother of Hunters and Collectors frontman Mark Seymour), drummer Paul Hester (1986-1994), Tim Finn (1990-91), multi-instrumentalist and Supertramp recruit Mark Hart (1993-), session drummer Peter Jones (1994-1996) and new drummer Matt Sherrod (2007-).
The Frenz web site launched a new Crowded House portal in 2007 where old and new fans of the band can keep up to date with news of new releases and tour plans.
Elephants
Crowded House Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I don't want to go
But I could stay afloat
In your eyes
I've seen the rocks
Where everyone gets lost
I won't stray across
Let's admit, the world don't turn around us
It's acting like we don't exist
A drunk that's sleeping in the corner
Sweet dreams, make waves, find bliss
When elephants come down
To the water hole at dusk
They feel the same as us about life
We all take a drink
The sun begins to sink
The alligator waits for his time
Let's admit, the world don't turn around us
It's acting like we don't exist
A drunk that's sleeping in the corner
Sweet dreams, make waves, find bliss
You don't have to say a word
You don't have to say a word
I hear what you're thinking
You don't have to say a word
You don't have to say a word
I know what you're thinking
I know there's no use
So lost and discontent
I'm looking for a friend I can trust
For all my intent
It hasn't happened yet
So now I come to you for insight
Let's admit, the world don't care about us
It's acting like we don't exist
A drunk that's sleeping in the corner
Sweet dreams, make waves, find bliss
Sweet dreams, make waves, find bliss
The opening lines of Crowded House's song "Elephants" speak of a moment when it's time to leave but one wishes to stay, and this sentiment ties into the themes of the song as a whole: the search for meaning in a world where it can be difficult to find one's place. This is exemplified in the reference to the "rocks where everyone gets lost", a metaphor for the challenges and obstacles that people face in their lives. The singer says that they won't stray across the white line, suggesting the need to stay within safe boundaries in order to avoid becoming lost.
The chorus invites the listener to acknowledge that the world doesn't revolve around them, and that sometimes it feels like they don't exist at all. This is rendered in the image of a drunk sleeping in the corner, oblivious to everything around them. The line "sweet dreams, make waves, find bliss" suggests the possibility of escaping from the difficulties of life through sleep, but also hints at the idea that making a meaningful impact on the world requires being awake and aware.
The song's central metaphor is introduced in the second verse: elephants coming down to drink at a water hole. The observation that they "feel the same as us about life" suggests that humans and animals share a common struggle to find meaning and purpose. The alligator waiting for its time embodies the idea of fate or destiny, and ties into the idea that sometimes the world seems indifferent to our existence. The song's closing lines express a sense of loneliness and desperation, as the singer seeks "insight" from a friend they can trust to help them find their way.
Overall, "Elephants" is a song about the search for meaning and purpose in a world that can feel disorienting and uncaring. The lyrics use vivid imagery and metaphor to evoke the struggles of human existence, and the chorus invites the listener to acknowledge the limitations of their own perspective and seek out the insights of others.
Line by Line Meaning
It's the closing hour
The night is ending
I don't want to go
I want to stay longer
But I could stay afloat
In your eyes
But being around you makes me feel good
I've seen the rocks
Where everyone gets lost
I've been in difficult situations
I won't stray across
The white line
I won't cross the line of good judgement
Let's admit, the world don't turn around us
It's acting like we don't exist
A drunk that's sleeping in the corner
Sweet dreams, make waves, find bliss
We are not the center of the world, it's ignoring us. We are like a drunk who's passed out, dreaming and unaware of everything.
When elephants come down
To the water hole at dusk
They feel the same as us about life
We all take a drink
The sun begins to sink
The alligator waits for his time
Elephants and humans share a similarity in acknowledging the value of life, as we all drink at the same time under the sunset. Meanwhile, nature preserves its course with the alligator waiting for its prey.
You don't have to say a word
You don't have to say a word
I hear what you're thinking
You don't have to say a word
You don't have to say a word
I know what you're thinking
No need to speak up, I understand the unsaid thoughts on your mind.
I know there's no use
So lost and discontent
I'm looking for a friend I can trust
For all my intent
It hasn't happened yet
So now I come to you for insight
I feel helpless and unhappy. I need a trustworthy friend, despite having not found one yet. For that reason, I'm approaching you for guidance.
Let's admit, the world don't care about us
It's acting like we don't exist
A drunk that's sleeping in the corner
Sweet dreams, make waves, find bliss
Sweet dreams, make waves, find bliss
The world is indifferent towards us, almost like we do not exist at all. The drunk asleep in the corner is having sweet dreams, creating waves and seeking that sweet bliss.
Lyrics ยฉ O/B/O APRA/AMCOS
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Unknown User
one of neil's finest. and that really is saying something. you can tell he has really poured over each line, i love how he touches on the temptations of rock n roll to empathy with others to dark personal failure, the whole world goes on pause when i put this on.
Fee bee
Neil's most haunting song ever. I cry like a baby every time I hear it, and I don't even know why.
CAMERON SPEIRS
Fabulous songwriting from the incomparable Neil Finn....
barttheanorak
By far my favourite track on Intriguer.
Rosa Rubiginosa
Beautiful! I love Neil's voice
Terrible Crayon
This very well might be in the top 5 best songs Neil Finn has ever written. Adam Duritz (Counting Crows) used those chorus chords in one of his songs, โSpeedwayโ, but they donโt sound nearly as correct as they do in this song. Neil is simply one of masters of melody.
belgiumSteve
BEST song of the new album!!! LOVE it !!!
Ciaran Byrne
As good and better as anything Lennon or McCartney ever wrote
CAMERON SPEIRS
And that ain't easy!
bull shyt
listened to the album about 20 times on a recent flight to seattle. the whole album is a winner.