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.
Inside Out
Crowded House Lyrics
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(Inside out) You know me back to front
(Inside out) You know exactly what I'm gonna do next
I'm gonna take you to a higher place
The rain collecting in a secret place
And I ache for all your suffering
(Inside out) I won't reveal it all
(Inside out) For all the people of the cockatoo set
The extrovert is always in your face
Unaware he's invading
Your personal space
Take him out, the impostor
Put a monkey in his place
Circle round the hazy sun
The hazy sun is circling the house
Spin off the chandeliers
And who's the one whose staring at me now
You move me into silence
It's a heartbeat away from Hell
I try so hard to control myself
Always smiling on the inside out
(Inside out)
(Inside out)
(Inside out)
You move me into silence
You move me into silence
You move me into silence
You move me into silence
You move me into silence(Inside out)
You move me into silence(Inside out)
You move me into silence
You move me into silence
The lyrics of Crowded House's song Inside Out seem to be about someone the singer knows very well. The repetition of the phrase "inside out" suggests a deep knowledge of the person in question. The singer acknowledges that this person knows them equally well, "back to front" and "exactly what I'm gonna do next." The lyrics suggest an intimacy and familiarity that is rare and uniquely experienced between two people who share a deep connection.
The second verse takes a slightly different approach, with the singer talking about an extroverted person who is always in other people's faces, seemingly unaware of his invasion of others' personal space. The lyrics describe wanting to take this person out and put a monkey in his place, perhaps a reference to the silliness and playfulness of a monkey that might be a refreshing change from an overbearing extrovert. The song then takes a more abstract turn, with references to a circling sun, spinning chandeliers, and the feeling of being moved into silence, which could possibly represent a feeling of awe or being at a loss for words when in the presence of such a well-known and well-understood person.
Overall, the song seems to be about the special connection between two people and the experience of being understood so deeply that words cannot express it. It also touches on the annoyance of intrusive and exhausting personalities and the desire for a reprieve from them.
Line by Line Meaning
(Inside out) You know me oh so well
I am completely transparent to you; you understand and know me inside and out.
(Inside out) You know me back to front
You have an intricate understanding of every aspect of me, both front-facing and behind closed doors.
(Inside out) You know exactly what I'm gonna do next
You understand my thought processes and can accurately predict my next move.
I'm gonna take you to a higher place
I plan on providing you with a transformative experience that will elevate your state of mind.
The rain collecting in a secret place
Precipitation is gathering or coalescing in a hidden, undisclosed location.
And I ache for all your suffering
I feel a deep sense of sadness and empathy for all of the pain and hardship you've experienced.
(Inside out) I won't reveal it all
I am intentionally withholding some information and keeping a part of myself private.
(Inside out) I'm putting up this wall
I am purposefully creating an emotional barrier between myself and others.
(Inside out) For all the people of the cockatoo set
This is for all the eccentric and unusual individuals out there.
The extrovert is always in your face
Outspoken and outgoing individuals are always front and center and can be overwhelming.
Unaware he's invading
They may not realize that they are overly intrusive or imposing on your personal space.
Your personal space
The physical and emotional freedom and privacy that you need and deserve.
Take him out, the imposter
Remove the fake or insincere individual from the equation.
Put a monkey in his place
Replace the impostor with a more amusing or light-hearted presence.
Circle round the hazy sun
The sun is obscured or clouded by a haziness that it is being orbited.
The hazy sun is circling the house
The obscured or cloudy sun is rotating around the dwelling.
Spin off the chandeliers
The chandeliers are moving or rotating quickly and uncontrollably.
And who's the one whose staring at me now
A mysterious or unknown entity is watching and observing me at this moment.
You move me into silence
You are able to make me speechless or leave me at a loss for words.
It's a heartbeat away from Hell
The situation is extremely close to possessing dangerous or negative consequences.
I try so hard to control myself
I put forth a great deal of effort to keep my emotions and impulses in check.
Always smiling on the inside out
I may be smiling on the outside or superficially, while struggling with deep emotions on the inside.
(Inside out)
This theme of being transparent and having internal thoughts and emotions exposed is reiterated and emphasized throughout the song.
(Inside out)
The idea of being intimately known and transparent to another person is a consistent refrain in the song.
(Inside out)
The title of the song serves as a reminder of the central theme of vulnerability, transparency, and emotional exposure that runs through the lyrics.
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA/AMCOS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Tony Stanton
on Mean To Me
The lyrics for this song are not correct.