Liam Finn (born Liam Mullane Finn on 24 September 1983) is a New Zealand mu… Read Full Bio ↴Liam Finn (born Liam Mullane Finn on 24 September 1983) is a New Zealand musician and songwriter.

Born in Melbourne, Australia, but moved to New Zealand as a child, Finn's passion for music begins as early as childhood as the son to Neil Finn (of Split Enz and Crowded House fame), and nephew to kiwi rock legend Tim Finn.

Finn attended Auckland high school Selwyn College. It was during high school that LFinn pursued the musical talent in his blood and helped in the formation of the band Betchadupa (with other band members Joe Bramley, Matt Eccles and Chris Garland). The band saw the release of two albums which charted well in New Zealand. A few years later, however, Betchadupa made a unanimous decision to take a break.

Finn released his first solo album in 2007: "I'll Be Lightning", with the help of former Betchadupa band-mates.

Since the reunion of the band Crowded House in early 2007, Finn has become part of its touring band, playing concerts such as Coachella Festival and Live Earth in Sydney. In 2008, he opened for Eddie Vedder's solo tour throughout America. Later that year, Finn headlined his first North American tour and went on the road with The Black Keys in the UK and Europe.

In August 2009, Finn performed with a new band called BARB on a small New Zealand tour with a band consisting of Connan Hosford (Connan and the Mockasins), James Milne (Lawrence Arabia), Eliza Jane Barnes, Seamus Ebbs, Jol Mulholland and Wild Bill Rickets. Their album (recorded at Roundhead Studios in Auckland) was released 24 August 2010.

In January 2014, Finn toured New Zealand for the first time since 2011, this time with a new backing band The Salty Women, which consisted of mostly past collaborators including James Milne (Lawrence Arabia), Eliza Jane Barnes, and brother Elroy Finn.

On 24 August 2018, Finn released the album "Lightsleeper" with his father, Neil Finn.

Quick Fact Trivia:
He is an accomplished photographer.
He played the lead role in "Return to The Forbidden Planet" during highschool.

Gather To The Chapel
Liam Finn Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

Your photo all over the altar
Your friends dressed in black
It's the first time I've seen you in ages
Hold on, my old time bomb

Everyone gather to the chapel, to the chapel
Everyone gather to the chapel, to the chapel
Everyone loved you, yes everyone

Everyone gather to the chapel, to the chapel

I walk through the park where we hung out
Saw signs long ago
Try hard not to argue the obvious
Hold on, my long time partner

Everyone gather to the chapel, to the chapel
Everyone gather to the chapel, to the chapel
Everyone loved you, yes everyone
Everyone gather to the chapel, to the chapel

You left us in the dark to cry
Why
Everyone gather to the chapel, to the chapel
Everyone gather to the chapel, to the chapel

Everyone loved you, yes everyone
Everyone gather to the chapel, to the chapel

Overall Meaning

The lyrics to Liam Finn's song Gather To The Chapel are deeply emotional and introspective. The song begins with the singer describing an altar adorned with photos of someone they had not seen in ages. The somber atmosphere is heightened as the singer notes the people around them dressed in black. It’s clear that the person being mourned is loved, as evidenced by the gathering of people who “loved you, yes, everyone.” The chorus is an urgent plea for everyone to head to the chapel, suggesting that there is more to the story than the melancholy setting.

The second verse finds the singer in a park, a place they used to visit with the person being mourned. They see signs that remind them of the person and try to resist the urge to dwell on the obvious loss they have experienced. When the singer implores, “hold on, my long time partner,” it suggests that they are coming to terms with a life without the person they loved. The chorus repeats, and the urgency grows, as the singer questions why the person left everyone in the dark to cry. The final repetition of the chorus feels like a cathartic release of grief, as if the gathering at the chapel is a way of finding consolation with others who are also mourning.

Line by Line Meaning

Your photo all over the altar
A picture of you is present on the altar

Your friends dressed in black
Your peers are adorned in dark clothes

It's the first time I've seen you in ages
I haven't seen you in a long time

Hold on, my old time bomb
Wait, my former explosive device

Everyone gather to the chapel, to the chapel
All individuals come together to the church, to the church

Everyone loved you, yes everyone
Everybody adored you, absolutely everybody

I walk through the park where we hung out
I stroll through the park where we spent time

Saw signs long ago
I noticed indications long back

Try hard not to argue the obvious
I avoid debating what is apparent

Hold on, my long time partner
Wait, my significant other that I've known for a while

You left us in the dark to cry
You abandoned us in the unknown to mourn