Finn is said to have decided to become a musician at the age of 12 and throughout his school years performed in hospitals and prisons, as well as at home gatherings. In 1976 he formed a group known as After Hours with Mark Hough, Geoff Chunn and Alan Brown. The following year, in 1977, Finn was invited to London to join Split Enz, the band formed by his elder brother, Tim Finn. Split Enz broke up in 1984 and Neil Finn formed a new band, Crowded House, with several other Australian and New Zealand musicians.
Crowded House had a string of hits over the next 10 years, releasing four albums and culminating in a concert in the forecourt of the Sydney Opera House. Finn went solo after this, releasing several albums as well as two albums with his brother Tim (Finn Brothers).
In 2007, Finn re-united Crowded House and released a new album, Time on Earth, and the band began a world tour. In 2010, another new album, "Intriguer", was released and coincided with another world tour.
In 2012, Finn recorded the track "Song of the Lonely Mountain", which was featured in the end credits of the movie "The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey".
Faster Than Light
Neil Finn Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Close your eyes get so dizzy
World is spinning in your bed
I know where the sun goes
It's waking up the sparrows
In England it's morning
In time you'll see that some things
In time you'll recognise
That love is larger than life
Now you know what you're missing
Now you've seen that I'm willing
If you're looking for the message
Close your eyes
Do you hear what I'm thinking?
Is it how you imagined?
In time you'll see that some things
Travel faster than light
In time you'll recognise
That love is larger than life
And praise will come to those whose kindness
Leaves you without debt
And bends the shape of things
That haven't happened yet
Close your eyes
Colours changing like a lizard
Close your eyes
I know where the sun goes
I have seen the world turning
In time you'll find that some things
Travel faster than light
In time you'll recognise that love is larger than life
And praise will come to those whose kindness
Leaves you without debt
And bends the shape of things to come
That haven't happened yet
The song "Faster Than Light" by Neil Finn speaks about the passing of time, the journey of self-discovery, and the power of love. The opening lines, "Close your eyes go to sleep, Close your eyes get so dizzy, the world is spinning in your bed" suggest that time moves fast and it can even make one feel dizzy. However, the following lines, "I know where the sun goes, It's waking up the sparrows, In England it's morning" indicate that time also brings new beginnings and opportunities. The sun rises and sets, and no matter how fast life may seem to move, it will always provide a new day.
The chorus of the song emphasizes the importance of recognizing the power of love in our lives. It suggests that love transcends time and space and is a force that is larger than life itself. The lines, "In time you'll see that some things travel faster than light, In time you'll recognize that love is larger than life" reiterate the idea that love is a powerful force that can change everything.
The song ends on a hopeful note with the lines, "And bends the shape of things to come that haven't happened yet." These lines suggest that kindness and love can shape our future for the better.
Line by Line Meaning
Close your eyes go to sleep
Shut your eyes and try to rest
Close your eyes get so dizzy
Closing your eyes makes you feel disoriented
World is spinning in your bed
You feel like the world around you is rotating while you lay in bed
I know where the sun goes
I understand the rotation of the earth and the movement of the sun
It's waking up the sparrows
The rising sun is causing the birds to start their day
In England it's morning
England is in a different time zone, and it is morning there
In time you'll see that some things
Eventually, you will realize that certain elements have unique properties
Travel faster than light
They move at speeds greater than that of light
In time you'll recognise
Eventually, you will come to understand this concept
That love is larger than life
Love has a greater significance and impact than our physical existence
Now you know what you're missing
You now understand what you have been lacking
Now you've seen that I'm willing
You have observed that I am open and eager to connect with you
If you're looking for the message
If you are trying to find the meaning behind this song
Do you hear what I'm thinking?
Are you able to perceive my thoughts?
Is it how you imagined?
Is this what you expected to hear?
And praise will come to those whose kindness
People who are compassionate will be acknowledged and celebrated
Leaves you without debt
They will offer their kindness without expecting anything in return
And bends the shape of things
They have the ability to influence and alter situations
That haven't happened yet
Even if these events have not occurred yet, their kindness can shape the future
Close your eyes
Shut your eyes again
Colours changing like a lizard
The colors around you are shifting and transforming like those on a lizard
I have seen the world turning
I have observed the Earth's rotation
In time you'll find that some things
Eventually, you will come to discover that certain aspects of life
Travel faster than light
Move at faster-than-light speeds
And bends the shape of things to come
These elements have the ability to shape what is yet to come
That haven't happened yet
They can influence upcoming events, even if they have not taken place yet
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management
Written by: NEIL MULLANE FINN
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Brent McGilvary
"And praise will come to those whose kindness leaves you without debt and bends the shape of things that haven't happened yet." Brilliant!
David Lee
A perfect love song.BTW, the harmonies on the studio version will make you weep.
sound proof
They have done mate 👍
stephen ashe
Neil's voice is so solemn at 3.05. It sends a shiver down my back. Awesome. Such a beautiful song!!!!
dirtysouthlepluv
I totally agree. I love his voice so much and it sounds extra amazing in this! And on a lighter note, I love how in the beginning he follows all those relaxation techniques precisely haha.
Petrina Hamm
Love Neil Finn! Had the pleasure of being thisclose to the stage at a Nashville performance. Great stuff!
Franny Eanet
Wow!!!! Been hankering to hear this song. What an amazing version.
Nigelxman
Wow, I had never heard this song. Beautiful is right.:-)
David McDowell
Amazing
Andrew Afif
Can't get better than this.