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".
Recluse
Neil Finn Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
You can stay here for the rest of your life
I'll open windows when you want to look out
At the transit of Venus 'cross the sun
As you're gathering dust
Ancient dragons and the cicadas come
The edges jagged as you're coming undone
On the white soft feathers of your bed
Well you know how hard I try
But I won't get nowhere analyzing your life
And it's people that you lose
When you become a recluse
Turn away from us
Days are darker when the winter comes
Can't remove yourself from what you have done
On the rack where your reputation lies
Do you want to exist
Between the lightning and the mental bliss
Or needing nothing and with no one to miss
Like a stray dog pissing on a statue
Solitude is hard to find
And they're all too busy organizing your life
But it's people that you lose
When you become a recluse
Well don't be so nervous now
All I want is to be dancing round in your light
With the colours that you choose
When you become a recluse
Ohh
I make any excuse to stay home
But I can't do that and I must come back
People that stay at home
Watching a game of thrones
And wondering what comes next
Well you can't do that and you must come back
Pictures of geese fly they around us and this leads to that
Take us everywhere and bring us back
Well I dreamt that Jesus had a gun
Sure it's getting cold outside
And they're all to busy organizing your life
But it's people that lose when you become a recluse
I think Howard Hughes would love to be on the internet
I think Sly Stone should hold his own on the internet
Bobby Fischer lost and won then took a permanent holiday
He'll be back to host a variety show on television someday
JD Salinger lived long ago and far away
Greta Garbo parked her car and walked home from a glamorous party
I just want to be alone
The general theme of Neil Finn’s “Recluse” is that being a recluse may seem appealing, but ultimately it leads to loneliness and isolation. The song begins with Finn welcoming someone to stay with him forever, telling them they can open windows to gaze at the transit of Venus. But as time goes on, they become more and more isolated, gradually losing touch with others until they are alone. Finn acknowledges that there is a certain appeal to this kind of life, but argues that ultimately it’s self-defeating. He warns that turning away from others will eventually lead to a life of solitude, somewhere between “the lightning and the mental bliss,” where there is no one to miss.
The lyrics contain a number of references to famous recluses throughout history. Howard Hughes, for instance, is famous for locking himself away in his hotel suite for years on end, while Bobby Fischer, the chess prodigy, became increasingly reclusive towards the end of his life. JD Salinger, author of “Catcher in the Rye,” also withdrew from the public eye and stopped publishing work for decades. Garbo and Sly Stone are also mentioned, illustrating the song’s central theme that being a recluse can be incredibly tempting, but ultimately leads to a life of isolation.
Line by Line Meaning
When you're one of us
When you are a part of our group
You can stay here for the rest of your life
You can live here forever
I'll open windows when you want to look out
I will open windows for you whenever you want to see outside
At the transit of Venus 'cross the sun
When Venus passes across the sun
As you're gathering dust
As time passes and you are not doing anything
Ancient dragons and the cicadas come
Thoughts and memories come to mind
The edges jagged as you're coming undone
Your mind is scattered and you are becoming unstable
On the white soft feathers of your bed
You are lying on your comfortable bed
Well you know how hard I try
You know that I am trying my best
But I won't get nowhere analyzing your life
But I won't be able to understand your life by analyzing it
And it's people that you lose
You will lose the people in your life
When you become a recluse
When you become isolated from the world
Turn away from us
You are turning away from the people in your life
Days are darker when the winter comes
The winter season makes the days darker
Can't remove yourself from what you have done
You cannot undo the things you have done
On the rack where your reputation lies
Your reputation is at stake
Do you want to exist
Do you want to continue living
Between the lightning and the mental bliss
Do you want to live between danger and happiness
Or needing nothing and with no one to miss
Or live without any needs and no one to miss
Like a stray dog pissing on a statue
Living without purpose and direction
Solitude is hard to find
Loneliness is difficult to achieve
And they're all too busy organizing your life
Your life is being organized by others
Well don't be so nervous now
Don't be afraid
All I want is to be dancing round in your light
I want to bask in your happiness
With the colours that you choose
With the colors that make you happy
Ohh
Expressing emotion
I make any excuse to stay home
I create excuses to stay at home
But I can't do that and I must come back
But I cannot always stay at home, I must come back to reality
People that stay at home
People who never leave their house
Watching a game of thrones
Watching a popular TV show
And wondering what comes next
And wondering what will happen next in the TV show
Well you can't do that and you must come back
You cannot always stay at home, you must come back to reality
Pictures of geese fly they around us and this leads to that
Patterns in life are interconnected
Take us everywhere and bring us back
Life takes us to different places and then brings us back home
Well I dreamt that Jesus had a gun
A strange and random dream
Sure it's getting cold outside
The weather is getting colder
And they're all to busy organizing your life
Others are too busy planning your life for you
But it's people that lose when you become a recluse
The people around you are the ones who suffer when you become isolated from the world
I think Howard Hughes would love to be on the internet
Imagining what a famous recluse would do with modern technology
I think Sly Stone should hold his own on the internet
Imagine what a famous musician could do with modern technology
Bobby Fischer lost and won, then took a permanent holiday
A famous chess player who won and lost, then disappeared from public life
He'll be back to host a variety show on television someday
Imagining what a famous recluse might do in the future
JD Salinger lived long ago and far away
A famous writer who lived a long time ago and far from here
Greta Garbo parked her car and walked home from a glamorous party
A famous actress who chose to live a simple life
I just want to be alone
A desire to be isolated from the world
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd.
Written by: NEIL FINN
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@davidcopson5800
I think Robin Hood could do some good on the internet;
I think Rocky M could box again on the internet;
I think J. D. Sal' would find a pal on the internet;
I think Harper Lee would go on a spree on the internet;
I think Marcel Proust would rule the roost on the internet;
I don't think Edvard Munch would do a bunk on the internet;
I think Lauryn Hill is somewhere still on the internet;
I think Doris day could learn to play on the internet;
I think Bettie Page could find a stage on the internet;
I think Thomas P loves gravity on the internet;
I think Axl Rose could strike a pose on the internet;
Syd Barrett makes us think that Floyd's still Pink on the internet;
Area 51 has already gone from the internet.
@johngrunwell6101
Love love LOVE this song. Not only is it quintessential Neil Finn, with perhaps the best recorded sound he's ever accomplished, but the subtlety of the harmony voice matching his lead vocal is SOOOOO NICE.
@davidbates1896
It really is magnificent
@yanknbank007
Great track from Neil towards the end of his 'Dizzy Heights' set. For whatever reason I never seemed to get past the 5th or 6th track and only discovered this hidden gem a few days ago. Fantastic!!! Thanks Neil.
@LHSBOOKS
The bridge took me back to "She Will Have Her Way". What an incredible work of art!
@53greenhill
The crescendo at the end of the song is brilliant, reminiscent of The Verve, only better because of the lyrics. The high point of the album.
@ralfplattman6934
I LOVE ALL OF YOUR SONGS! THANK YOU NEIL!!!! (greetings from germany ;))
@klarakrass9160
Ich auch liebe Grüße
@allyouneedislove
I think we all have abit of recluse in us sometimes,Fantastic song.'like a stray dog pissing on statue' gotta be one of neils classic lines since 'Smiling as the shit comes down' lol
@beaglehowl
Stunning.
@rockomedia9028
Best song of this album with Dizzy heights