Formed in 19… Read Full Bio ↴Powderfinger were a rock band from Brisbane, Australia.
Formed in 1989, the band managed to keep the same line up since they hit the big time, Bernard Fanning (Vocals, guitars), Darren Middleton (guitars), Ian Haug (guitars), John Collins (Bass) and Jon Coghill (drums). Powderfinger are winners of nearly every major award in Australia – including the ARIA (Australian Record Industry Awards) for Album of the Year, Best Rock Album and Song of the Year.
Their musical style changed significantly over the years from a predominantly Grunge influenced one (Parables for Wooden Ears, Double Allergic) to their own brand of Alternative Rock on the following albums Internationalist and Odyssey Number 5. Several songs on Vulture street were in tribute to classic rock bands like Led Zeppelin and AC/DC and Songs on Dream Days at the Hotel Existence feature a prominent Neil Young influence- to whom they owe their band name from his song of the same name.
The band released seven studio albums and a greatest hits album, Fingerprints - The Best of Powderfinger 1994-2000, in 2004. Their final album, Golden Rule, was released in late 2009. Despite their popularity in Australia, Powderfinger never achieved similar success overseas.
They toured with Silverchair on the "Across the Great Divide" Concert, from August to October 2007, trying to raise awareness of the indigenous people of Australia.
On the 9th of April 2010, it was announced at a press conference and on the band's website that after 20 years together, Powderfinger would be disbanding after their farewell Sunsets Tour. Of the split, frontman Bernard Fanning stated:
With the completion of our last album, Golden Rule, we feel that we have said all that we want to say as a musical group. We firmly believe that it is our most complete and satisfying album and can't think of a better way to farewell our fans than with music that we all believe in and also with, hopefully, our best tour to date.
Blanket
Powderfinger Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
You're attitude and angst seem to have gone
Is there no way you can be what you have said?
Another self-serving sermon
You can stand and beat your breast
While they feed on the fruit of their sweat
You've got it rough
Haven't you got it rough
From the lip
While you emulate the man that touched your heart
Imitate at due cost
Your comment on positions out of reach
Contradict the very words you preach
You can stand and beat your breast
While they feed on the fruit of their sweat
You've got it rough
Haven't you got it rough
So you shoot shoot shoot
From the lip
I just know
I won't - remember your name
The lyrics of Powderfinger's "Blanket" are steeped in anguish and disillusionment, criticizing someone's hypocritical attitude and pretentiousness. The opening lines of "Is it obvious that you have had it wrong?" suggest that the persona is pointing out the flaws in someone else's behavior. The tone of the song is dreary and sarcastic, with the persona accusing the other person of being deluded and self-serving. The second line "Your attitude and angst seem to have gone" reinforces the persona's perception that the other person is more concerned with creating an image than dealing with their problems.
The verse "Another self-serving sermon, You can stand and beat your breast, While they feed on the fruit of their sweat" is particularly poignant, with the persona making a statement about society's tendency for those in power to take all the rewards while the common people do all the work. The song points out that sometimes those who are supposed to help can be more harmful, using their power to further their own interests rather than aiding those who need it. The last line of the song is particularly striking, "I just know I won't remember your name," implying a sense of finality and contempt for the person who practices insincere behavior.
Line by Line Meaning
Is it obvious that you have had it wrong?
Are you aware of the mistakes you've made?
You're attitude and angst seem to have gone
You no longer have the same attitude and anger as before.
Is there no way you can be what you have said?
Can you actually live up to the things you've said?
Another self-serving sermon
You're just saying things for your own benefit.
You can stand and beat your breast
You can boast and show off.
While they feed on the fruit of their sweat
However, others are actually working hard to achieve things.
You've got it rough
You have it tough.
Haven't you got it rough
Do you not realize how difficult things are for you?
So you shoot shoot shoot
You talk excessively and without thinking.
From the lip
Speaking without any regard for the consequences.
While you emulate the man that touched your heart
Trying to be like the person you look up to.
Imitate at due cost
Copying someone but with negative consequences.
Your comment on positions out of reach
You talk about things that you have no chance of achieving.
Contradict the very words you preach
Going against what you claim to believe.
I just know
I'm certain.
I won't - remember your name
I won't remember anything about you.
Lyrics © Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd.
Written by: BERNARD JOSEPH FANNING, DARREN STUART MIDDLETON, IAN DAVID HAUG, JOHN ANDREW COLLINS, JONATHAN ROBERT COGHILL
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind