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.
Odyssey
Powderfinger Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Dressed up like a tomb inside a cradle
If you're paying peanuts you get monkeys
Better save that silly money for junkets
Powderfinger's song Odyssey is a reflection on modern society and the idea that new suburbs are sterile and lifeless, all show and no substance. The lyrics point out that there is something wrong with this façade, urging the listener to look beneath the surface. The line "Dressed up like a tomb inside a cradle" captures this sense of falseness, as suburban homes and lifestyles appear to be comforting and familiar, but in reality, they are limiting and suffocating.
The song also touches on the idea that you get what you pay for, and if you pay for something cheap, you're likely to get a cheap result. "If you're paying peanuts, you get monkeys" is a clever metaphor for this concept, suggesting that if you're willing to settle for something lesser, you'll never get something great. The final line "better save that silly money for junkets" takes this one step further, urging the listener to avoid making foolish purchases and instead save their money for more meaningful experiences.
Line by Line Meaning
Welcome to the new suburban fables
Greetings to the tales of modern suburban life
Dressed up like a tomb inside a cradle
Hidden behind a facade, the suburbs are like a cemetery for younger generations
If you're paying peanuts you get monkeys
If you're not willing to pay a fair wage, you won't attract quality workers
Better save that silly money for junkets
It's wiser to save money for worthwhile trips or experiences than to waste it on unimportant things
Lyrics © Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd.
Written by: JONATHAN ROBERT COGHILL, JOHN ANDREW COLLINS, BERNARD JOSEPH FANNING, IAN DAVID HAUG, DARREN STUART MIDDLETON
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind