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.
Tail
Powderfinger Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Come and relieve the friends that I keep
They're sick of me
Small minded creed blisters and weeps
Swallow the shit that jealousy feeds
And choke on it
And I may have a point to prove
I might just have a few enemies that I might just like to lose
Come and relieve the friends that I keep
They're sick of me
Come and relieve the friends that I keep
They're sick of me
And I may have a point to prove
I may just have a few memories that I might just like to lose
Here I stand with my tail between my legs
And I'm set to confess to these sins I didn't commit
Small minded creed blisters and weeps
Swallow the shit that jealousy feeds
And choke on it
And I may have a point to prove
And I might just have a few enemies that I might just like to lose
Here I stand with my tail between my legs
And I'm set to confess to these sins I didn't commit
No
It's all I have to say
Here I stand with my tail between my legs
And I'm set to confess to these sins I didn't commit
The song "Tail" by Powderfinger is about feeling ashamed and regretful for past actions or mistakes. The opening lines, "I'll take the lead you follow me, come and relieve the friends that I keep, they're sick of me," suggest that the singer has been in a position of leadership but has not lived up to the expectations of those who have followed him. He goes on to say that he has made enemies that he would like to lose and that he has a point to prove. The lines "Here I stand with my tail between my legs" and "And I'm set to confess to these sins I didn't commit" further emphasize the singer's feelings of shame and the desire to make amends.
The second verse of the song suggests that the singer's mistakes may have been fueled by jealousy and a desire to fit in with a small-minded group of people. The lines "Small minded creed blisters and weeps, swallow the shit that jealousy feeds, and choke on it" suggest that the group's narrow-mindedness has had a negative effect on the singer and that he wants to break free from their influence.
Overall, "Tail" is a song about owning up to one's mistakes and trying to move forward. The lyrics are honest and introspective, and the music matches the emotional weight of the words.
Line by Line Meaning
I'll take the lead you follow me
I will take charge and you can follow my lead.
Come and relieve the friends that I keep
Come and take the burden of my friends, who are tired of me.
They're sick of me
My friends are tired of me and my problems.
Small minded creed blisters and weeps
Narrow-minded beliefs cause pain for those who don't fit into it.
Swallow the shit that jealousy feeds
Jealousy can make someone consume negativity and hate.
And choke on it
The negativity can be overwhelming and suffocating.
And I may have a point to prove
I may have something to prove to myself or others.
I might just have a few enemies that I might just like to lose
I have some people who dislike me, and I would be happy if they were not around.
Here I stand with my tail between my legs
I am ashamed and humble.
And I'm set to confess to these sins I didn't commit
I am ready to admit to things that may not be my fault.
No
Simple denial or refusal to accept something.
It's all I have to say
This is my final statement on the matter.
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group, 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
@lueysixty-six7300
Grave Concern is the dark horse album peak, imo, but Tail, kicking in hard right after what was it, um. Walking Stick Man..? Something like that, was a blistering open to the album.
Father's Pyramid was the more medium rock standout.
I loved them when they weren't "dumbing down " their tunes for the popular audience.
I'm not calling them sell out,! That's so easy to say from the sidelines. I think they maintained their creative nuclear when they went softer and more melodically simple & catchy...but their best stuff is in Parables and the Transfusion EP.
Still..Up & Down & Back Again is m all time fave Finger number, and that's several albums later 🤷♂️
@3jradio
Oh this is the Powderfinger I fell in love with!!
@almontage
I like their old stuff better than their new stuff.
@lurkmerchant
I love bands/songs that are a bit crazy and different. Early Silverchair/ Powderfinger both had that element. I know I'm in the minority but I'm glad to see there are people who appreciate this gem.
@shanecolyer
This is by far their greatest song!!!! In my opinion>>>> I personally carn't listen to their music beyond this album, but this song gave me goose bumps when i was 14 and still does 16 years later.... Absolutely brilliant track!!!!! Thanks guy's
@lurkmerchant
Dible allergic was still good, but the drumming sounds so diluted in their second album.
@lueysixty-six7300
Grave Concern is the dark horse album peak, imo, but Tail, kicking in hard right after what was it, um. Walking Stick Man..? Something like that, was a blistering open to the album.
Father's Pyramid was the more medium rock standout.
I loved them when they weren't "dumbing down " their tunes for the popular audience.
I'm not calling them sell out,! That's so easy to say from the sidelines. I think they maintained their creative nuclear when they went softer and more melodically simple & catchy...but their best stuff is in Parables and the Transfusion EP.
Still..Up & Down & Back Again is m all time fave Finger number, and that's several albums later 🤷♂️
@johnarvanitis696
Totally agree
@SpineDaz
Yeah, this is Powderfinger when they were a real rock band, before they turned all pop rock. Witnessed many small Adelaide powderfinger moshpits back in the day. Crammed into the Tivoli Hotel or the Synagogue. They rocked hard back then. Double allergic was the beginning of the end. I noticed how the crowd changed from the real rock fans to the top40 people within the space of an album. Oh well, at least we can still listen to Reap What you Sow and Parables and reminisce. Im old haha.
@johnarvanitis3067
SpineDaz yeah remember the synagogue show
It was empty
12 months later the sellout was in and all the stonewash jeans brigade was all over them
@dinochris2136
I was very happy for them though. such nice guys and they deserved success. happy for them - sad for me