Powderfinger were a rock band from Brisbane, Australia.

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.

Thrilloilogy
Powderfinger Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

For every story gone untold
There's a secret that dissolves
So many pieces still unsolved

You're not quite who you think you are
Can see the symptoms from afar
I'm hosin' down your shootin' star

There you go again to fall
Waitin' on a friend to call

If you wait, I'm gonna drive it home
(Carry all of this away from here)
If you wait, I'm gonna drive it home
(Kiss you every time the rains appear)

Sometimes we wish for far away
But somethin' always makes me stay
Far too strong a bond to try and break

You know exactly where you've been
The shootin' star is hardly seen
Outshined by every other beam

There you go again to fall
Waitin' on a friend to call

If you wait, I'm gonna drive it home
(Carry all of this away from here)
If you wait, I'm gonna drive it home
(Kiss you every time the rains appear)

If you wait, I'm gonna drive it home
(I'm feelin' richer, I'm feelin' taller)
(I feel like every time, I try to fit the picture)
If you wait, I'm gonna drive it home
(I've got to keep up with all the others)
(Lookin' for whatever, we were never to discover)

Now you're ringin' out slowly
Like cathedral bells
And you'd sleep through Heaven
Just to get to hell

Now you drop away slowly
Like the autumn leaves
But you lose your color
When you hit the street

When you hit the street
When you hit the street

Overall Meaning

The song "Thrilloilogy" by Australian rock band Powderfinger, is a deep and introspective look at the human experience, exploring themes of secrets, identity, and the human desire for connection. The opening lyrics, "For every story gone untold, there's a secret that dissolves, so many pieces still unsolved," suggest that every person has so much untold about themselves, hidden within the depths of their psyche. The song's protagonist, recognizing this, tries to help a friend who is struggling with their own identity by telling them, "You're not quite who you think you are, I'm hosin' down your shootin' star." This speaks to the idea that we all put up a front or persona to those around us, but in reality, we are often unsure of who we truly are.

The chorus of the song is particularly powerful, with the repeated line, "If you wait, I'm gonna drive it home." Here, the singer is offering unconditional support to their friend, promising to be there for them when they need it most. The verses that follow, speak to the human desire for connection and the unbreakable bond between friends, with lines like, "Sometimes we wish for far away, but somethin' always makes me stay, far too strong a bond to try and break."

In the second half of the song, the lyrics become more metaphorical, with the comparison of the friend's struggles to the passing of seasons: "Now you ringin' out slowly like cathedral bells, and you'd sleep through Heaven just to get to hell. Now you drop away slowly like the autumn leaves, but you lose your color when you hit the street." Again, this speaks to the human experience, and how life is filled with both beauty and pain, and we all must navigate our way through those ups and downs.

Overall, "Thrilloilogy" is a poignant and introspective look at the human experience, exploring themes of identity, connection, and the human desire for understanding.

Line by Line Meaning

For every story gone untold
There are things that are kept secret and never revealed.

There's a secret that dissolves
The secret may eventually be lost or forgotten.

So many pieces still unsolved
There are many mysteries that remain unsolved.

You're not quite who you think you are
You may not understand yourself fully.

Can see the symptoms from afar
Others may notice signs about you that you overlook.

I'm hosin' down your shootin' star
I'm trying to help you regain control of your life.

There you go again to fall
You seem to make the same mistakes repeatedly.

Waitin' on a friend to call
You are often waiting for someone to help or save you.

If you wait, I'm gonna drive it home
If you wait for me, I will help you get through this.

(Carry all of this away from here)
I will help remove the burden that is troubling you.

(Kiss you every time the rains appear)
I will be there for you when times are tough.

Sometimes we wish for far away
Occasionally we desire something different from what we have.

But somethin' always makes me stay
Despite the desire to leave, something keeps me here.

Far too strong a bond to try and break
The connection between us is too intense to sever.

You know exactly where you've been
You are completely aware of your past.

The shootin' star is hardly seen
Your talent and potential may be overlooked or undervalued.

Outshined by every other beam
Others may be more noticeable or dominant than you.

If you wait, I'm gonna drive it home
If you are patient, I will help guide you back to where you need to be.

(I'm feelin' richer, I'm feelin' taller)
I feel more fulfilled and confident since helping you.

(I feel like every time, I try to fit the picture)
I feel like I am trying to conform to a certain image.

If you wait, I'm gonna drive it home
If you are willing to wait, I will assist you in your journey.

(I've got to keep up with all the others)
I feel pressure to keep pace with everyone else around me.

(Lookin' for whatever, we were never to discover)
There may be things we are not meant to know or uncover.

Now you're ringin' out slowly
You are losing vitality and energy.

Like cathedral bells
You are being heard loudly and clearly.

And you'd sleep through Heaven
You would miss out on positive experiences even if they were offered to you.

Just to get to hell
You may be drawn towards negative experiences or self-sabotage.

Now you drop away slowly
You are slipping away and becoming distant.

Like the autumn leaves
Your vitality is fading like the leaves in the fall.

But you lose your color
Your vibrancy is fading away.

When you hit the street
Your true self is revealed when you are out in the open.

Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
Written by: BERNARD JOSEPH FANNING, DARREN STUART MIDDLETON, IAN DAVID HAUG, JOHN ANDREW COLLINS, JONATHAN ROBERT COGHILL

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind

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