The band was formed in Auckland, New Zealand in 1972 by Tim Finn, Phil Judd, Mike Chunn, Miles Golding, and Mike Howard, who originally called themselves "Split Ends." They soon changed the spelling to honor their NZ homeland. For much of their career, the band was known for wild costumes and make-up designed by Crombie. For the first phase of their existence, the band played a kind of progressive rock infused with music-hall humor; later they slipped into a quirky new wave style that generated hits worldwide.
Numerous personnel changes have been a defining factor for the Enz. Notable additions include keyboardist Eddie Rayner and percussionist Noel Crombie in 1974, and in 1977 Tim's brother Neil Finn (who would later form Crowded House). The group effectively disbanded in 1984, but in subsequent years have reunited several times for well-received tours including in 1993 for its twentieth anniversary tour and once more for a tour in 2006.
Last.FM occasionally lists scrobbles belonging to a 60s garage band called The Split Ends (from Tampa, FL) if the listener omits the article "The" in their music tags.
Best Friend
Split Enz Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Face the facts with your flights of fancy
You're the one I want to hobnob with
You're a man after my own heart.
Two is company, three's a crowd
At my temper, with family circle
have to pay the penalty
Just another allied casualty
Won't break or bend, you're no phony.
Melodrama, make me snap
Now my sidekick, is the world and his way
Come and help me, right some wrongs
We're in limbo, bollocks a kimbo
[chorus:]
You're my best friend, you're my only
Won't break or bend, you're no phony.
I don't see you, we're still friendly
Separate not for love or money...
That's how it is for me and my friend [spoken]
We hold each other aloft [spoken]
We go crofting together [spoken]
We take the smooth with the rough [spoken]
[repeat chorus]
[Tim:] Thank you, we'd like to do a song now from the 'True Colours'
album. this was an album that hardly anyone knew about at the time,
it was, it's a long time ago now, it was a bit of a cult sort of
thing, uh. ...it was called True Colours, and um, we actually
had a song called 'True Colours - I, I reckon Eddie we should just
do a verse of that. now just for old time's sake
In Split Enz's song Best Friend, the singer is expressing their deep gratitude towards their best friend. The friend is described as someone who provides both emotional support and levity to help the singer face the harsh realities of life. The singer feels a strong kinship with this person and enjoys spending time with them. However, the song also highlights the importance of the friendship being just between the two of them - the singer feels uncomfortable when other people are involved in their interactions. The lyrics suggest that the bond between the friends is unbreakable and genuine, and the relationship provides a source of stability and comfort for the singer.
Furthermore, the song uses a range of literary techniques, such as metaphor, alliteration, and rhyme, to create a vivid and engaging picture of the friendship. The references to "flights of fancy," "family circle," and "allied casualties" convey a sense of the rollercoaster of emotions that the friendship encompasses. Meanwhile, the repetition of the phrase "you're my best friend, you're my only" emphasizes the importance of this particular relationship in the singer's life.
In summary, Split Enz's Best Friend is a moving tribute to the power and beauty of true friendship. The song highlights the importance of these connections in helping us navigate the ups and downs of life and emphasizes the unique bond that exists between best friends.
Line by Line Meaning
You're my best friend, you help me
You are my closest companion, you are always there to support me.
Face the facts with your flights of fancy
You help me confront reality, but also bring creative imagination to the table.
You're the one I want to hobnob with
I want to associate myself with you, you're the person I enjoy spending time with.
You're a man after my own heart.
You have the same interests and values as I do, I feel a strong connection to you.
Two is company, three's a crowd
When there are too many people around, it can cause tension and create problems.
At my temper, with family circle
When my anger flares up, it affects those closest to me, especially my family.
have to pay the penalty
I must bear the consequences of my actions and take responsibility for my mistakes.
Just another allied casualty
I am just one of many people who have suffered due to war and its effects.
You're my best friend, you're my only
You are not just my closest friend, but you are also the only person I can rely on completely.
Won't break or bend, you're no phony.
You are dependable and genuine, I trust you completely and know that you won't let me down.
Melodrama, make me snap
Exaggerated emotions and over-the-top reactions can cause me to become irritable and annoyed.
Now my sidekick, is the world and his way
I feel like I am alone and unsupported, and the whole world is against me.
Come and help me, right some wrongs
I need your help to correct some mistakes and fix some problems.
We're in limbo, bollocks a kimbo
We are stuck in an uncertain situation, with no clear direction or resolution in sight.
You're my best friend, you're my only
You are the most important person in my life, my closest confidant, my everything.
Won't break or bend, you're no phony.
You are genuine, honest, and trustworthy, I know that our friendship is true and unbreakable.
I don't see you, we're still friendly
Even if we don't see each other as much as we used to, our friendship is still strong and intact.
Separate not for love or money...
No matter what happens, we will never let anything come between us or cause us to part ways.
That's how it is for me and my friend [spoken]
Our friendship is unbreakable and resilient, we have been through thick and thin together.
We hold each other aloft [spoken]
We lift each other up and support one another, even during difficult times.
We go crofting together [spoken]
We enjoy spending time together and participating in activities that we both enjoy, such as farming or gardening.
We take the smooth with the rough [spoken]
We accept each other for who we are, including our flaws and imperfections, and support each other through thick and thin.
[repeat chorus]
The chorus is repeated as a reminder of the strength and depth of our friendship.
[Tim:] Thank you, we'd like to do a song now from the 'True Colours'
album. this was an album that hardly anyone knew about at the time,
it was, it's a long time ago now, it was a bit of a cult sort of
thing, uh. ...it was called True Colours, and um, we actually
had a song called 'True Colours - I, I reckon Eddie we should just
do a verse of that. now just for old time's sake
This spoken section is not part of the song lyrics, but rather an introduction to the song 'True Colours' and some reminiscing about the album and its impact.
Lyrics © MUSHROOM MUSIC PTY LTD
Written by: TIM FINN, NEIL FINN
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@petertomshany
Goddamn! Incredible.