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.
Bon Voyage
Split Enz Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I remember days of summer in your arms
Lonely and weary, bon voyage
All too brief an introduction to love's charms
And all that I give you, is brighter than the stars above
And it makes no difference what was said, we were in love
Bon Voyage, lady fare thee well
But you never can tell
Bon voyage, bon voyage
We were connected, side by side
It was only for a few years, but what a ride
Both of us crazy, but we came
To a secret understanding all the same
And all that I wish you
Is brighter than the stars above
And it makes no difference what people think
When we're in love
Bon voyage, lady guillotine
I was glad to lose my head
But I didn't expect to lose my heart as well
Bon voyage, bon voyage
Bon voyage...bon voyage...
The song Bon Voyage by the Split Enz is a poignant and wistful song that is a tribute to a love that has ended. The opening lines state ”please don't forget me, bon voyage”, which sets the tone for the rest of the song that is about saying goodbye to a lover. The lyrics describe a summer fling that was brief but intense, leaving a lasting impression on the singer. Despite the brevity of their time together, the singer is grateful for the connection they shared, which he describes as a "secret understanding". The singer acknowledges that they were both crazy, but in love nonetheless.
The chorus is the refrain “bon voyage” and is repeated throughout the song, spelling out the finality of the goodbye. The second verse acknowledges the sadness of the goodbye, but there is still an acknowledgement that the memories they had together will always be brighter than the stars above. The song is infused with a sense of longing and sadness as the singer says farewell to the woman he loved.
In conclusion, Bon Voyage is a song that encapsulates the essence of saying goodbye to someone you once loved. It speaks to the bittersweetness of endings and the memories that stay with us after we say goodbye.
Line by Line Meaning
Please don't forget me, bon voyage
As we say goodbye, please don't forget about me
I remember days of summer in your arms
I have fond memories of spending time with you during the summer
Lonely and weary, bon voyage
I am feeling lonely and tired as we part ways
All too brief an introduction to love's charms
Our time together was short, but it was enough to show me the beauty of love
And all that I give you, is brighter than the stars above
Everything I have to offer you is more precious than the stars in the sky
And it makes no difference what was said, we were in love
Regardless of any doubts or negativity from others, we were truly in love
Bon Voyage, lady fare thee well
Goodbye and safe travels, my lady
It's impossible to say when I'll see you
I don't know when I'll have the chance to see you again
But you never can tell
However, anything can happen and we may cross paths again
We were connected, side by side
We were romantically and emotionally connected, always together
It was only for a few years, but what a ride
While our time was short, it was an incredible journey
Both of us crazy, but we came
Even though we were both a little bit out there, we found understanding in each other
To a secret understanding all the same
There was an unspoken, intuitive knowledge between us
And all that I wish you
My wish for you
Is brighter than the stars above
Is something even more special than the stars in the sky
And it makes no difference what people think
The opinions of others do not affect our love
When we're in love
Because our love is strong and true
Bon voyage, lady guillotine
Farewell, my lady who cuts like a guillotine
I was glad to lose my head
I was willing to risk everything for you
But I didn't expect to lose my heart as well
However, I didn't anticipate falling deeply in love with you
Bon voyage, bon voyage
Goodbye and safe travels
Bon voyage...bon voyage...
Farewell... farewell...
Contributed by Thomas M. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
darren thompson
Many thanks for uploading this beautiful song by one of the best bands I've ever heard. Clever, haunting and evocative and simply lovely. It sums up the sadness and loss in my own life, yet soothes me at the same time. We are no doubt at the start of another terrible year, but who cares?
Kenneth Kendrick
There was actually a final album entitled "See Ya' Round" that for some reason was never released in the US. Needless to say, they were a superlative band.
Doug Harr
darren called it - this is one of the most beautiful tim finn vocals on record - this year, 1983 he was truly on fire - this album, his last with the band he founded in 1972, and his first solo masterwork, Escapade. All exceptional from the greatest tenor of our times. Also has Neil's best "Our Day" (which Liam confirmed was about him). Eddie Raynor is outstanding here as usual - their totally underrated keyboard player, which the bass/drums geniuses of this formidable group pin it all down and make it look easy.....
pretorious700
wow, what a voice.
codemiesterbeats
end of the song makes me imagine one sailing away on a boat into the unforeseen.
John Grady
Most beautiful!!!