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.
Dirty Creature
Split Enz Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
from the bottom of a big black lake
Shuffles up to my window
making sure I'm awake
S'probably gonna pick my brain
Got me in a vice-like grip
He said one slip, your dead. Ha.
Little horror here to stay
Anyone in his right mind
would tell it to go away
but the river of dread runs deep
full of unspeakable things
The creature don't mess around
I don't want to mess with him
I don't want to sail, I don't want to sail
I don't want to, I don't want to sail tonight
Dirty Creature's got me at a disadvantage from the inside.
Tentacles on the brain keep me from falling asleep
I'm rooted to the spot
The beast don't know when to stop
Sneaking up from behind
Binds and gags my wits
Dirty Creature got my head exactly where he wants it
I don't want to sail, I don't want to sail,
I don't want to, I don't want to sail tonight,
Taniwha is waiting for me just below the surface so bright (Yeah)
Even as we speak the Dirty Creature springs a nasty surprise.
Dirty Creature knows my type
Found it in a magazine
He's seen the look of fear before
splattered all over the screen
The animal magnet thug
draws me out of myself
I need a dragon-slayer
who can save me from myself
I don't want to sail, I don't want to sail,
I don't want to set sail for the middle of nowhere tonight
Dirty Creature's got me at a disadvantage from the inside (Yeah)
I don't want to sail upon the waters of invention tonight
[a Taniwha is a New Zealand dragon/sea monster type "dirty creature"]
The lyrics of Split Enz’s Dirty Creature convey a sense of fear and helplessness as the singer is being haunted by a monster called the Taniwha. The Taniwha, described as a dirty creature, emerges from the depths of a dark lake and shuffles up to the character’s window, frightening them into waking up. The creature is said to “pick [their] brain” and threatens them with death if they were to make a mistake. It is apparent that the singer is in great danger, and the Taniwha is described as a habit-filled creature that is not willing to give up easily.
The river of dread runs deep and is filled with unspeakable things that amplify the danger of the creature. The Taniwha keeps the singer on edge, as it sneaks up on them and continually binds and gags their wits. The beast's tentacles on the brain prevent the character from sleeping, and they are rooted to the spot in fear. They describe a feeling of being at a disadvantage from the inside, as if the creature has total control over them and their thoughts. Despite their fear, the singer still needs a hero, a dragon-slayer, to come to their rescue and save them from themselves.
Line by Line Meaning
Dirty Creature come my way
The Taniwha approaches.
from the bottom of a big black lake
It emerges from the depths.
Shuffles up to my window
It cautiously approaches the house.
making sure I'm awake
It wants to find its prey awake and vulnerable.
S'probably gonna pick my brain
It wants to extract information from the victim.
Got me in a vice-like grip
It has a strong hold over the victim.
He said one slip, your dead. Ha.
It threatens the victim with danger and death.
Dirty Creature of habit
The Taniwha is a persistent and recurring threat.
Little horror here to stay
It's not going away anytime soon.
Anyone in his right mind
Sane individuals recognize the danger it poses.
would tell it to go away
People would want to make it go away.
but the river of dread runs deep
Fear runs deep in the victim's mind.
full of unspeakable things
There are unimaginable horrors associated with the Taniwha.
The creature don't mess around
The Taniwha is serious and not be trifled with.
I don't want to mess with him
The victim is too afraid to face the Taniwha.
Dirty Creature's got me at a disadvantage from the inside.
The Taniwha has a psychological hold on the victim.
Tentacles on the brain keep me from falling asleep
The victim can't sleep with nightmares of the Taniwha.
I'm rooted to the spot
The victim is paralyzed with fear.
The beast don't know when to stop
The Taniwha is relentless in its hunt for prey.
Sneaking up from behind
It approaches the unsuspecting victim from behind.
Binds and gags my wits
It stuns and confuses the victim into submission.
Dirty Creature got my head exactly where he wants it
The Taniwha has complete control over the victim's thoughts.
Taniwha is waiting for me just below the surface so bright (Yeah)
The Taniwha lies waiting in the depths beneath the surface.
Even as we speak the Dirty Creature springs a nasty surprise.
The Taniwha has more tricks up its sleeve.
Dirty Creature knows my type
The Taniwha has encountered the victim's type before.
Found it in a magazine
It has information on the victim.
He's seen the look of fear before
It recognizes the fear in the victim's eyes.
splattered all over the screen
It has seen similar scenes of horror before.
The animal magnet thug
The Taniwha is a savage and violent creature.
draws me out of myself
It provokes the victim's worst fears and emotions.
I need a dragon-slayer
The victim needs protection from the Taniwha.
who can save me from myself
The victim needs someone to rescue them from their own fear.
I don't want to set sail for the middle of nowhere tonight
The victim doesn't want to venture into the unknown.
Dirty Creature's got me at a disadvantage from the inside (Yeah)
The Taniwha controls the victim's thoughts and emotions.
I don't want to sail upon the waters of invention tonight
The victim fears the unknown possibilities that lie ahead on this journey.
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, PFIVE Entertainment Mexico, MUSHROOM MUSIC PTY LTD, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: BRIAN TIMOTHY FINN, NIGEL PHILIP GRIGGS, EDWARD RAYNER, NEIL MULLANE FINN
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@davidspencer5239
Incredibly great song and better in 2023 than it was in 1983.
Tim Finn is absurdly underrated
@carljensen333
I just watched Late Last Night video and was loving his vocal shifts. I hope they have better popularity in Australia. Icehouse was another Australian band I loved to listen to, and both hold the gravity of memories during those times.
@colklink00
@@carljensen333 you know Split Enz, Tim Finn are from New Zealand though eh.
@carljensen333
@@colklink00 I am so bad about that. I guess it's a lazy American, proximity thing, like Puerto Rico is America or not America? Thanks for correcting me, I should remember it now.
@jfcjake
Just having a Finn music night and Tim is most certainly underrated.
@kellireeves2398
He always reminded me of Tom Hanks❤loved this one for so many years ❤
@HerAeolianHarp
Should have been in the Stranger Things soundtrack. Great song.
@brianplante-dv8uz
Pretty sure its about addiction...jus sayin
@nzsouth1225
your right remastered would go hard hard. most of the world haven't heard this
@80ssynthfan48
@@brianplante-dv8uzIt's mainly about depression.