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.
History Never Repeats
Split Enz Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
History never repeats
I tell myself before I go to sleep
Don't say the words you might regret
I've lost before you know I can't forget
There was a girl I used to know
She dealt my love a savage blow
But anyway that's history
I say [chorus]
You say I always played the fool
Well I can't go on, if that's the rule
Better to jump than hesitate
I need a change and I can't wait
[chorus2:]
History never repeats
I tell myself before I go to sleep
And there's a light shining in the dark
Leading me on towards a change of heart (ah-ar)
History never repeats, history never repeats
Deep in the night it's all so clear
I lie awake with great ideas
Lurking about in no-man's land
I think at last I understand
[chorus2]
Never repeats!...
Hey.... Hey....
Never repeats!
And I say, that's all
Remember til the next time
[all?:] thank you!
won't you stay, stay a while with my own one
one more day, one more day with my own ones
this old world, is so cold, don't care nothing for your soul
you share with your own ones...
Haul away, haul away, heave away, haul away, haul away, heave away
"History Never Repeats" by Split Enz is a reflective song highlighting the importance of making changes and not repeating the same mistakes. The song starts by stating that history never repeats itself; it is a common phrase heard usually in a hopeful context. The singer tells himself not to say things he might regret later and that he has experienced loss before, and he cannot forget them. The chorus is repeated multiple times throughout the song, emphasizing the idea that one can learn from history and make changes to build a better future.
The first verse tells the story of a girl who caused the singer heartache. He was too young and naive to notice her wrongdoings, but he recognizes it as a part of history now. In the second verse, the singer admits to being a fool in past relationships and decides that it is better to make changes and move on. The bridge of the song states that ideas are coming to the singer and that he is beginning to understand something about himself in the middle of the night.
The song's message is about learning from past mistakes and making changes to alter one's future for the better. It is easy to fall into a pattern and continue making poor choices or following a negative path. The song urges the listener not to repeat history and to take the steps necessary to change one's circumstances.
Line by Line Meaning
History never repeats
The past is unlikely to happen again
I tell myself before I go to sleep
I remind myself of this truth before sleeping
Don't say the words you might regret
Refrain from uttering things you'll later regret
I've lost before you know I can't forget
I've suffered a great loss in the past and cannot forget it
There was a girl I used to know
I knew a girl in the past
She dealt my love a savage blow
She caused a great deal of pain to my love
I was so young, too blind to see
I was foolishly ignorant and inexperienced
But anyway that's history
That event is now in the past
You say I always played the fool
You claim that I've always acted in a foolish manner
Well I can't go on, if that's the rule
If that's the situation, I can't continue the same way
Better to jump than hesitate
It's better to take action rather than procrastinate
I need a change and I can't wait
I need change and I need it now
And there's a light shining in the dark
There's a glimmer of hope even when things seem bleak
Leading me on towards a change of heart (ah-ar)
Encouraging me to shift my attitude for the better
Deep in the night it's all so clear
In the wee hours of the night, everything is evident
I lie awake with great ideas
I'm awake with an abundance of innovative concepts
Lurking about in no-man's land
Pondering in limbo without any determinate direction
I think at last I understand
Finally, I'm able to comprehend matters properly
Remember til the next time
I'll hold it in mind until the next incidence
Thank you!
Expressing gratitude
Won't you stay, stay a while with my own one
Please, stick around with my loved one for an extended period
One more day, one more day with my own ones
Just an additional day with my loved ones
This old world, is so cold, don't care nothing for your soul
The world is quite cold, it doesn't care about your spirit
You share with your own ones
Sharing things with your loved ones
Haul away, haul away, heave away, haul away, haul away, heave away
Sail away into the sea
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@SueP-D
Defined my late high school years. Thank you Split Enz for being an important part of my childhood 🤍
@janinehazel4512
Mine too. I think I would have gone nuts without them. My world!
@SueP-D
@@janinehazel4512 Woo hoo! I’m glad you have great memories of the good ol’ days in music, too ☀️
@coleenkulaw1447
Loved this band in the 80s & still do in 2023!
@tannarbuck7908
I heard this on the first day of broadcast on MTV and it’s been stuck in my head for weeks now such a good song I am going to request it on my local radio station
@SWabakken
This was the 12th video played on MTV. Split Enz was played 7 times on the first day.
@chefphilsfoodtravelstsompa82
What an awesome band.
@candiceyoung8244
Always have loved your band . Thank you so much 💕
@JulieHalligan-go8ov
Neil & Tim Finn are two of the greatest songwriters in history. ❤
@briansunday7099
Call me crazy, but Split Enz was and still is the only band I ever really liked. Period. Thanks guys for entertaining me for over 40 years. What a legacy.