Split Enz was one of the most successful and longest running bands ever to … Read Full Bio ↴Split Enz was one of the most successful and longest running bands ever to emerge from New Zealand. Founded in 1972 by Tim Finn and Phil Judd, and with a variety of other members during its existence, eight songs Split Enz were listed in the APRA Top 100 New Zealand Songs of All Time, more than any other band. The band played its final show on 4 December 1984 in Auckland. One-off reunions took place subsequently, with the band reuniting in 1993 for its twentieth anniversary tour and once more for a tour in 2006.

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.

Master Plan
Split Enz Lyrics

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I'm not a robot, passive and programmed,
I'm taking the law into my own hands
All things come to those who
Base their every action on a proper strategy

I got a master plan
Not taking any chances
I got a master plan

And I got me some answers

I learned my lesson
Fate will keep you waiting full of doubt and drudgery

I got a master plan
Not taking any chances, no, no
I got a master plan
And I got me some answers
I got a master plan
Not taking any chances
I got a master plan
And I got me some answers

I learned my lesson
Fate will keep you waiting full of doubt and drudgery
No more hesitating, got a proper strategy

I got a master plan
Not taking any chances
I got a master plan
And I got me some answers
I got a master plan
Not taking any chances
I got a master plan
And I'm making advances

Whoa, whoa, whoa, I got a master plan

Overall Meaning

The lyrics to Split Enz's "Master Plan" suggest a rejection of passive acceptance of fate and an embrace of proactive strategy to achieve desired outcomes. The singer emphasizes his or her agency by declaring "I'm not a robot, passive and programmed," and asserts that success comes to those who base their actions on proper strategy. The "master plan" referred to throughout the song is this strategy, which the singer trusts to provide answers and eliminate uncertainty.

The repeated declarations of "not taking any chances" underscore the singer's confidence in the plan and the conviction that relying on chance leads to doubt and drudgery. The lines "I learned my lesson / Fate will keep you waiting full of doubt and drudgery / No more hesitating, got a proper strategy" suggest that the singer may have relied on fate or chance in the past and experienced negative consequences as a result. The repetition of "I got me some answers" and "And I'm making advances" further emphasize the singer's confidence and sense of agency.

Overall, "Master Plan" is a song that champions the power of strategy and rejects the idea of passive acceptance of one's circumstances. It encourages listeners to take control of their destiny and trust in their ability to chart a course toward success.

Line by Line Meaning

I'm not a robot, passive and programmed,
I am not an automated being following a predetermined path,

I'm taking the law into my own hands
I am taking control of my life and decisions

All things come to those who base their every action on a proper strategy
Success comes to those who carefully plan and execute their actions

I got a master plan
I have a well-thought-out plan for achieving my goals

Not taking any chances
I am not leaving anything to chance or luck

And I got me some answers
I have found solutions to my problems

I learned my lesson
I have gained knowledge and insight from past experiences

Fate will keep you waiting full of doubt and drudgery
Leaving things to chance can lead to uncertainty and hardship

No more hesitating, got a proper strategy
I am no longer afraid to take action because I have a solid plan in place

And I'm making advances
I am making progress towards my goals

Whoa, whoa, whoa, I got a master plan
I am confident in my abilities and plan for success