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.
Poor Boy
Split Enz Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
She speaks to me, with ultra-high frequencies
Radio band of gold
Gonna listen til I grow old
Oo hoo hoo
what more can a poor boy do? Oo hoo hoo
what more can a poor boy do? Oo hoo hoo hoo
The crackle of the radio
A message in the evening sky
You're looking at an interplanetary Romeo
I'll never see her face
between us there's too much space
Oo hoo hoo
what more can a poor boy do? Oo hoo hoo
what more can a poor boy do? Oo hoo hoo hoo... yeah?!
Keep losing you...Ooh hoo hoo
what more can a poor boy do? Ooh hoo hoo...
what more can a poor boy do? Ooh hoo hoo...
What more, what more...
What more, what more
What more can a poor boy do?
The lyrics of Split Enz's song Poor Boy tell the story of a lonely and isolated character who has found love in the form of an alien. The singer describes how he met this mysterious lover by chance, and how she speaks to him in ultrahigh frequencies that only he can hear. The radio band of gold they share is a symbol of their connection, and the singer vows to listen to it until he grows old.
However, the distance between them is too great, and the singer laments that he will never see her face or be able to touch her. Despite this, he remains committed to his love for her, and asks in despair, "What more can a poor boy do?" This line echoes throughout the song, underscoring the sense of hopelessness and desperation that the singer feels in his pursuit of his alien love.
The use of the radio and interplanetary imagery in the song is evocative of the sci-fi and outer space obsessions of the late 70s and early 80s, which were reflected in popular culture through films, TV shows, and music. Poor Boy can be seen as a melancholic reflection of the cultural zeitgeist: a longing for something beyond the limits of earthbound existence, a sense of isolation and dislocation in the face of the universe's vastness, and a yearning for connection even in the strangest and most unlikely of places.
Line by Line Meaning
My love is alien, I picked her up by chance
I met my partner by chance, she's so different from me
She speaks to me, with ultra-high frequencies
We communicate in a way that no one else can understand
Radio band of gold
Our relationship is special and valuable
Gonna listen til I grow old
I'll cherish our love for as long as I live
Oo hoo hoo
Expressing emotions
what more can a poor boy do? Oo hoo hoo
There's nothing else that I can offer in this relationship
The crackle of the radio
Moments of disruption in our relationship
A message in the evening sky
Something is wrong, but it's hard to decipher
You're looking at an interplanetary Romeo
I'm in love with someone different and unique
I'll never see her face
Our love is distant and disconnected
between us there's too much space
Despite being together, there's still some distance between us
what more can a poor boy do? Oo hoo hoo
Even with our issues, I can't do more in this relationship
Keep losing you...Ooh hoo hoo
I'm losing our connection and I don't know why
what more can a poor boy do? Ooh hoo hoo...
Despite my efforts, our love is slipping away
What more, what more...
Expressing the frustration and desperation of a failing relationship
What more, what more
Continuing to ask what else can be done to save the relationship
What more can a poor boy do?
Acknowledging the helplessness and lack of control in the situation
Lyrics © PFIVE Entertainment Mexico, MUSHROOM MUSIC PTY LTD
Written by: BRIAN TIMOTHY FINN, EDWARD RAYNER
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@alanstrom2221
1980 is one of the most futuristic years in our history.
This band Split Enz & Mi-Sex and hundreds of others that were caught in the New Wave net had this cosmic and far out sound.
The late 70's and early 80's could be the pinnacle of Western culture.
Then Devo's De-Evolution started to become evidentiary.
The music today is very ordinary and sometimes horrible and diisgusting and that is the so called Rock bands, they are trying too hard instead of being organic, real and sincere.
In the late 70's and early 80's I was out at venues seeing as many Bands as I could, 5/6 nights a week. Spent way too much money enjoying my youth..
I saw Mi-Sex many times, yet the gig that stands out in my mind is one at The Govenor's Pleasure which was in Dickson St The Rocks, Sydney.
I can tell you that they are not forgotten, obscure or unknown in a lot of people's minds and hearts.
They are much loved.
One of New Zealand's finest.
Great front man in Steve Gilpin. RIP mate
@iamgod6464
They were such a Great Neo Psychedelic Band. Sorely Missed Now. We have so much crappy music being played these days that it's a relief to return to these Golden Oldies from the 80's. Thank You Split Enz.😊👍
@brianmarshall1762
This is still one of my favourite songs of all time. 40 years on, that’s saying something...
@mouses41ss
150 per cent
@kazabushy
The memories of what this song meant to me still wells me with tears.
@JO-qu3zv
Same here
@SoapinTrucker
Agree!!!!! And I'm almost 60! LOL :)
@leideningrid
I’m 33 this songs in my top 10 love them
@jonnyvt6602
17 in 83, we had no money n no jobs but the music n friends were just fab, miss those days
@peterhayden7136
I feel sorry for those that have never heard this or any genius Enz songs , it was these guys that started me on my bass playing journey and I’m still in awe of these guys . One word .. sublime
@johntaylor7123
I listen to mmm Adelaide, sometimes they play it