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.
SWEET DREAMS
Split Enz Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I went weak in the knees, the first time I saw you
Deep inside, day to day ritual
Oh give it a try
Do what you will, look out now!
But I've seen it all before
A living legend, like 15 million other, angels
Try as I do, I can never get through
I only got as far, as the back seat of my car
It's all very well to cry now
Yes it's all very well to lie now
Now I'm wasting my time, clutching at straws (yeah)
You know damn well, what's mine is yours
Rich man or poor, duchess or whore
I haven't got time for, either or
I can't get over it
Thank God the storms passed over
I'll settle down I guess
Sweet dreams every once in a while
Sweet dreams every once in a while
Matovani, Martini and money
I fell for your etiquette
The first time we ever met
You really socked it to me
With your finger snap rhythym
Look out now, break-up
You've got it all figured out
Ten to one I lose
Drop your lovers noose and swing me
Cruelly deprived, I don't know how you've survived
Romantic theories of the pixies and fairies
Looking in retrospect seldom wrong but never correct
Emotions are aired like carpets out to dry
I can't get over it
Thank God the storms passed over
I'll settle down I guess
Sweet dreams every once in a while
Sweet dreams every once in a while
Sweet dreams, sweet dreams, sweet dreams every once in a while
Well you wouldn't know me from a bar of soap
A part of the furniture, an ornament, a rocking chair
It's all very well to cry now
Sweet dreams every once in a while
The lyrics of Sweet Dreams by Split Enz are complex and multifaceted, exploring themes of love, longing, and disappointment. The song opens with the persona describing themselves as "cunning as a con-man, shrewd as a liar," before admitting their vulnerability at the sight of the object of their affections. Throughout the song, the persona juxtaposes their worldly experience ("I've seen it all before, it's nothing new to me") with their inability to fully connect with their lover ("I can never get through, I only got as far as the back seat of my car").
The chorus of the song expresses a sense of resignation and wistfulness - "I can't get over it, thank God the storm's passed over, I'll settle down I guess, sweet dreams every once in a while." The persona seems to be reconciling themselves to the fact that their relationship is flawed, but still holds onto the hope of occasional moments of tenderness.
The second half of the song introduces new characters and situations, such as "Matovani, Martini and money" (presumably the persona's rival for their lover's affections) and "romantic theories of the pixies and fairies." The overall effect is one of complexity and ambiguity, as the lyrics touch on a wide range of human experiences and emotions.
Line by Line Meaning
Cunning as a con-man, shrewd as a liar
I'm very clever and manipulative
I went weak in the knees, the first time I saw you
I was infatuated with you
Deep inside, day to day ritual
I have daily habits and routines
Oh give it a try
Take a chance on something
Do what you will, look out now!
Do whatever you want, but beware of the consequences
But I've seen it all before
I'm familiar with how things usually go
It's nothing new to me
I'm not surprised or impressed
A living legend, like 15 million other, angels
I'm nothing special, just ordinary
Try as I do, I can never get through
I can't succeed
I only got as far, as the back seat of my car
I only had a physical relationship
It's all very well to cry now
It's easy to feel sorry for yourself
Yes it's all very well to lie now
It's easy to deceive others
Now I'm wasting my time, clutching at straws (yeah)
I'm desperate and grasping at anything
You know damn well, what's mine is yours
You're taking advantage of me
Rich man or poor, duchess or whore
It doesn't matter who you are, I don't have time for you
I haven't got time for, either or
I'm too busy for anything
Thank God the storms passed over
I'm glad the trouble is over
I'll settle down I guess
I'll try to be calm and stable
Sweet dreams every once in a while
Occasionally I have pleasant thoughts
Matovani, Martini and money
I'm interested in wealth and luxury
I fell for your etiquette
I admired your manners and behavior
The first time we ever met
When we first encountered each other
You really socked it to me
You impressed and overwhelmed me
With your finger snap rhythym
With your sense of style and ease
Look out now, break-up
Be cautious, because things might not work out
You've got it all figured out
You know what you're doing
Ten to one I lose
I'm likely to fail
Drop your lovers noose and swing me
Abandon your restrictive relationships and choose me
Cruelly deprived, I don't know how you've survived
You've been mistreated and I'm surprised you've endured
Romantic theories of the pixies and fairies
I have fanciful ideas about love
Looking in retrospect seldom wrong but never correct
When I look back, I'm not usually mistaken, but I'm never completely right
Emotions are aired like carpets out to dry
My feelings are out in the open, exposed and drying out
Well you wouldn't know me from a bar of soap
You don't recognize or understand me at all
A part of the furniture, an ornament, a rocking chair
I'm a fixed, unimportant object, like a piece of furniture
Sweet dreams every once in a while
I can dream of better things, occasionally
Contributed by Charlie K. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
TR Ship
Cunning as a con-man, shrewd as a liar
I went weak in the knees, the first time I saw ya.
Deep inside, day to day ritual
Oh give it a try
Do what you will, look out now! Breakup!
But I've seen it all before
It's nothing new to me
A living legend, like 15 million other, angels
Try as I do, I can never get through
I only got as far, as the back seat of my car
It's all very well to cry now
Yes it's all very well to lie now
Now I'm wasting my time, clutching at straws (yeah)
You know damn well, what's mine is yours
Rich man or poor, duchess or whore
I haven't got time for, either or
I can't get over it
Thank God the storms passed over
I'll settle down I guess
Sweet dreams every once in a while
Sweet dreams every once in a while.
Mantovani, Martini and money
I fell for your etiquette
The first time we ever met
You really socked it to me
With your finger snap rhythym
Look out now, break-up
You've got it all figured out
Ten to one I lose
Drop your lovers noose and swing me
Cruelly deprived, I don't know how you've survived
Romantic theories of the pixies and fairies
Looking in retrospect seldom wrong but never correct
Emotions are aired like carpets out to dry
I can't get over it
Thank God the storms passed over
I'll settle down I guess
Sweet dreams every once in a while
Sweet dreams every once in a while
Sweet dreams, sweet dreams, sweet dreams every once in a while
Well you wouldn't know me from a bar of soap
A part of the furniture, an ornament, a rocking chair
It's all very well to cry now
Sweet dreams every once in a while
Garth H
Their sublime bizarreness is why I've been a fan for about 4 decades now.
Elizabeth Gendvilas
@Shayne O'Neill How curious! My partner from the UK introduced me to Cardiacs and I was hooked. Sadly the lead singer and driving force died recently. He was a musician's musician. RIP Tim Smith.
Mhaza Rock
Sure indeed
Mhaza Rock
Sua indeed
Steven Edward Maylott
At first I was like wtf, but the more I listen the more I love it.
John Nichols
@Shayne O'NeillLove me some Cardiacs...Props to you...I'm trying to decode the singer's lyrics....It's deep poetry about the shallow currents we live in...I think....they is blowing my minds...Thanks for the lead to the Cardiacs.
Merseyrock
Syncopating the sax solo (@2:44) over the bass and drums lines, each playing under different beat patterns was (wow!) brilliant musicianship on their part!
bmt33
one of the greatest songs ever recorded. sound and visual perfection.
j w osborne
Phil Judd was such a huge player in Split Enz. I was lucky enough to see their very first USA performance in a tiny (teeny) Boston club. They walked on, of course, in full make up and the crowd just said a silent, "WTF" and then we were BLOWN way. How very cool. What great theater rock...and all else. Loved 'earlier' rather than the later "poppy stuff" but t'was an evolving performance.
"You wouldn't know me from a bar of soap"...ok, Mr. Judd.
Chris Jones
Kind of a Syd Barrett of New Zealand in as far as both of them founded a supremely quirky, arty and bizarre ensemble that, after its founder flamed out early, went off in an increasingly mainstream direction. In both cases, much was gained ($), and yet...