The brothers started off making music together from a very young age, and Neil joined his big brother Tim in Split Enz at the age of eighteen. Both brothers have been involved in complicated music careers after Split Enz was disbanded in 1984. Neil started his own band, Crowded House and subsequently recorded two solo albums after Crowded House split in 1996. He reformed Crowded House in 2007 with a subsequent album and tour. Tim started a solo-career in 1983 before Split Enz disbanded and temporarily joined Crowded House for the Woodface album in 1991.
Both brothers were awarded the OBE in June 1993 for their contribution to New Zealand music.
Homesick
The Finn Brothers Lyrics
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Walking down the aisle I was thinking about what I had lost
On a Sunday morning my hometown is feeling strange to me
In the stadium dark forces are gathering
Homesick, for the people that I live with
Homesick, for the spirit I'm missing
Homesick, for the country that I'm living in
First you make me hungry
Then you feed me something I don't want
There's no satisfaction for an aching heart but life goes on
And when I complain I get thrown out of the restaurant
Homesick, for the people that I live with
Homesick, for the spirit I'm missing
Homesick, for the country that I'm living in
Homesick, for the people that I live with
Homesick
Homesick, for the country that I'm living in
The Finn Brothers’ delicate and melancholic song “Homesick” is a poignant meditation on dislocation, alienation, and longing. The lyrics present vivid images of displacement and isolation, depicting the singer as an outsider who feels disconnected and uprooted from his surroundings. The opening verse sets the tone for the song with the singer feeling lost in a sea of asphalt and urban sprawl, as he wanders through a shopping mall surrounded by a vast parking lot. The first line, “At the shopping mall I'm surrounded by a parking lot,” is a powerful description of the sense of vast emptiness that is often experienced in modern urban landscapes, where parking lots and shopping malls have replaced natural spaces and communities. The second line, “Walking down the aisle, I was thinking about what I had lost,” creates an immediate sense of sorrow and nostalgia, as the singer remembers what he has left behind and what he misses.
The second verse describes the singer’s sense of dislocation in his hometown, where everything feels different and unfamiliar. The line “On a Sunday morning, my hometown is feeling strange to me” evokes a sense of disorientation and confusion, as the singer feels like a stranger in his own town. The image of dark forces gathering in the stadium adds a feeling of ominousness to the song, suggesting that the singer is not only homesick, but also afraid.
The chorus contains the repeated phrase “Homesick,” which represents the central theme of the song. The repetition of this phrase emphasizes the singer’s sense of longing and dislocation, as he longs for the people, spirit, and country that he has left behind. In the second half of the song, the singer expresses his dissatisfaction with his current situation, as he feels hungry but is fed something he doesn’t want. The line “There’s no satisfaction for an aching heart but life goes on” is a poignant acknowledgment of the universal human experience of disappointment and heartbreak.
Overall, “Homesick” is a beautifully crafted and deeply introspective song that captures the essence of the human experience of longing and dislocation. The Finn Brothers have created a haunting and evocative portrait of alienation and loss that is both powerful and deeply moving.
Line by Line Meaning
At the shopping mall I'm surrounded by a parking lot
Feeling trapped by the commercialism and consumerism that surrounds me at this shopping mall
Walking down the aisle I was thinking about what I had lost
Lost in thought, pondering what I've left behind
On a Sunday morning my hometown is feeling strange to me
The familiar surroundings of my hometown now feel foreign to me, especially on a Sunday
In the stadium dark forces are gathering
A sense of impending doom and chaos, perhaps related to social or political unrest
Homesick, for the people that I live with
Longing for the company and love of the people who make my life feel complete
Homesick, for the spirit I'm missing
Yearning for the sense of purpose or inspiration that I currently lack
Homesick, for the country that I'm living in
Nostalgic for the feeling of belonging and connection to the land and culture of my country
First you make me hungry
At first I am excited and eager for what's to come
Then you feed me something I don't want
But my expectations are let down and I am disappointed by what I receive
There's no satisfaction for an aching heart but life goes on
Despite my emotional pain, time still moves forward and life continues
And when I complain I get thrown out of the restaurant
Even when I express my dissatisfaction, I am met with rejection and exclusion
Homesick
A simple repetition of the chorus, emphasizing the strong longing expressed throughout the song
Homesick, for the country that I'm living in
Another repetition of the chorus, emphasizing the strong connection and sense of belonging to one's home country
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Universal Music Publishing Group, MUSHROOM MUSIC PTY LTD, BMG RIGHTS MANAGEMENT US, LLC
Written by: TIM FINN, NEIL FINN
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind