Finn started a Bachelor of Arts degree at the University of Auckland in 1971. There he jammed in music practice room 129 (later the name of a Split Enz song) with friends and future Split Enz bandmembers Mike Chunn, Robert Gillies, Philip Judd and Noel Crombie. Music soon became more important to him than his studies; in mid-1972 he quit university. A few months later, Judd and Finn (the band's members used their middle names as stage names) formed group Split Ends (renamed Split Enz, shortly before their first move to Melbourne in 1975). The bands' music style is best described as eclectic, incorporating influences from art rock, vaudeville, swing, punk, glam rock, rock and pop. Between 1972 and 1977, Finn and Judd alternated as frontman for the band. Once Judd permanently left the band, Tim Finn's younger brother Neil Finn took his place.
In 1983 Finn recorded his debut solo album, Escapade, while still a member of Split Enz. This met with major commercial success both in Australia and New Zealand, and yielded hit song Fraction Too Much Friction. After contributing four songs to the Split Enz album Conflicting Emotions, Finn left the band permanently in June 1984, to focus on a solo career. The following year he moved to London. 1986 saw the release of his second solo album Big Canoe.
In late 1989, Finn was back living in Melbourne, recording his eponymous third album, Tim Finn, for Capitol Records. In early 1990, he began playing music with younger brother Neil, for an intended Finn brothers record. After working together on some songs, Neil Finn proposed incorporating the tracks onto the latest album of Crowded House, the group he had formed after Split Enz dissolved. Tim Finn performed with the band to promote the band's album Woodface, and co-wrote eight songs, including the hit Weather with You. Yet some time during the tour which followed the album's American release, all concerned realised that the combination was not a good fit. Tim Finn returned to pursue his solo career.
In 2004, the Finn brothers released their second album together, Everyone Is Here. Since then Finn has continued to release solo albums.
Still The Song
Tim Finn Lyrics
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It's coming from an open doorway
And everyone is listening
To what the music has to say
On a Sunday afternoon
The middle of town might as well be the moon
Still the song keeps playing
Still the song keeps playing
It's everybody's consolation
To sing along and feel better
It doesn't matter what went wrong
When your staring at the sky
There's nothing to see cos the feeling has died
Still the song keeps playing
Still the song
And as long as that song lasts
We're moving together
We're holding fast
Are you loveless on this cold day
You feel like you're walking on your own grave
But somehow you know it's not for always
Still the song keeps playing
Still the song
Still the song keeps playing
The lyrics of Tim Finn's song "Still The Song" are about the enduring power of music to connect people, uplift them, and provide comfort during difficult times. The song describes a scene of people listening to music coming from an open doorway in the middle of a town on a Sunday afternoon. The lyrics suggest that in that moment, the people listening forget about the problems they may face in their lives and come together through the shared experience of music. The chorus of the song emphasizes repeatedly that "still the song keeps playing," emphasizing its unifying and timeless quality.
The song emphasizes that music can serve as a "consolation" for people who may feel lonely, lost or loveless. The last verse speaks specifically to those feeling unloved, as the lyrics encourage the listener to find solace in the music, reminding them that they won't feel that way forever, and that the song will keep playing. The song appears to emphasize the universality of music and its ability to connect people across lines of difference.
Overall, "Still The Song" is an uplifting and hopeful song that champions the power of music to bring people together, offering a message of unity and hope through the shared experience of song.
Line by Line Meaning
Still the song keeps playing
The music continues despite other changes and struggles in life
It's coming from an open doorway
The music is accessible and open for everyone to hear
And everyone is listening
People are paying attention and engaging with the music
To what the music has to say
The music provides a message or comfort that people can relate to
On a Sunday afternoon
The time frame adds to the sense of calm and peace the music provides
The middle of town might as well be the moon
The music transcends the physical world and makes everything else fade away
It's everybody's consolation
The music is something everyone can turn to for comfort
To sing along and feel better
Participating in the music can bring emotional relief
It doesn't matter what went wrong
The music helps to put any problems or troubles into perspective
When you're staring at the sky
The song helps you feel more connected and reflective of your surroundings
There's nothing to see cos the feeling has died
Without the music, everything seems dull and lifeless
And as long as that song lasts
The music has the power to hold people together
We're moving together
People are united and connected by the music
We're holding fast
The music provides a sense of security and stability
Are you loveless on this cold day
The song prompts introspection about one's current emotional state
You feel like you're walking on your own grave
The world feels dark and hopeless without the music
But somehow you know it's not for always
The music provides hope and reminds you that things can and will get better
Still the song keeps playing
The music is an ever-present source of comfort and connection
Still the song
The music is a constant, unchanging force in life
Contributed by Joshua H. Suggest a correction in the comments below.