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.
Through The Years
Tim Finn Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
She wandered all alone in the night
She understand the past, present and the future
She takes me back to where I was then
She leads me on again and again
I'm happy now and I owe everything to her
Leading me on through the years
Calling me back through the years
I want to be oblivious
To all the things that worry us
I want to learn the secrets of the universe
And she was calling me back through the years
Leading me on through the years
Calling me back through the years
And she was calling me back through the years
Leading me on through the years
Calling me back through the years
I'm never gonna find the answer
It's never gonna be exactly what I hoped it was
But it's good enough for me
I never know just when she'll come
But when she does, to her I'll run
For she's the key to everything I ever hoped for
And she was calling me back through the years
Leading me on through the years
Calling me back through the years
And she was calling me back through the years
Leading me on through the years
Calling me back through the years
I love a girl, she's calling me
I love a girl, she's calling me
The song "Through The Years" by Tim Finn is about a girl who brings the singer back in time to relive moments in his past, both happy and sad. Despite her not being quite right, the girl understands the past, present, and future. She leads the singer on, over and over again, ultimately making him happy and making him owe everything to her. The singer wants to be free of the worries of the world, and he seeks to learn the secrets of the universe. The girl continues to call him back through the years, as she is the key to everything he has ever hoped for.
There are a few interpretations of this song. Some believe that it may be a tribute to Finn's brother, Neil Finn, and the years they spent creating music together. The girl in the song could represent the music that brings Finn back to those moments of creation, and the secrets of the universe could represent the magic of their musical collaboration. Others interpret the girl as a personification of nostalgia, which brings the singer back through the years to relive happy and sad memories.
Line by Line Meaning
I met a girl who wasn't quite right
I encountered a girl who seemed different or unusual
She wandered all alone in the night
She was wandering by herself in the dark
She understands the past, present, and future
She has a profound understanding of time
She takes me back to where I was then
She reminds me of a past version of myself
She leads me on again and again
She guides me through life repeatedly
I'm happy now and I owe everything to her
I am content and grateful to her for my current state of being
And she was calling me back through the years
She was bringing me back to a previous time in my life
Leading me on through the years
Guiding me through time
I want to be oblivious
I desire to be unaware of certain things
To all the things that worry us
To all the things that cause anxiety in our lives
I want to learn the secrets of the universe
I yearn to have an understanding of the mysteries of existence
I'm never gonna find the answer
I will never discover the solution
It's never gonna be exactly what I hoped it was
It will never meet my ideal expectations
But it's good enough for me
But it still satisfies me
I never know just when she'll come
I have no idea when she will arrive
But when she does, to her, I'll run
But when she appears, I will go to her immediately
For she's the key to everything I ever hoped for
Because she is the solution or answer to all my aspirations
I love a girl, she's calling me
I am in love with a woman who beckons me
I love a girl, she's calling me
I am deeply in love with this woman
Lyrics © WORDS & MUSIC A DIV OF BIG DEAL MUSIC LLC, MUSHROOM MUSIC PTY LTD
Written by: BRIAN TIMOTHY FINN
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Patrick Baranowski
I have been thinking of this song for 36 years. I remembered it from a road trip we took in the summer of 1983. I didn’t remember much of the song other than the chorus and no idea what the lyrics were. About 10 years ago I decided I wanted to find this song for nostalgic reasons, but again, with nothing to go on really than a faded memory of the chorus. After an exhaustive search I finally found it last week. Totally worth it.
floyd clotworthy
'calling me back through the years '....what a memory...what a gem of a song.
Jed Raw
A hidden kiwi gem, from one of our most prolific and underrated song writers. Tim almost vanishing beneath the shadow of brother Neil { Crowded House, Fleetwood Mac.}. But this song has all the elements of a classic. Sweet memories of being 16 back in 83.
LeeBee 1885
I have a feeling Tim has had exactly as much fame and success as he wanted.
Petra Qua
The whole album Escapade is absolutely fabulous! I listen to it every day, I know it by heart.
Wonderful artist!!!
Norm Meunier
I love the album this song came from. The sound quality and songs are just incredibly good.
Maxiwilian SP
Adoro essa música! ❤️
RastaSaiyaman
This song perfectly describes my most recent history, because the girl I lost sight of 25 years ago has just resurfaced and the old feelings are still there.
Eric Anderson888
always liked this song
D M
yuri zzz yeah same, what a great album