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.
Winter Light
Tim Finn Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
When everything is dark, still something shines
One chilly afternoon, you drew the blind
The earth was frozen
Ice upon the water
All at once you saw her
There in the Winter Light
Then the light came bouncin' up, from stony ground
And deep within the earth you heard the sound
Breakin' like a rock you grew profound
The earth was frozen
Ice upon the water
All at once you saw her
There in the Winter Light
There in the Winter Light
There in the Winter Light
Making everything look beautiful
Light, a child with his own fantasmagoria
Light that spills from billions of excited atoms
Light that lingers in a quiet room
Reveal for me shine for me
There in the Winter Light
Shine for me, reveal for me
There in the Winter Light
There in the Winter Light
In Tim Finn's "Winter Light," the lyrics focus on the idea of light in the midst of darkness, both literally and metaphorically. The song describes the feeling of hopefulness that can arise in a person's mind even when things are looking bleak. The opening lines, "It's always in the back of your mind, when everything is dark, still something shines," suggest that even when one is feeling down, there is a glimmer of light that persists.
The imagery of winter is prevalent throughout the song, with phrases like "The Earth was frozen, ice upon the water" invoking a sense of coldness and emptiness. However, in the midst of the winter landscape, the singer sees something beautiful - a person, perhaps - that brightens up his day. The refrain, "There in the Winter Light, making everything look beautiful" reinforces the idea that even in the midst of darkness, there can be moments of beauty and light.
The final verses of the song expand on the idea of light as a source of wonder and fascination. The line "Light, a child with his own fantasmagoria" is particularly striking, connecting the concept of light with childlike innocence and imagination. Overall, "Winter Light" is a song about finding hope and beauty in difficult times.
Line by Line Meaning
T's always in the back of your mind
You are constantly thinking about T, even if you don't actively acknowledge it
When everything is dark, still something shines
No matter how bad things get, there is always something to be hopeful for
One chilly afternoon, you drew the blind
You closed the window shades to block out the cold and darkness outside
The earth was frozen
The ground was covered in snow and ice, making everything look bleak and lifeless
Ice upon the water
The water was frozen over, adding to the overall sense of stillness and emptiness
All at once you saw her
You suddenly noticed something beautiful and unexpected in the midst of the cold winter landscape
There in the Winter Light
The beautiful thing you saw was illuminated by the soft, gentle light of winter
Then the light came bouncin' up, from stony ground
The light seemed to appear out of nowhere, bouncing up from the hard, unyielding ground beneath your feet
And deep within the earth you heard the sound
The light somehow seemed to connect you to the very center of the earth, bringing up feelings of awe and wonder
Breakin' like a rock you grew profound
The experience of seeing the beautiful light broke through your sense of normalcy and routine, helping you grow as a person
Making everything look beautiful
The winter light had a transformative effect on everything around you, making even the most mundane things seem beautiful and full of potential
Light, a child with his own fantasmagoria
The light seemed like a playful child, creating a magical world of its own for you to explore
Light that spills from billions of excited atoms
The light is a product of molecules and excited atoms, filling the world with energy and potential
Light that lingers in a quiet room
Even in the quietest moments, the light continues to exist and shine, a reminder of the beauty in the world
Reveal for me shine for me
You want the light to reveal more of its secrets and mysteries to you, and to continue shining in your life
Shine for me, reveal for me
You ask the light to continue to illuminate your path and show you new wonders and experiences
There in the Winter Light
Everything you experienced was made possible by the warmth and beauty of the winter light
There in the Winter Light
The winter light continues to shine and exist, a constant reminder of the beauty in the world
There in the Winter Light
The winter light is a powerful force that can transform how we see the world, and bring us joy and happiness even in the darkest times
Lyrics © WORDS & MUSIC A DIV OF BIG DEAL MUSIC LLC, MUSHROOM MUSIC PTY LTD, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: BRIAN TIMOTHY FINN
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind