Split Enz - Six Months In A Leaky Boat (1982)

[awesomebang101]

best song



[infloslinger]

Modern Collective....

[757surfer1]

@infloslinger hell yea man

[1barbiem1]

What was the name of the planet you were on???

[nzoz1982]

@dawalt009 what a load you've just stated.. neither song sound like eachother

[simfaithguitar1]

There really IS this rivalry between Aussies and Kiwis......

[gentlepersuader]

@simfaithguitar1

Uh huh.

[ThePaRtYPoOp3r]

I love the fact that The Wiggles covered this song, and now whenever my kids hear this version we all know the words! Still one of my favorite groups.

[BeatlesFetish09]

surprised they're from new zealand; always thought they were from montreal.

[Berowra290997]

I love the bit from 2:20 to 2:26. :)

[LifeIsTheGreatest]

I am not able to go pass this clip without paying my respect. To Tim Finn, to Neil Finn and to everyone involved. Watching this and coming down to comment on it here is one of the multitude of reasons why I have the username that I do. Thankyou. Thankyou to all and sundry.

[SirKendalMintcake]

One of the best melancholy songs ever. Split Enz had that extra something that I can't quite put my finger on.

[SSJChad]

Epic beginning.

[blastmir]

part of my life came full circle when I saw a Wiggles video with my kids and it was Tim Finn singing this song with them. Really pulled on my heart...... they can never understand what memories this song brings back for me.

[sheepleliberator]

This is awesome. Is this extended version available to buy?

[27wingnut]

such an awesome song, ahhh the memories......

[Faust6688]

Frm the wife of Faust6688-THANK U!! Been a HUGE Enz fan since they were still together, what an *incredible* band-no one like them B4 or since. Yr posting these vids is a total gift, easier to share this wonderful band then try to explain. LOVE this song & LP, thanx again! :)

[Kiwipay]

Split Enz is one of my favourite NZ bands. (Actually drop the NZ) They used Aotearoa before it became fashionable to use all things Maori. And for that, you have to give them credit :)

[kingbrude]

This is fantastic, great memories & rippa tunes.

[moondiamondcat]

Gee, Tim & Neil were young then... bet they wouldn't get away with that portrayal of Maoris these days, though.

[zenxreo]

MODERN COLLECTIVE!!!

[stanboy69]

love it

[wallyssue]

this is a band that should have ruled the waves..bad luck - they sure can write!! a band that made the eighties bearable!!!

[jackhandy0001]

Felt that there was a fantastic atmosphere to the song when it first came out...

[heizer101]

@Pyrarsonist Only the good stuff :P

[AlexDhuna]

Tis song got banned in England cause of the Falklands War.

[Hot80s]

feels soo good to hear this.

[MrBeaufingers]

@Pyrarsonist ... Bitch.

[musoabledude]

@Pyrarsonist You know what?

Seriously.

At 1:09 you can hear the verse to Matia Bazar's Vacanze Romane, a hit in Italy in... 1983.

Weird, huh?

[misterjoecool]

I don't think I remember seeing this extended music video before - great stuff!

[shedendboy1]

1 person, Has just been kicked overboard.

[stevemcarthur1981]

I don't really understand why the maori segment is in the middle of the video. But it seems to fit in

[Tekton62]

This song is just as wonderful and relevant here in2011 as it was in 1982.

[TaikaNyx]

KIWI CLASSIC 80'S FTW!!!! x3 gotta love split Ends, crowed House and all other Kiwi bands, AWESOME!

[joshie92]

I love Split Enz so much, they have to be one of my favourite bands. They are just so unique and quirky.

[ilovemred]

nz im sure i fought with you about split enz success and mtv Still buying Finn stuff (llove it) still sure I never would have heard it were it not for mtv. I admit, for a turd of a country, nz cranks quite a bit of talent universally. .

[harrisonward1]

no ts new zealand maori about james cook discovering nz and find ing the maoris im a new zealander

[wildsmiley]

Was it nepotism on Tim's behalf to make Neil first mate? I mean, maybe Noel for example is more sea-worthy. Oh whatever. Just hope the ship ain't names Bounty...

[nzoz1982]

@Pyrarsonist i honestly thought they were an aussie band and i honestly thought this song was about Captain James Cook discovering Australia, and I honestly thought the dancers in the clip were aboriginal people.... we just assume that if they're local and talented, they were one of us.... I also thought the New Zealand flag was a lazy drawing of the Aussie flag :( sorry for being a dumb aussie... we just can't be taught.

[drumdust]

@nzoz1982 They just changed the star's to red & dropped one.

Yeah that sound's pretty lazy lol.

[Termi8or]

@nzoz1982 so the the lyric "Aotearoa, rugged individual..." didnt give it away? :P

[nzoz1982]

@Termi8or oh yeah.... Aotearoa, the rugged individual!!!! i haven't thought of that person in years! How could have over looked that line???

[Termi8or]

@nzoz1982

ummm... Aotearoa is the native Maori name for New Zealand mate lol

[casanoc]

@nzoz1982 Well Australia didn't steal Split Enz, they went to Australia on their own free will to make it big. if they had stayed in NZ they probably wouldn't have made it as big as they did. And even then they didn't make it THAT big internationally.

[sheepleliberator]

@nzoz1982 A lot of people understand the lyrics to be a metaphor for a romantic relationship. Pretty clever metaphor, too.

[BrumbyKid]

@nzoz1982 Technecilly Split Enz, and Crowded House are both Australian bands.

As they were formed in Melbourne. Neil and Tim Finn, were both from New Zealand.

[nzoz1982]

@BrumbyKid Split Enz formed in New Zealand. I agree with the latter.

[mostillrx]

@BrumbyKid Lol, if their from NZ then its a NZ band

[mostillrx]

@mostillrx No kiwi band can make it big without being accepted into other countries however as we have too few people.

[ijk240695]

@mostillrx Aussies and Kiwis are like brothers, I love New Zealand I've been there three times

From so small a population it is amazing how much talent there is and yes the only way they can make it on a world stage is by cracking it in Oz first, that is not in any way taking any cudos from NZ, its just a fact. Many kiwis come to live and work in Melbourne and Sydney. Lets hope the tragedies of Christchurch are now at an end.

[gentlepersuader]

@nzoz1982

Nobody's perfect. An honest mistake. It ain't Split eNZ or Aotearoa in the lyrics for nothing eh?

Sorry!

Us underdogs of under 4.5 million have to be stood up and counted! Even those living in Aus, yes!

[mostillrx]

@nzoz1982 haha, thats such a funny and true comment. Ignorance is a disease ;)

[OldEchoes1]

@nzoz1982 Well, you couldn't.

[CrazyShakaZulu]

"Aotearoa! Rugged individual, glistens like a pearl...at the bottom of the World"

[grumpysoreolbastard]

looks like one bloke forgot his life vest

[fishboy1111111]

damn they look like twins in this video, which is weird because in all they others they don't look a whole lot alike

[Eric28437]

amazing

[SugarRuneStarNut]

This was one of my favourite songs to sing in choir 5 years ago and I was in year 4 :D thank you choir teacher

[SuperJohnboy72]

this song is definatlly in my top 10 songs of the 1980s if not the top 5.

[jasonyoungdenmark]

I love this songs... I think it is the NZ accents!!!!

[agtac76]

I know that what I'm going to say will upset some of you all a bit (well maybe), but the first time I heard this song was courtesy of the Wiggles (when my daughters used to watch). The Wiggles had Tim Finn as a guest, and they song a different version of the song. Yet, I was curious to know who Mr.Finn was and to find the original song. So I did that a few years ago, and was pleasantly surprised by the full version of it. A great song! :-)

[wickedghostwench]

@75heatherr - I agree with you 100% the intro is way way too long and anyone who didnt know this song would just give up while waiting for the intro to finish. the song actually starts at about 1:28 or so.....most people won't wait that long

[dubykk]

@wickedghostwench The "intro" is actually another song, Pioneer.

[wickedghostwench]

@75heatherr - I agree with you 100% the intro is way way too long and anyone who didnt know this song would just give up while waiting for the intro to finish. the song actually starts at about 1:28 or so.....most people won't wait that long

[gamersky00]

Genius !!!

Thank you !!! :))

[tyme4mike]

This song reminds me of the last six months of life..like my ship could sink any moment..

[hawaiidispenser]

2:32 - 2:42 It's MST3K's Michael J. Nelson! (Also of Rifftrax fame.)

[gppick]

Had to listen to this my favorite song and band tonight. Gog Bless all those lost and missing in Christchurch. We're thinking of you. Love Canada

[Dianea2009]

Just love this song which was written before the Falklands War of 1982.

[Budgie283]

@Dianea2009 This song had nothing to do with the Falklands its just another paranoid British Government, not like the Name of the Father now I suppose that was con-traversal but as a British/ Irish dude myself, we hate the truth about ourselves, Back to the song I ran out the first time I heard this song and bought the album been a long fan of Split Enz and yes Rockabilly those Finn brother are great writers

[Dianea2009]

@Budgie283 Yes, I know it wasn't and the RNZN were going to lend us some more ships if needed. The RNZN had Leanders and Rothesays which were the same as the ones down in the South Atlantic at the time, so many thanks to the RNZN for the support. Good tune and shame it wasn't played often at the time.

[CharlotteLsometimes]

six months with a leaky goat

[75heatherr]

What are we supposed to do during the intro of this video?

[getreadytowiggle1991]

@75heatherr Skip it.

[hawaiidispenser]

@75heatherr For me, the intro sets the whole nautical mood and is essential... with the old images, I feel the grandeur of the sea, the bravery of the explorers. I think it gives the song's lyrics more weight and hints at something deeper in them.

[Las3rGirl]

a classic!

[captainarcher2]

A most historical video for the band...I personaly always dug this song/video !!! It was very well done !!! Too bad there's no more bands like Split Enz...Todays music and videos really suck ! I hope Split Enz get placed in the Rock-n-Roll Hall of fame..They are one of the greatest New Wave bands of the 80's..

[cedredecat]

There is 1 person who doesn't like this...out searching for the Fail Whale no doubt.

[KrunchyJD]

I heard this song got banned from radio during the Fauklands war.

[nzoz1982]

@KrunchyJD yes.. hence not becoming a hit in the UK. It was # 1 in Australia, at least...

[beammeup75]

@nzoz1982 - it only made #2 in Australia

[Mirv41]

@nzoz1982 I remember when the Falklands broke out I thought it was strange. I just read the lyrics to this song and a wikipedia atricle about the the Falklands war and find it strange that this song was banned in the UK. Then again, so was Roxanne by The Police, which was strange by itself. I know it was banned for referenced to prostitution but I still find it strange.

[nzoz1982]

@Mirv41 'Roxanne' was banned? I am starting to think the wrong people run the media in Britain. Didn't Mike Read ban Frankie Goes To Hollywood's 'Relax'?

[BrumbyKid]

@nzoz1982 Have you seen the movie, "The Boat that Rocked"?

It's about "Pirate Radio" in Britan, when Rock was illegall. 1950's / 60's I think.

That shows that the wrong people were controlling the media.

[nzoz1982]

@BrumbyKid I've seen that movie and I really like it! Now that you mention it I can see how it all makes sense. Still, it's pathetic. Little wonder DJ John Peel was such a celebrated DJ.

[TheMichaelseymour]

@KrunchyJD 6 months in a leaky , freaky boat ...then tony abbott -says "piss off - we dont want ya "

[jasondemillo]

God Defend New Zealand.....Music!!

[GelGsound]

Another band we Australians try to claim as our own... That aside great song.

[goblinking169]

Aotearoa rockin individual !

[beammeup75]

@goblinking169 - Aotearoa rugged individual !!

[TvGyrl]

The days of old, when MTV actually played music videos.

Really miss those times.

[n8tureboy]

@TvGyrl

You're kidding! Music television actually played music, instead of moronic "reality" shows?

[emily555a]

Great track!

Easily my favorite Enz song.

[mikper7]

The mustacchioed faux-Polynesian tribal dancer dude is going utterly bonkers with the facial contortioning at 3:58. Almost like he snorted a ton of coke...but it was the 80's, so I doubt it.

[12Racer99]

@mikper7 He's a Maori dude.  Have you ever seen the Haka??

[littleamigos]

me likum

this songa ...... coconut :)

[nzoz1982]

@jaytotheell they're Maori

[shemericify]

@jaytotheell the dancers are Maori as Nzoz1982 pointed out and the Finn Brothers are native New Zealanders so it's a nod to their motherland

[superzapper]

@jaytotheell wow ..I`m guessing you has an American education ?

[nzoz1982]

@superzapper If you're going to make a jibe at somebody's education, the least you can do is take care of your grammar.

[jaytotheell]

@nzoz1982 thanks. im canadian, which makes me smarter than superzapper by miles.

[jaytotheell]

@superzapper no, i was truly thinking that the girls were maori, and that the song had to do with the area. by your grammar, you definately HAS an american education george.

[halfafrog]

I thought 6 months referred to the amount of time it took their ancestors to go from Ireland to New Zealand no? 

[TevitaLavalu]

cool son 111111111111111111122222222222­222222222222333333333333333333­333334444444444444444455555555­555555555555666666666777777777­777777788888888888999999999999­999999999999999999999999999999­9999999999

[alejandro75595]

No supe más de esta banda después de los ochenta, pero lo poco que he escuchado de ellos me parece excelente. Desde México saludos

[Dannymusic1999]

27,400 views???? that's it?

[101CommanderWarfare]

I just spent six months in a leaky boat! (clap) (clap)

[82558061]

thank fuck i can swim

[BondurantBoydLittell]

1982.. Falklands War...that is what this song is about...

[nzoz1982]

@BondurantBoydLittell It wasn't about the Falklands war... that was furthest from TIm's mind when he wrote this song...

The song is about the breakfdown of a relationship he was in and perhaps to a further extent, his relationship with the band.

[parksy010101]

@nzoz1982 spot on, pal.

[xr6lad]

@nzoz1982

No but Maggie Thatcher banned the song on the UK radio cos it came out at the time of the Falklands War If I recall correctly and around the time of the sinking of a British ship...

[nzoz1982]

@xr6lad I know the story... but timing and quite unfair...

[nzoz1982]

@xr6lad Bad timing...

[camoclayton]

@xr6lad no ship was actually sunk, but one was badly damaged when it was hit by a surface missile.

[KirbyPownsYou]

@xr6lad Yes but the song was written before the Falklands invasion

[hotsfpursuit]

@nzoz1982 I thought it was about the settling of New Zealand by the British. At least literally?

[superzapper]

@BondurantBoydLittell idiot .. 30 seconds search on the net proves you don`t know what you are talking about . scratch one for up the morons

[necronomiconio]

can anyone explain the meaning of the following paragraph from the lyrics ?

"Shipwrecked love can be cruel

Don't be fooled by her kind

There's a wind in my sails, will protect and prevail"

[nzoz1982]

@necronomiconio if you don't think of the song as a context of adventure and you're able to look passed the metaphor, you'll see its just a song about disenfranchised love.

[camoclayton]

@necronomiconio

shipwrecked love is a love gone wrong, possibly someone you loved deeply left you.

wind in my sails, means life goes on, just as the wind always blows, so does life go on.

Well thats my two cents worth.

Love the song.

[timgshaw]

@necronomiconio

Try thinking about the Sirens

[stuartk319]

Very kiwi; I went on holiday from Sydney to South Island of NZ in 2007 when my sister was 18 months old. Came back to Newcastle and asked her where I'd been. She said "New Zealand, Tim Finn, Leaky Boat." Techincally, they sold out a tad bit from their early days, but when it's such a likable song you'd have to be a real sad sack to care about that.

[rockabillychuck]

Damn those Finn brothers are amazing song writers.

[burnsmay]

Yes, Lennon and MacCartney from downunder

[ProfessorIgor]

down under in Liverpool, UK ?? huh ?

[burnsmay]

Uh,i thought New Zealand still is down under

[dubze]

This song is great- it makes me sad- It makes me think about my cousin that is in a mental institution- for those that don't know that what this song is about- a mental breakdown

[FoolOfGods]

@dubze Sorry for your cousin, my brother spent over a year in a psych inst. they can recover and often, with help, do have a life beyond their 'breakdown'. As a child I recall being shown 'Sunflowers' by Van Gough, I only associated it with happy sunny feelings, then someone spoiled it by telling me that the painting was a symptom of VVG's madness - glad to say I know that this isn't true, immensely talented people are often labelled as 'mad', only to later be recognised as gifted.

[janpage817]

The end of this song is so hauntingly beautiful. The piano is just gorgeous.

[JeffMattOwnz]

this is cool!!

[azzorroww]

the intro to six months...... was neglected during radio play back so sad it gives a historic epic feel to  a fun song not overly serious i just love its spirit i actually heard it on a tape compliation in the early eighties. a good story telling song like edgar allan poes tales of arthur gorden pym

[ClungeFlap]

the intro is a separate track called "Pioneer", but it works really well as the intro. and precedes the song on the album

[stockcar269s]

This song was banned in the UK when it came out in 1982 because of the Falklands War, Was soon released after the conflict was over, As for the "Downunder" tag that was the name given to Australia and New Zealand by U.S. servicemen in WW2, was just made popular and commercialised by Men at Works song and of course Aussie just adopted the Tag as their own

[ubuibiok]

@stockcar269s *****, didn't know the UK was that active into mind control in the 80's

[woodskier]

the perfect base for world conquest is TAZ

[gxd4b1]

Great Australian Band!!!

(calm down, Im only winding you Kiwis up ..... sheesh, you'd think you had no sense of humour! lol)

[fluffydolly]

remember the world premier on the original mtv! still great after all these years.down under music rocks!!!!! split enz forever!!!!!!

[nzoz1982]

thanx.. but this really does belong to the kiwis! i don't know if the 'down under' tag also applies to them.

[arferdaley]

It does :)

And Split Enz were *mostly* made up of Kiwis :D

[jameddunn1]

Does anyone know the name of the dance that the maories (i apologise if i mispelt that) are doing at 3:45?

I've seen it before wen i visited New Zealand but i forgot the name of it :S

[burn4you]

POI dance

[ryanspeed]

Offhand jameddunn1, I'd say they are dancing what's called a "Haka".

Most of the time it's usually associated as a Maori war dance meant to intimidate but it can also be interpreted as a greeting.

[hot4inxs]

I think it is called the hakka

[rychissnz]

AOTEAROA! Yeaaahhhh! Go the KIWIS!

[chunukbair]

best enz video :-)

[ilovemred]

Unlike Madonna, Michael Jackson, or even INXS who all cashed in heavily when the video revolution broke in the country with the highest disposable income per capita (that would be the US for rubes like NZ that continue to worship has been bands like SE), Split Enz alone stand as the glimmer for that little rock turd island that Austraila sharted that yes, you can rule the world.

[SoundsIUsedToHear]

Why insult a country like Australia by saying it's a rock turd island?

[ilovemred]

I was referring to New Zealand. However, NZ keeps poking out great stuff. I stand corrected. Latest good stuff from there is Stereogram. Great stuff. I think I threw out my hip.

[ilovemred]

OK OK, I give up!!!

MTV had nothing to do with Split Enz's success!! While they could have easily been content with the billions they made playing Te Awamutu and Auckland, their musical and media brilliance alone propelled them to the zillions that they accrued when they hit world wide.

[princessluceval]

I remember late nights at my sister's house, watching MTV in its infancy (she had cable, I didn't). This video was burned on my psyche, I guess. I get a strange feeling of deja vu while watching it.

Who knew 27 years later I'd be a Split Enz freak, wishing I'd been brave enough then to like them, and explore more of their music. I love this video.

[trishalovesfy]

Sounds like The Killers!!!!!

[nzoz1982]

Killers sound like them. The tail does not wag the dog.

[trishalovesfy]

Tomato, tomoto. Patato, pototo.

You know what I meant.

[ilovemred]

Poor split enz. innovative sound right at the time MTV broke. So they had to be actors as well. Tremendous musicians and writers. I love the Sandy Allen song (I'm from indiana) are undderrated.

[nzoz1982]

They've been making videos since 1975, a good six years before MTV was launched. They always acted up (or acted) in their videos - MTV didn't make them do it.

[ilovemred]

Well no one saw the videos from 1975, So go ahead and think that MTV didnt launch what little career they had, if you want.

[nzoz1982]

Agh... you give me a stupid answer and make me made at you! Thanks! Let me correct you!

Their videos were seen in Australia, Europe and probably the UK (where many of their early videos made) prior to MTV (1975 to 1980), so if you imply that all non-Americans are, as you say 'no one', than you're right!

No one saw the videos from 1975...

MTV did not launch their career. Touring, recording and promoting themselves launched their career. I Got You was a hit 18 months before MTV existed!

[nzoz1982]

And don't tell me what to think because I know what I am talking about, unlike your-fucking-self!

Now piss off you-know-it-all, because the world DOES NOT REVOLVE AROUND YOUR FUCKING COUNTRY!!!!!

[SoundsIUsedToHear]

NZOZ, the problem with many early-MTV viewers is that they believe a band's career highlight/worth was being played on MTV. Your burst of frustration remind me much of my younger-self during the early 1980's when many of my peers were under the delusion that 'Duke' was Genesis' first album.

I began following Split Enz in 1977; around the time they first toured the US and was fortunate to view their videos on Video Concert Hall in 1979. By 1982, every MTV kid was a Split Enz 'expert'.

[nzoz1982]

Oh okay, so that explains the stupid answer I was given before! Thank you.

Just to add, the video clip was made by Chris Löfvén who was a in-demand video-maker in Melbourne at the time. Most of the popular videos I have on my nzoz accounts were made by his team. I doubt the infant MTV was even on mind when this clip was made back in 1982. This has to be the Enz 10th video-clips and at least, the third clip the band made with Chris. The whole comment that they acted up for MTV... wtf?

[ilovemred]

I saw SE when they opened for Little River Band in 1978. I'm just saying they didn't hit in the us until MTV hit. Ask Tom Petty, Billy Idol. Heck, ask Hunters and Collectors if 120 Minutes (on MTV) didn't stuff their pockets. It's a fact.

[SoundsIUsedToHear]

Okay. I accept your comment. You do have a point there. I'm thinking more on the old guard of getting a band on television, radio, etc. Tom Petty, Billy Idol and Heck (who ever they/he/she were/was) did have a bank increase and wider exposure.

[ilovemred]

Now you're catching on. Yes it does.

[nzoz1982]

"Comment removed by author".... I do wonder why you had to remove your original comment and start again. Hmmm... maybe because your original comment is as moronic as this one.

Oh well, I got your original comment, so let me do the honour of reposting it so everybody can read it. This shall be a laugh!

"MTV didn't hit in the states until MTV. Which is when they made their money, and Neil Finn cashed in. Period."

MTV DIDN'T HIT MTV DIDN'T HIT, DUH, MTV DIDN'T HIT MTV... MTV HIT MTV FIRST!

[nzoz1982]

Sounds like a Spy Vs Spy police statement. My God, even the 'chk chk boom' chick makes more sense than that. Little wonder you removed it. Nice substitute answer, MTV kid.

Now let me spell it out to you. They cashed in on I GOT YOU which was released 18 months BEFORE MTV... GET IT??? That's where the real cash flow was coming from.

Not MTV's little play of post-I GOT YOU videos.

Mr 'MTV DIDN'T HIT MTV'... DUH!!!!!

[nzoz1982]

And don't go commenting on videos and making a moron out of yourself. Just stick to being a good dad and monitor your daughter's YouTube activities.

Have fun, MTV kid.

[ilovemred]

So you went to my account? not only are you a jerk off, you're a creepy jerk off.

[ilovemred]

My God, what are you Mother Finn or something? Stop wetting yourself and your keyboard. Move on.

[nzoz1982]

Ladies first....