When you come across the sea
Me like a beacon guiding you to safety
The sooner the better now
And when you come the hills
Will breathe like a baby
Pulled up heaving from the bottom of the ocean
The sooner the better now
When you come to cover me with your kisses
Fresh like a daisy chained up in a lion's den
I'll know you by the thunderclap
Pouring like a rain of blood to my emotions
And that is why
I stumble to my knees
And why underneath the heavens
With the stars burning and exploding
I know I could never let you down

When you come like an iceberg float in darkness
Smashing my hull sne me to the bottom of the sea
I should know you better now
When you come your majesty to entrap me
Prince of light receding
The sooner the better now
And when you come to cover me
With your kisses hard like armour
The sooner the better now
I'll know you by the thunderclap
Pouring like a rain of blood to my emotions

And that is why
I stumble to my knees
And why underneath the heavens
With the stars burning and exploding
I know I could never let you down

She came out of the water
Into my horizon
Like a cumulo nimbus
Coming in from a distance
Burning and exploding
Burning and exploding
Like a slow volcano
When you come
Cover the ground with ashes
When you come


Lyrics submitted by JON

When You Come Lyrics as written by Neil Mullane Finn

Lyrics © BMG Rights Management

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When You Come song meanings
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9 Comments

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  • +1
    General Comment

    many a person has made the refrence to sex in this song.but i think his just terribly excited to see whoevers coming over.this is a beautiful song.neil finn is the master poet of our times.and born the same day as me !

    kaatrienon April 18, 2002   Link
  • +1
    General Comment

    Definitely one of my favourite Crowded House songs. It has such passion. I think the last little verse thing is about sex but the whole of the song before that is his excitement to see 'her'. Neil has such a calming voice. Go Crowded House! Cool (about your birthday kaatrien)! I share Paul Walker's.

    katoxon June 19, 2003   Link
  • +1
    General Comment

    I have to go with the obvious here, maybe it's my filthy mind, but:

    "Burning and exploding like a slow volcano"????

    What's that's about??? A Faulty hosepipe?!

    amy darlingon March 12, 2006   Link
  • 0
    General Comment

    The song has both meanings simultaneously - that's why it's great. "I stumble to my knees" expresses - what? So excited he cannot stand?

    Distant Sunon June 27, 2003   Link
  • 0
    General Comment

    Since I can only think of the most physically intimate relationships that I've had when I listen to this song, I think that's what it's about. Beyond that though, it gets juxtaposed against "Into temptation" and "Better be home soon." I just thought that was interesting. Oh, and I can think of at least one obvious significance for being on one's knees ;).

    enchiridionon June 09, 2004   Link
  • 0
    General Comment

    another song to which there are sooo many interpretations. "And when you come the hills Will breathe like a baby Pulled up heaving from the bottom of the ocean" brings me to the most obvious conclusion.

    kit_katon March 31, 2005   Link
  • 0
    General Comment

    I'm composing a list of "songs that are impossible to sing." Because of the long chunky lyrics this goes on there!

    louisagiffardon June 22, 2006   Link
  • 0
    General Comment

    Loose Tongue, how would you explain the "She" mentioned in the latest verse? I mean, Jesus is not female, unless Neil knows something we don't.

    And you're not agnostic, you're just shifting spiritual stances, the light of our Lord the savior is burning within you, sir!

    LittlePrincezzon September 11, 2008   Link
  • 0
    General Comment

    It is about Neil's wife Sharon. He imagines her coming from NZ and than he imagines her in bed, enough said. Stumbling to his knees is his love for her. She brings him to his knees.

    Delia1957on May 17, 2019   Link

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