Six Months In A Leaky Boat

Split Enz

When I was a young boy
I wanted to sail around the world
That's the life for me, living on the sea
Spirit of a sailor, circumnavigates the globe
The lust of a pioneer, will acknowledge no frontier
I remember you by, thunderclap in the sky
Lightning flash, tempers flare,
'round the horn if you dare
I just spent six months in a leaky boat
Lucky just to keep afloat

Aotearoa, rugged individual
Glisten like a pearl, at the bottom of the world
The tyranny of distance, didn't stop the cavalier
So why should it stop me, I'll conquer and stay free
Ah c'mon all you lads, let's forget and forgive
There's a world to explore, tales to tell back on shore
I just spent six months in a leaky boat
Six months in a leaky boat

Ship-wrecked love can be cruel
Don't be fooled by her kind
There's a wind in my sails
Will protect and prevail
I just spent six months in a leaky boat
Nothing to it leaky boat.


Lyrics submitted by planetearth

Six Months In A Leaky Boat Lyrics as written by Nigel Philip Griggs Tim Finn

Lyrics © PFIVE Entertainment Mexico, WORDS & MUSIC A DIV OF BIG DEAL MUSIC LLC

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Six Months In A Leaky Boat song meanings
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13 Comments

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  • +1
    General Comment
    To me this song is a really great and poetic metaphor for a flawed relationship or even any untenable situation...the "leaky boat". I also like how overall it's actually got quite a positive way of looking back on it all instead of just depairing - "Ah c'mon all you lads, let's forget and forgive...There's a world to explore, tales to tell back on shore"
    trippycheeon July 22, 2014   Link
  • 0
    General Comment
    Ted Leo covers this song with perfection. I cannot stop listening to it.
    ShesMyAlcatrazon October 30, 2004   Link
  • 0
    General Comment
    I've only heard this song a couple of times. It occurred to me that the lyric 'six months in a leaky boat' is a reference to early settlers sailing to New Zealand. But of course the song could easily have some other, metaphorical meaning; perhaps it's an analogy to some modern matter in the musician's life... *shrug*
    Heliamphoraon December 02, 2004   Link
  • 0
    General Comment
    'ship-wrecked love can be cruel' suggests that the six months in a leaky boat is a metaphor for a relationship that could not be. fortunately there is still a world to explore after the ship-wreck. we keep on trying...
    innion February 16, 2005   Link
  • 0
    General Comment
    this song means soo much too me.. i was firstly introduced to it by my uncle and he played endlessly.. he was a sailer and spent large amounts of time on a fishing boat.. He was taken from us in a unfortunant fishin accident and now everytime i hear this song i get this warm feeling inside that reminds me of him... A brilliant and touching song.. Neil finn is a credit to all his songs that he has written....
    ilovethetunz15on December 08, 2005   Link
  • 0
    General Comment
    bout early settlers, could also be metaphorical - but i think thats looking into it too deeply easily one of my favourite split enz songs :D :D
    plutoon December 12, 2005   Link
  • 0
    General Comment
    LIttle Birdy do a great version of this song
    greenphoenixon January 16, 2006   Link
  • 0
    General Comment
    This is a song that every Kiwi knows. I think is mostly metaphoric talking about the love of the sea and travelling and the need to put our differences behind us. There are a few lines which are taken quite literally though "Aotearoa, rugged individual, Glisten like a pearl, At the bottom of the world" is a direct reference to New Zealand (known as Aotearoa in Maori).
    Skippy19on February 21, 2006   Link
  • 0
    General Comment
    I could sing this song all day.
    kaatrienon September 21, 2006   Link
  • 0
    General Comment
    'Six Months in a Leaky Boat' was written about Tim Finn's bout of depression he was suffering at the time.
    AlanaAcidicon May 12, 2008   Link

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