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Six Months In A Leaky Boat Lyrics
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
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"
Ted Leo covers this song with perfection. I cannot stop listening to it.
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
'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...
@inni maybe i dont know i love this song. Wiggle version and his orginal version
@inni maybe i dont know i love this song. Wiggle version and his orginal version
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....
@ilovethetunz15 I so appreciate others who love this song! That said, I think this was written by Tim and the gang, not Neil.
@ilovethetunz15 I so appreciate others who love this song! That said, I think this was written by Tim and the gang, not Neil.
@ilovethetunz15 I so appreciate others who love this song! That said, I think this was written by Tim and the gang, not Neil. At least, Tim was the main name listed, methinks.
@ilovethetunz15 I so appreciate others who love this song! That said, I think this was written by Tim and the gang, not Neil. At least, Tim was the main name listed, methinks.
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
LIttle Birdy do a great version of this song
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).
I could sing this song all day.
'Six Months in a Leaky Boat' was written about Tim Finn's bout of depression he was suffering at the time.