Distant Sun

Album: Together Alone (1993)
Charted: 19 113
Play Video

Songfacts®:

  • In "Distant Sun," Crowded House leader Neil Finn uses celestial imagery to look at our place in the universe and how it relates to an interpersonal relationship. These lines are key:

    Your seven worlds collide
    Whenever I am by your side


    "Seven worlds collide" is a reference to the Pleiades star cluster, known as the Seven Sisters, and also as Matariki in Finn's home country of New Zealand. "The reappearance of Matariki marks midwinter and is a time for remembrance and looking to the future," he posted on social media. "It's a likely place for extra-terrestrials to come from, supposedly, for people who follow those kind of leads," he added, "and is a significant cosmological part of the night sky."

    Midwinter in New Zealand is in July, the coldest month of the year there.
  • Regarding these lines:

    Tell me all the things you would change
    I don't pretend to know what you want


    Neil Finn explained on his website: "It's just wanting to get to know somebody, the unknowability of people, and the different influences that come from way, way out there in the universe that we don't even know about."
  • "Distant Sun" was the first single from the fourth Crowded House album, Together Alone. By this time, the band had fallen off the radar in America (where the song charted for one week... at #113) but were still enjoying hits in other territories, notably the UK, Australia, and of course, New Zealand. Together Alone ended up being their last studio album until 2007; they broke up in 1996 and didn't get back together until 2006.
  • The music video, which shows the band washed in a golden glow, was directed by Curtis Wehrfritz. He also directed videos for Leonard Cohen ("The Future") and Tom Cochrane ("No Regrets").

Comments

Be the first to comment...

Editor's Picks

Pam Tillis

Pam TillisSongwriter Interviews

The country sweetheart opines about the demands of touring and talks about writing songs with her famous father.

Rock Stars of Horror

Rock Stars of HorrorMusic Quiz

Rock Stars - especially those in the metal realm - are often enlisted for horror movies. See if you know can match the rocker to the role.

Frankie Valli

Frankie ValliSong Writing

An interview with Frankie Valli, who talks about why his songs - both solo and with The Four Seasons - have endured, and reflects on his time as Rusty Millio on The Sopranos.

Part of Their World: The Stories and Songs of 13 Disney Princesses

Part of Their World: The Stories and Songs of 13 Disney PrincessesSong Writing

From "Some Day My Prince Will Come" to "Let It Go" - how Disney princess songs (and the women who sing them) have evolved.

Kip Winger

Kip WingerSongwriter Interviews

The Winger frontman reveals the Led Zeppelin song he cribbed for "Seventeen," and explains how his passion for orchestra music informs his songwriting.

Stephen Christian of Anberlin

Stephen Christian of AnberlinSongwriter Interviews

The lead singer/lyricist for Anberlin breaks down "Impossible" and covers some tracks from their 2012 album Vital.