Pour Le Monde

Album: Time On Earth (2007)
Charted: 51
Play Video

Songfacts®:

  • A sweeping piano-dominated ballad (eerily like John Lennon's "Imagine"), "Pour Le Monde" ("For the World") seems to be an anti-war/protest song but it's vagueness and ambiguity allow personal interpretation in many ways. This is typical of Neil Finn's songwriting, creating a deeply personal connection with the listener.
  • Neil Finn came together with bassist Nick Seymour to record what was intended as his third solo album. The sessions evolved into the makings of a fifth studio album - Time On Earth - for a reformed Crowded House with guitarist/keyboardist Mark Hart returning and new drummer Matt Sherrod (formerly with Beck). The album was the band's first since Together Alone in 1993. >>>
    Suggestion credit:
    Stu - Suffern, NY, for above 2
  • An inspiration for this song was protest in Paris against the war in Iraq. "France was keeping out of it but there was a lot of activity," Neil Finn explained on his website. "This song, as a lot of them are, comes from various different strands of thought that seem to have connection with each other, one of them being the idea of people being tortured and lifting - going out of their bodies."
  • Originally, the song was titled "C'est Ne Pas Un Chien" and the first two verses were in French.

Comments: 1

  • Sal from FloridaSadly the quote attributed to McCartney about Finn being the greatest songwriter was refuted by Paul himself on a podcast with Tim Minchin. It is at the 2:00 mark in this video
    https://youtu.be/6tjAo3v4Fis?si=JJGRQUVeWsHFDpnI
see more comments

Editor's Picks

Chris Fehn of Slipknot

Chris Fehn of SlipknotSongwriter Interviews

A drummer for one of the most successful metal bands of the last decade, Chris talks about what it's like writing and performing with Slipknot. Metal-neck is a factor.

Jello Biafra

Jello BiafraSongwriter Interviews

The former Dead Kennedys frontman on the past, present and future of the band, what music makes us "pliant and stupid," and what he learned from Alice Cooper.

Sarah Brightman

Sarah BrightmanSongwriter Interviews

One of the most popular classical vocalists in the land is lining up a trip to space, which is the inspiration for many of her songs.

Michael Sweet of Stryper

Michael Sweet of StryperSongwriter Interviews

Find out how God and glam metal go together from the Stryper frontman.

Penny Ford of Snap!

Penny Ford of Snap!Songwriter Interviews

The original voice of Snap! this story is filled with angry drag queens, video impersonators and Chaka Khan.

Sugarland

SugarlandSongwriter Interviews

Meet the "sassy basket" with the biggest voice in country music.