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

David Gray

David GraySongwriter Interviews

David Gray explains the significance of the word "Babylon," and talks about how songs are a form of active imagination, with lyrics that reveal what's inside us.

"Stairway To Heaven" Lawsuit: A Timeline

"Stairway To Heaven" Lawsuit: A TimelineSong Writing

Untangling the events that led to the "Stairway To Heaven" lawsuit.

Tom Waits Lyrics Quiz

Tom Waits Lyrics QuizMusic Quiz

Pool balls, magpies and thorns without roses - how well do you know your Tom Waits lyrics?

Jon Anderson

Jon AndersonSongwriter Interviews

Jon Anderson breaks down the Yes classic "Seen All Good People" and talks about his 1000 Hands album, which features Chick Corea, Rick Derringer, Ian Anderson, and many other luminaries.

Lecrae

LecraeSongwriter Interviews

The Christian rapper talks about where his trip to Haiti and his history of addiction fit into his songs.

Spot The Real Red Hot Chili Peppers Song Titles

Spot The Real Red Hot Chili Peppers Song TitlesMusic Quiz

The Red Hot Chili Peppers have some rather unusual song titles - see if you can spot the real ones.