Archer’s Arrows
Neil Finn
Kids kissing on the floor
They make a work of art
Up on the gallery wall
They take the world apart
And no one’s safe
The tension on the string
We’re almost there
It’s time to reign over the king
The archer fires away (Send an arrow up)
We hope to rise again (Like an invitation)
Aim high and when the arrow comes down
Take out the pale imitation
The whole facade is wearing thin
We’ll just paper over cracks
‘Til people take the power back
Moving out the cavalcade
We live to fight another day
See the arrows fly
They tempt you with a prize
Make you master of the house
You look so indifferent now
With the sucker hanging from your mouth
But you can’t be safe
You can’t betray your will
We’re almost gone
It’s time to take over the hill
The archer fires away (Send an arrow up)
We hope to rise again (Like an invitation)
Aim high when the colours come down
Take out the pale imitation
The whole facade is wearing thin
We just paper over cracks
‘Til people take the power back
Moving out the cavalcade
We live to fight another day
See the archer’s arrows fade (Hey, hey)
See the archer’s arrows fade (Hey, hey)
See the archer’s arrows fade (Soon find out if we make a mark)
See the archer’s arrows fade (Soon find out, leave an arrow in my heart)
See the archer’s arrows fade
See the archer’s arrows fade (Hey, hey)
Song appears on:
Crowded House - Intriguer (2010 album)
Live: Various 2010 live shows available at Nugs
Live: Fangradio Intriguer special, 25 March 2021
“It’s a metaphor - lofty ambitions and your aim suddenly falls short. In a Chinese movie, ‘Hero’, there’s a tremendous scene with thousands of arrows going into the air and I’d seen that the day before.”
Archer’s Arrows (alternative version)
Neil Finn
Neil at home in December 2021 preparing for the ”Sweet Tooth” music video by Crowded House. This room is referenced in “Archer’s Arrows (alt version)”.
I lay on the floor and consider my room
A place to make a work of art
Up on the wall there’s an African mask
And a portrait of my dear old dog
Don’t mind me, I’m taking a nap
That’s how I read between the lines
On with the net, I am trying to collect
But today there’s not an insect in sight
Inspiration
See the archer’s arrows fade
Time is wasting
Seasons change like thoughts on a page
And the birds are off heading south
Make your acceptance and keep a straight face
With the sucker hanging from your mouth
You can’t be safe
You can’t betray your will
And we’re almost done
And it’s time to take over the hill
Hey
And I can feel this shape
Gathering against my leg
There cannot be too much wrong
Whenever you come by my ….
I’m giving your love away
I keep coming back every day
See the archer’s arrows fade
…