What a cool thread, so many different ideas.

To me, this is simply a love song, albeit one of the best ever written. The "seven worlds" are the seven chakras or centres of energy in the body (what little I know about chakra(s) comes from a few low-quality fantasy novels I once read, so sorry if that sounds silly). When he is with this person, emotions and energy run high, the worlds are in motion, colliding. Gosh I can't think of words to describe this without sounding pretentious or sickeningly mushy....

Imagine these worlds colliding, exploding, going supernova. If you extend that metaphor, imagine a real supernova in the night sky (OK so no one ever sees a real supernova and the debris doesn't fall to earth, but go with me here), and everyone gazing up in awe at the colours and light as the dust falls around them. The audience could be just the lovers, revelling in being together (take that how you will). Or it could be that these two will achieve great things together that will bring joy and awe to all the world.

It's a juxtaposition of a preson's internal world (small but limitless), and the external world (the limitless universe). And it's beautifully done.

Just my opinion...

The song somehow seems to be talking to different people to me. It's honestly - as beautiful as it is - not a favorite (except OK, they absolutely CRUSH it live, and that's awesome - but I mean purely in terms of a song it's not a favorite).

The "tell me all the things you would change" and "don't pretend to know...but I offer love" and other sundry lines all seem to be talking quite beautifully and openly to a lover, whereas other lines seem pretty unambiguously to be talking to a child or at least, a fairly young person.

I suppose it could be a song from the standpoint of young love, but the voice of the "speaker" seems too steeped in experience, wisdom.

Mind you. I don't really try to assemble a Neil Finn song into a coherent whole. Some fall into place for me, some don't. I leave them as they lie, and enjoy each for its perceived merits. As a song, to me, "Distant Sun" works, but less well than others that resound a bit more focused and whole. It remains (for me) a crisp and spiky, beautiful-sounding middle-tier stalwart.

Speaking as an amateur astronomer, you can have worlds colliding that lead to star dust - see Multi-star pile up

Regret to say, I'm old enough to remember Carl Sagan's Cosmos.

The elements that make up our planet - many of 'em can only have been cooked up from simpler elements in the furnace of stars.

"Dust from a distant sun" been raining down all this time to collect up and make our variety of elements.

Also, I had a cool set of books as a child that recommended to take a magnet to the dust on the windowsill - whatever clung to the magnet - was cosmic dust raining from outer space.

Carl Sagan said, "We - are - star stuff!)

Maybe this song is just Neil's way of predicting the results of the Large Hadron Collider experiment?

quote:

Originally posted by Minty:
Maybe this song is just Neil's way of predicting the results of the Large Hadron Collider experiment?

Forget my first post i like this one much more

I thought it was definitely about a long-term passionate relationship (husband/wife), going through some doldrums, and the distant sun being the passion that was there but is now "distant." LOVE the live improvs with the reconnection that leaves the dust lying on the ground around them. Just absolutely love this song.

Now, would someone take on the less popular "Now we're getting somewhere??"


1:Tell me all the things you would change
I dont pretend to know what you want
When you come around and spin my top
Time and again, time and again

2: No fire where I lit my spark
I am not afraid of the dark
Where your words devour my heart
And put me to shame, put me to shame
When your seven worlds collide
Whenever I am by your side
And dust from a distant sun
Will shower over everyone

3:Still so young to travel so far
Old enough to know who you are
Wise enough to carry the scars
Without any blame, theres no one to blame
Easy to forget what you learn
Waiting for the thrill to return
Feeling your desire burn
As youre drawn to the flame
When your seven worlds collide
Whenever I am by your side
And dust from a distant sun
Will shower over everyone

4:And Im lying on a table
Washed out in a flood
Like a christian fearing vengeance from above
I dont pretend to know what you want
But I offer love
And seven worlds collide
Whenever I am by your side
And dust from a distant sun
Will shower over everyone

Seriously, the 'seven worlds collide' thing is about that Hadron Collider. Trust me on this one

As for 'Now we're getting somewhere,' I've always felt Neil's first lines are a highly perceptive comment on my ramblings on this message board:

It never used to be that bad
But neither was it great
Somewhere in the middle than
Content and much too safe

That is so eloquent Parula - it was fascinating reading your thoughts.

I always assumed it was about unrequited love, or a secret love. But maybe I have just read too many trashy romance novels.

Heres my interpretation:
Tell me all the things to would change, I don't pretend to know what you want, when you come around and spin my top time and again - They don't know you love them and that they are jerking you around.

No fire where I lit my spark, I am not afraid of the dark - ,You love them, they don't love you, and you'd rather be alone if you can't have them. To use another song "if I can't have you, I don't want nobody baby..."

Where you words devour my heart and put me to shame - The "your a great friend, what would I do without you talk".

When your seven worlds collide, whenever I am by your side, and dust from a distant sun will shower over everyone - If you loved me the whole world could go to hell and I wouldn't care.

The rest could all be twisted to fit my scenario as well. But then it fits the others as well, especially a couple who had been together for ever and stagnating. What bugs me is we'll never know the truth!