Crowded House - Black and White Boy Meaning

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Album cover for Black and White Boy album cover

Black and White Boy Lyrics

Black and white boy
black and white boy
you're so extreme
you're so confused
color me in whatever mood I'm in
I could be still in touch with you
And you're full of the wonder of spring
it's all sweetness and lightness you bring
and a room...

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anonymous
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Sep 17th 2007 !⃝
Black and White boy... you're so extreme, you're so confused. Colour me in, whatever mood I'm in. and you're full of the wonder of spring, and it's sweetness and life that you bring and a roomful of people will fall for your infinite charm.... but when darkness should quickly descend, you quietly my miserable friend. To the depths of despair you go, do you really really think I don't know. black and white boy.

This song to me is clearly about the ups and downs of a manic depressive. In particular it's a song about the bands then drummer, Paul Hester, along time friend of Neil Finn and someone with a history of mental problems. Like most people, Paul was very reluctant to seek help with his depression and this is Neil Finn's way of pleasing with his friend to do so... possibly knowing that he was ending the band and the effect this may have had on Paul.

I hadn't initially made the connection (not being aware of Paul Hester's depression) but when I saw the Finn brothers play in the uk, they played this song, which I thought strange as it was not a hit single. A few weeks later I learned that Paul Hester (RIP) had hung himself in Melbourne. That was their tribute to him.

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