Six months in a leaky boat with Split Enz (NZ Music Month)

A DigitalNZ Story by Zokoroa

Pictorial interpretation of the Split Enz song "Six months in a leaky boat" from the album "Time and Tide" (1982). The song was banned by the BBC as the lyrics were considered inappropriate as Britain was engaged in a naval war with the Falklands.

Music, boats, Split Enz, NZ Music Month, Yachts, Sailing

Image: NZ Music Month display

Celebrating NZ Music Month

NZ Music Month display

Christchurch City Libraries

Image: Common Bottlenose Dolphin

"Six months in a leaky boat" with Split Enz

Common Bottlenose Dolphin

iNaturalist NZ — Mātaki Taiao

Image: Six Months in a Leaky Boat

NZ On Screen video "Six months in a leaky boat", 1982

Six Months in a Leaky Boat

NZ On Screen

See NZ On Screen video and the lyrics for 'Six months in a leaky boat' to sing along to whilst viewing these images which illustrate each line.

Verse 1:

Image: Boy with model yacht

Boy with model yacht

Nelson Provincial Museum

Image: Pacific migration

Pacific migration

Manatū Taonga, the Ministry for Culture and Heritage

Image: Pilgrim Oct 2, 2010

Pilgrim Oct 2, 2010

Manatū Taonga, the Ministry for Culture and Heritage

Image: Compass

Compass

Howick Historical Village

Image: clock, globe

clock, globe

Auckland War Memorial Museum Tāmaki Paenga Hira

Verse 2:

Image: "Remembering a Lesson Learnt".

"Remembering a Lesson Learnt".

Jonesonian Institute

Image: A Tararua thunder cloud

A Tararua thunder cloud

Alexander Turnbull Library

Image: The Temper of the Seas.'

The Temper of the Seas.'

Auckland Libraries

Image: Globe Centred on 45°S 90°W

Globe Centred on 45°S 90°W

Antarctica New Zealand

Image: Ship "True Briton" Off Cape Horn Passing Ice

Ship "True Briton" Off Cape Horn Passing Ice

Auckland Art Gallery Toi o Tāmaki

Image: Will she weather it?

Will she weather it?

Auckland Art Gallery Toi o Tāmaki

Verse 3:

Image: Aotearoa

Aotearoa

NZ On Screen

Image: Globe Centred on Equator 180°E

Globe Centred on Equator 180°E

Antarctica New Zealand

Image: Distances

Distances

Museum of New Zealand Te Papa Tongarewa

Image: Stop. Think. Don't Say It.

Stop. Think. Don't Say It.

Auckland War Memorial Museum Tāmaki Paenga Hira

Image: Why?

Why?

Museum of New Zealand Te Papa Tongarewa

Image: CONQUER, Norman Sperry

CONQUER, Norman Sperry

Torpedo Bay Navy Museum

Image: The restored Jane Gifford under sail

The restored Jane Gifford under sail

Manatū Taonga, the Ministry for Culture and Heritage

Verse 4:

Image: C'mon

C'mon

NZ On Screen

FORGET, FORGIVE." (Star, 21 May 1901)

National Library of New Zealand

Image: Waitematā Harbour

Waitematā Harbour

Auckland Libraries

Image: Beach beach beach!!!

Beach beach beach!!!

Manatū Taonga, the Ministry for Culture and Heritage

Image: Hokitika, West Coast, New Zealand

Hokitika, West Coast, New Zealand

Manatū Taonga, the Ministry for Culture and Heritage

Image: Sunrise on Bushy Beach, Oamaru

Sunrise on Bushy Beach, Oamaru

Manatū Taonga, the Ministry for Culture and Heritage

Image: Yacht

Yacht

Tauranga City Libraries

Image: Yacht

Yacht

Tauranga City Libraries

Verse 5:

Image: Shipwrecked

Shipwrecked

Manatū Taonga, the Ministry for Culture and Heritage

Image: Love

Love

Auckland Art Gallery Toi o Tāmaki

Image: Cruel

Cruel

NZ On Screen

Image: A leading wind

A leading wind

Auckland Libraries

Image: [Yacht "Altair"]

[Yacht "Altair"]

Auckland War Memorial Museum Tāmaki Paenga Hira

Image: westland Petrel

westland Petrel

iNaturalist NZ — Mātaki Taiao

Image: Elegant lady - Gaff cutter "Waitangi"

Elegant lady - Gaff cutter "Waitangi"

Manatū Taonga, the Ministry for Culture and Heritage

Image: Calendar, Desk

Calendar, Desk

Puke Ariki

Image: Sailing

Sailing

mychillybin

Further information

When 'Six months in a leaky boat' was released in the UK (1982), it was banned by the BBC from airplay as the Royal Navy was involved in the Falklands War. The reference to 'leaky boat' was considered inappropriate timing and a criticism of the war. However, as stated by Neil Finn, the song was written by his brother Tim about two themes: the colonial settlers sailing from the motherland to NZ and Australia (at the time Tim had been reading history books); and the breakup of a personal relationship. (See Radio with Pictures interview.)  As noted in a Wikipedia article, the term "A tyranny of distance" is also the title of a book by Geoffrey Blainey: A tyranny of distance: How distance shaped Australia's history (1966).  

Wikipedia: Six months in a leaky boat - Background info

Six Months in a Leaky Boat

Wikipedia

Image: Radio with Pictures - Split Enz interview

Song's themes: nautical and a personal relationship

Radio with Pictures - Split Enz interview

NZ On Screen

Image: Falklands War cartoon

Song banned by BBC (1982) during Falklands naval war

Falklands War cartoon

Manatū Taonga, the Ministry for Culture and Heritage

Image: Six Months in a Leaky Boat / Make Sense of it

Cover of 7 inch vinyl record by Split Enz in a picture sleeve which has cover art from "Time & Tide" album

Six Months in a Leaky Boat / Make Sense of it

Te Awamutu Museum

Te Ara: Split Enz

Split Enz

Manatū Taonga, the Ministry for Culture and Heritage

Image: Sweetwaters Festival Programme

Sweetwaters Festival Programme (Ngāruawahia, 24-26 Jan 1981) includes article on Split Enz

Sweetwaters Festival Programme

Hamilton City Libraries

Image: Split Enz

NZHistory: Split Enz

Split Enz

Manatū Taonga, the Ministry for Culture and Heritage