Four Seasons in One Day
| "Four Seasons in One Day" | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
 | ||||
| Single by Crowded House | ||||
| from the album Woodface | ||||
| Released | June 1992 | |||
| Format | 7", CD single, Cassette | |||
| Recorded | 1989 | |||
| Genre | Pop rock | |||
| Length | 2:50 | |||
| Label | Capitol | |||
| Songwriter(s) | Neil Finn & Tim Finn | |||
| Producer(s) | Mitchell Froom & Neil Finn | |||
| Crowded House singles chronology | ||||
| ||||
"Four Seasons in One Day" is a 1992 single released by rock group Crowded House. It was co-written by Neil Finn and brother Tim Finn, originally intended for their debut Finn Brothers album; however, it was moved onto the Woodface project as the two projects amalgamated. The song reached #26 on the UK Singles Chart and #47 on the ARIA Charts.
In 2005, a tribute album was created featuring a collection of Neil and Tim Finn's songs reinterpreted by female singers as the album She Will Have Her Way. "Four Seasons in One Day" was performed by Australian multi-instrumentalist Sally Seltmann, who was known by the stage name New Buffalo. The New Buffalo version was primarily recorded in the same way as the Crowded House version, however the song title was shortened to "Four Seasons".
The song was later released on the group's greatest hits collection Recurring Dream and was performed at the group's farewell performance in 1996, Farewell to the World.
After the death of Crowded House drummer Paul Hester, Tim Finn and Neil Finn had been performing together as the Finn Brothers and as a tribute to Hester, played the song in his honour at their performances.
Debate over which city inspired the lyrics
There is ongoing debate among fans over the city as the source of inspiration for the lyrics. Both the cities of Auckland, where Neil Finn was educated, and Melbourne, where the band formed and wrote many songs, can experience substantial changes in weather and temperature in just a few hours, hence "four seasons in one day".
Likewise, the line "the sun shines on the black clouds hanging over the domain" may refer to the Auckland Domain, or the Kings Domain in Melbourne. Moreover in both cities, many locals refer to these parks as simply "the domain".
There have been no cited statements from Neil Finn or other band members to clarify this. It is of course quite possible that both cities were an inspiration, and the song simply expresses Finns feelings for both cities.
Track listings
UK single
Released as cassette and 7" vinyl.
- "Four Seasons in One Day" – 2:48
- "There Goes God" – 3:50
UK CD single
- "Four Seasons in One Day" – 2:48
- "Dr. Livingstone" – 3:57
- "Recurring Dream" – 3:24
- "Anyone Can Tell" – 3:36
Alternate UK CD single
"Weather with You" and "Italian Plastic" recorded at The Town & Country Club, London, 9 November 1991. "Message to My Girl" recorded live at the Birmingham Town Hall on 5 March 1992, and not previously recorded by Crowded House.
- "Four Seasons in One Day" – 2:48
- "Weather with You" (live)
- "Italian Plastic" (live)
- "Message to My Girl" (live)
Australian CD
"There Goes God" recorded in Maastricht, Netherlands.
- "Four Seasons in One Day" – 2:48
- "There Goes God" (live)
- "Tall Trees" – 2:19
Australian extended single
"Italian Plastic" recorded at the State Theatre, Sydney. "Love You til the Day I Die", "It's Only Natural" and "Four Seasons in One Day" recorded at the Newcastle Civic Theatre, Australia.
- "Four Seasons in One Day" – 2:48
- "Italian Plastic" (live) – 3:34
- "Love You till the Day I Die" (live) – 4:50
- "It's Only Natural" (live) – 4:27
- "Four Seasons in One Day" (live) – 2:59
It was released in Canada but not in the United States.
Awards
In 2001 the song was voted by members of APRA as the 84th best New Zealand song of the 20th century.