Lester
Neil Finn
Saw my life go flashing past
In the eyes of a faithful friend
Four legs, for life
And the screeching tires never seem to end
I will change if Lester lives
Not mess him ’round just ’cause I own him
He was nearly wiped away
But he had good luck and strong bones
You make me clench my teeth
Us humans ain’t got dignity
Eat my plants and steal my things
You’re the head of security
I will change if Lester lives
Not mess him ’round just ’cause I own him
He was nearly wiped away
But he had good luck and strong bones
Inside and behind him
I will change if Lester lives
Not mess him ’round just ’cause I own him
Song appears on:
Crowded House - Afterglow (compilation, 1999)
Live: Crowded House - various 2007 & 2010 shows available at Nugs
Live: Various Fangradio broadcasts in 2020
“Lester is a home demo I recorded in 1988 shortly after getting our dog, Lester, a Dalmatian, who came to grief on the road outside our house in Melbourne with a Jeep, I think it was at the time.
I remember seeing him rush by me and the screech of brakes and the whimpering of Lester out on the footpath. Thankfully he made it through that, although he was actually very badly hurt at the time, and I wrote a song I think the night after I’d been at the vet’s with him.
It’s a very affectionate song for the old fella and about not taking your dog for granted. At just over two minutes, it’s a very intimate, small glimpse of what the kind of home demos I make sound like.”
Lester appears in the music videos for Weather With You and Everything Is Good For You.