The Waterboys are a British folk rock group. They were founded by Mike Scott in 1983. The band's name has a curious history: it comes from a line in the song "Berlin" by Lou Reed, for whom Mike Scott himself has deep admiration.
But the group's history begins a few years earlier, precisely when in 1978 Mike Scott played with John Caldwell in Edinburgh in a band called Another Pretty Face. This was the beginning of Mike Scott's career. After many concerts, Mike Scott was joined by Anthony Thistlethwaite, a great saxophonist, and the drummer Kevin Wilkinson. Together they recorded several singles, including ‘A Girl Called Johnny’, and this single marked the first appearance of the name Waterboys. In the band's first live performance, which was newly formed, Norman Rodger joined on bass, Karl Wallinger on keyboards, and Preston Heyman on drums. The first album was released, and at the first overseas concert, specifically in Frankfurt, Germany, the trumpeter Roddy Lorimer and backing vocalist Eddi Reader joined the group.
During their long history, the group has gone through two different musical seasons: the first decidedly more rock, openly inspired by Bruce Springsteen and Patti Smith, and the second with more folk influences, drawing inspiration from Ireland and especially Van Morrison. On several occasions, Mike Scott has called Morrison a genius, whom he has always admired. But during their career, the Waterboys also created a particular, unique sound.
The period leading up to ‘This Is The Sea’ saw significant changes within the group. The most important was Karl Wallinger's departure from the band, and in his place, the violinist Steve Wickam joined the group.
Recording of the album began in 1985 at Park Gates Studio, and later in other studios in London. Mike Scott was very confident in his new project, and for the occasion, there would be a special guest. The band had the honor of having Sinead O'Connor as a backing vocalist on the album, whom Mike Scott knew very well. The violin parts were entrusted to the band's new violinist, Steve Wickam, who would remain with the group for a long time.
The album begins with a song that would become a classic for the group. Often performed to open concerts, it is one of the most beautiful tracks in the band's entire career. ‘Don't Bang The Drum’ has an intro of sax and violins that suddenly pause to make way for the drums and guitar. A thrilling track, with sax always in the foreground. With Mike Scott giving a touch of class to the piece with his voice. The chorus is beautiful, where Scott best expresses his abilities as a singer. The song was written by Mike Scott himself. ‘The Whole Of The Moon’ brings back the calm. Even in this case, strings and sax are always prominent. ‘Medicin Bow’ expresses the band's skill and synergy in the recording studio, one of the most beautiful pieces on the album. ‘Old England’ describes the England of the past, with its culture, customs, mores, and ancient traditions. ‘Be My Enemy’ is the piece Mike Scott prefers, he has always had a particular focus on this song in many interviews. The album closes with ‘This Is The Sea’, another iconic song of the group, with classic folk instruments in the foreground. A truly beautiful track.
This is an excellent, vibrant album, with Mike Scott in a state of grace throughout the album's duration. It encompasses many genres, from hard rock to jazz, to blues; a winning blend of genres. As is the band's music from that period, inspired by Patti Smith and Lou Reed. Later, with the next album, the sound would become more folk with more use of acoustic guitar. A reissue of ‘This Is The Sea’ has recently been released, with bonus tracks, but the original album is something else.
In this album, the Waterboys managed to express the best of their abilities, blending different genres, yet maintaining the group's original sound. A rock with unique folk influences, indeed it was the best band of the eighties for this genre. Even today, it manages to be music that is never predictable, splendid.
Tracklist Lyrics and Videos
01 Don't Bang the Drum (06:46)
Well here we are in a special place
what are you gonna do here?
Now we stand in a special place
what will you do here?
What show of soul are we gonna get from you?
It could be deliverance, or history
under these skies so blue
could be something true,
But if I know you you'll bang the drum
like monkeys do
Here we are in a fabulous place
What are you gonna dream here?
We are standing in this fabulous place
What are you gonna play here?
I know you love the high life, you love to leap around
You love to beat your chest and make your sound
but not here man - this is sacred ground
with a Power flowing through
And if know you you'll bang the drum
like monkeys do
Here we stand on a rocky shore
Your father stood here before you
I can see his ghost explore you
I can feel the sea implore you
Not to pass on by
Not to walk on by
and not to try
Just to let it come
Don't bang the drum
Just let it come
Don't bang the drum
Just let it come
Don't bang the drum
Do you know how to let it come now?
don't bang the drum
Just let it come now..
don't bang the drum...
Don't bang the drum
Don't bang the drum
Don't bang the drum
Don't bang the drum
Don't bang the drum
Don't bang the drum
Don't bang the drum
Don't bang the drum
Don't bang the drum
02 The Whole of the Moon (05:00)
I pictured a rainbow
you held it in your hands
I had flashes
but you saw then plan
I wandered out in the world for years
while you just stayed in your room
I saw the crescent
you saw the whole of the moon!
The whole of the moon!
You were there at the turnstiles
with the wind at your heels
You stretched for the stars
and you know how it feels
To reach too high
too far
Too soon
you saw the whole of the moon!
I was grounded
while you filled the skies
I was dumbfounded by truths
you cut through lies
I saw the rain-dirty valley
you saw Brigadoon
I saw the crescent
you saw the whole of the moon!
I spoke about wings
you just flew
I wondered, I guessed, and I tried
you just knew
I sighed
but you swooned
I saw the crescent
you saw the whole of the moon!
The whole of the moon!
With a torch in your pocket
and the wind at your heels
You climbed on the ladder
and you know how it feels
To GET too high
too far
Too soon
you saw the whole of the moon!
The whole of the moon!
Unicorns and cannonballs,
palaces and piers,
Trumpets, towers, and tenements,
wide oceans full of tears,
Flag, rags, ferry boats,
scimitars and scarves,
Every precious dream and vision
underneath the stars
Yes, You climbed on the ladder
with the wind in your sails
You came like a comet
blazing your trail
Too high
too far
Too soon
you saw the whole of the moon!
03 Spirit (01:49)
Man gets tired
spirit don't
Man surrenders
spirit won't
Man crawls
spirit flies
Spirit lives
when man dies
Man seems
spirit is
Man dreams
the spirit lives
Man is tethered
spirit free
What spirit
is man can be
04 The Pan Within (06:13)
Come with me
on a journey beneath the skin
Come with me
on a journey under the skin
We will look together
for the Pan within
Close your eyes
breathe slow we'll begin
Close your eyes
breathe slow and we will begin
To look together
for the Pan within
swing your hips
loose your head, and let it spin
Swing your hips
loose you head, and let it spin
And we will look together
for the Pan within
Close your eyes
breathe slow and we will begin
Close your eyes
breathe slow and we will begin
To look together
for the Pan within
Put your face in my window
breathe a night full of treasures
The wind is delicious
sweet and wild with the promise of pleasure
The stars are alive
and nights like these
Were born to be
sanctified by you and me
Lovers, thieves, fools and pretenders
and all we gotta do is surrender
Come with me
on a journey under the skin
Come with me
on a journey under the skin
And we will look together
for the Pan within
When to be with you
is not a sin
When to be with you, oh just to be with you
is not a sin
We will look together
for the Pan within
05 Medicine Bow (02:45)
there's a black wind blowing
a typhoon on the rise
pummeling rain
murderous skies!
I'm gonna take my books
I'm gonna wear my coat
I'm gonna find my scarf
and wrap it around my throat
and you can
Come with me
through the driving snow
we're gonna ride on up to
Medicine Bow
well I spent too long
just stuck on the shore
there's a man in my head
but he isn't me anymore
I'm gonna find me a ship
stowaway on a boat
I'm gonna burn all the words
and letters and cards that I ever wrote
and you can
Sail with me
where the current flows
we're gonna move on up to
Medicine Bow
I'm gonna change my colours
cancel my things
stop my squawking
grow some wings!
well I will not sleep
and I will not rest
I will put my soul
and my will to the test
I'm gonna tug at my tether
I'm gonna tear at my lead
I'm gonna test my knowledge
in the field of deeds
and you can
Run with me
FAST AS WE CAN GO
over the hill to
Medicine Bow
06 Old England (05:32)
man looks up on a yellow sky
and the rain turns to rust in his eye
rumours of his health are lies
old england is dying
his clothes are dirty shade of blue
and his ancient shoes worn through
he steals from me and he lies to you
old england is dying
still he sings an empires song
and he keeps his navy strong
and he sticks his flag where it ill belongs
old england is dying
you're asking what makes me sigh now
what it is makes me shudder so
well
I just FREEZE in the wind
and I'm numb from the pummeling of the snow
that falls from high in yellow skies
where the time stained of england flies
Where the homes are warm and the mothers sigh
where comedians laugh and babies cry
where criminals are televised politicians fraternize
journalists are dignified and everyone is civilised
and children stare with heroin eyes
Old England!
evening has fallen
the swans are singing
the last of Sundays bells is ringing
the wind in the trees is sighing
and old england is dying
07 Be My Enemy (04:17)
Well the dawn is howling
and the mainframe shakes
Feel like I've been sleeping in a
cellar full of snakes
My wings have been clipped
my shoes have been stuck with glue
Well if you'll be my enemy
I'll be your enemy too
Now I've got goons on my landing
thieves on my trail
Nazis on my telephone
willing me to fail
They were all sent by someone
(Obviously/Well I know it was) you!
Well if you'll be my enemy
I'll be your enemy too
I've a bucketful of Babylon
I got a handful of lead
I'm gonna put them in a gun man
point it at your head
Because you stole all my friends
and you gave me the buffalo blues
Well if you'll be my enemy
I'll be my enemy too
Now from the slime on your tongue
to the nails on your toes
From the scales on your skin
to the stains on your clothes
You're gonna have to make me do something
that I do not want to do
But if you'll be my enemy
I'll be your enemy too
My hands are tied
I'm nailed to the floor
Feel like I'm knocking on the
unknown door
There's a gun at my back
a blade at my throat
I keep finding hate mail
in the pockets of my coat
Well I've been trying to grow
I been cooling my heels
I've have been working the treadmill
I've been working in the fields
And I can't get to sleep
I can't catch my breath
I can't stop talking and I
look like death
But I will put right this disgrace
I will rearrange you
If you'll be my enemy
I'll be your enemy too
If you'll be my enemy
I'll be your enemy too
Be my enemy!
08 Trumpets (03:37)
Your love feels
like trumpets sound
I said your love feels
like trumpets sound
Your life is like a mountain
yes, your life is like a mountain
and your heart is like a church
With wide open doors
and to be with you
Is to find myself in the best of dreams
your love feels like trumpets
Your love feels
like high summer
Your love feels
like high, high, summer
Your life is like an ocean
yes, your life is like an ocean
I want to dive in naked
Lose myself in your depths
I want to be with you
To find myself in the best of dreams
Your love feels like trumpets
Please don't wake me
no don't shake me
I want to be with you
when being with you is the same
The same as being you
your love feels like trumpets
09 This Is the Sea (06:31)
These things you keep
you'd better throw them away
You wanna turn your back
on your soulless days
Once you were tethered
and now you are free
Once you were tethered
well now you are free
That was the river
this is the sea!
Now if you're feelin' weary
if you've been alone too long
Maybe you've been suffering from
a few too many
Plans that have gone wrong
and you're trying to remember
How fine your life used to be
running around banging your drum
Like it's 1973
well that was the river
This is the sea!
wooo!
Now you say you've got trouble
you say you've got pain
You say've got nothing left to believe in
nothing to hold on to
Nothing to trust
nothing but chains
You've been scouring your conscience
raking through your memories
Scouring your conscience
raking through your memories
But that was the river
this is the sea yeah!
Now I can see you wavering
as you try to decide
You've got a war in your head
and it's tearing you up inside
You're trying to make sense
of something that you just don't see
Trying to make sense now
and you know you once held the key
But that was the river
and this is the sea!
Yeah yeah yeah yeah yeah yeah yeah!
Now I hear there's a train
it's coming on down the line
It's yours if you hurry
you've got still enough time
And you don't need no ticket
and you don't pay no fee
No you don't need no ticket
you don't pay no fee
Because that was the river
and this is the sea!
Behold the sea!
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By Neu!_Cannas
If the record is the infinite sea, this is the shore of a virgin and deserted island.
I could set fire to a hundred men or swim in an icy lake, just once in my life, to love someone the way Mike Scott loves music.