Waterboys • The Whole of the Moon • 1985 Concert

[nadatkz]

someone can share the lyrics from the 4:24 til the 4:34 ? please! thanks!! great, really awesome song...turns my skin bristling ...

[20102010ludo]

still a great song

[TheRichmole]

the best live performance of any song i have ever seen ,,perfect!!!

[MrDrummerpony]

@TheRichmole its not live

[DANIMC85]

you climb on a ladder!!!

[tillyeyesgreen]

One of the most beautiful songs ever.

Awesome band !

Great Mike Scott !

[rcflath]

This song so deserves to be sung out loud, and proud!

[MsAnnestube]

I dreamed of Mike Scott the other night...we shared a homecooked meal and then this song came into my head...I woke up and a full moon was shining thru my curtains,,  the whole of the moon!!!

[Mmusica1]

I just LOVE this song!

It always makes me think about life & what has been and what still may be & I smile.

~~!(^_^)!~~

[dawnibful]

Roll on March :D Bristol here I come

[Justforshizz]

55 people didn't like this ??? that's gotta be a miss hit :D tuuuune

me and my friends got baaaaked and whacked this on full blast, best decision ever

[RideHanna]

Sublime! in my opinion the most beautifully eloquent song about friendship ever written.

[MsAnnestube]

Mike has such a specially nice singing voice..no wonder this was a hit!

[TheStageight]

Great Song and God is listening.

[luvsmusic208]

Underrated band and singer/songwriter Mike Scott. Hands Down !!!

[kevinatkinson65]

For Eddie



[kovalski27]

brilliant .. full of esoteric and magic

[jerryheschsr]

I enjoy contrasting this with Jennifer Warnes' version, both fabulous. She has more brass. Being middle child I relate to the metaphor. 

[fluffyweapon]

@garbleon you took the words out of my mouth. This song is awesome

[Garbleon]

One of the most epic songs i have ever listened to my life!

[acelio01]

No, she is not Sinead. but she is Max Edie.

[acelio01]

Is Sinead O'connor as backvocal on her debutt ? Very gorgeous girl

[makityun55]

酔っぱらってColdplay聞いてたら、急に聴きたくなった。

やっぱ カッコいいなこいつら！

[icaroalfa]

FANTÁSTIC

[Robac40]

Just bought an iPad 2, buying loads of old LP's from itunes. Including The Best of The Waterboys. Brilliant!

[zombieman2212]

Does anyone know where I could get some Tab or Sheet Music to the Saxophone Solo in this song?

[grafzahlization]

i used to feel this was about spiritual longing, now i feel this is about an unusual friendship.

[richardmarks01]

god dont have an ipod; he listen to vinyl

[joedodge1]

Lillian0426, Gotta agree with you..Still remember where I was when I first eard this song....I was awestruck...

[wrincht1]

@joedodge1

Likewise - heaven in a bookstore! Edinburgh too.

[lillian0426]

words can't describe how good and timeless this song is...........love it till I die....

[arthurswchultz]

54 people who have no taste at all!

[pennytomei3]

The theme of my life...

[11alex11able]

the singer looks like mick jagger

[bajovoltage]

@11alex11able i thought to write exactly the same

[11alex11able]

@bajovoltage haha

[martygp]

One of the few songs form the 1980s that hasn't dated. A band could sing it now as it is and still be a hit.

[HardWarUK]

@martygp Let's start a petition! :)

[shezboy]

@martygp very true

[lindsaytay33]

@martygp I actually just heard this for the first time the other day and thought it was new. Then when I looked it up I could not believe how old it was.

[Luci57flavors]

@martygp 100% true.

[TheJKVW]

Classic.

[leebigcity]

class

[THESILENTBOATMAN]

@corro51...YOUR FULL OF SHITE!!!

[DrDance2323]

This song was brilliant in it's day and still brilliant.

The melody is inspiring, but what's really brilliant is they never really let on what it was about publicly.

It was a song about someone's parent dying when they were away on tour.

Never revealed, until now.

[jaapenmarijke]

wat een goede band is dit toch

[simolui]

enough with stupid comments like: this is on god's ipod!!!!!! ..... it's not on my ipod!! period...lol

[ivanjbp82]

es un gran tema al igual que muchos otros de aquellos años 80, ,donde creo fielmente que se hacia la mejor musica y ni siquiera me pillo en la adolescencia ,mas bien en mi infancia.......aun la recuerdo y la sigo escuchando despues de 3 decadas.

[InternalMind]

back then this song was shit, and still is now.

[chielsteel]

@InternalMind If you find it shit why are you bothering to comment here??? You looked it up didn t you?

[InternalMind]

@chielsteel i was looking for something else and i thought i reckonized thie band from when i was a kid and i thought they were shit then and now ;P i think it's annoying and homo, shut up.

[SCassiner93]

great song love it ,

[mickigoe]

Holy f**k , the lyrics are idiotically pretentious and , as with many cute metaphors , totally meaningless. The writer needs medical attention.

[BeatsAndPulses]

@mickigoe Mate... can you do better?

This is awesome

[mickigoe]

@BeatsAndPulses Absolutely..as could you , I'm certain....these lyrics are poor :)

[BeatsAndPulses]

@mickigoe Dunno man, my lyrics are just awful.

[TheCyberbaby]

this song haunted me for two years almost every day

(and I loved each moment of it)

It is one of the songs that you never get bored of. I love it.

[Guster1973]

Do you reckon this is on God's ipod or what?

[InternalMind]

@Guster1973 no, but i reckon the devil has it on tape and throwing it into the pit right now, where did he get it you might ask? ...from a fan

[feraljim]

@Guster1973 Nah. God's got much better taste in MP3 players I'm sure

[MrAradine]

@Guster1973

Yes. yes I do



[mrsbadcrumble123]

@Guster1973 I think God wrote it

[luvsmusic208]

@Guster1973 YESS if he has good/God taste !!!

[trippinonmydreams]

@Guster1973

yep

[ozoneocean]

I remember when this came out in the 80s. It was epic then and it's still just as epic now.

[fallencrr]

"I pictured a rainbow

you held it in your hands

I had flashes

but you saw the 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!"...

Wow...

[javasrevenge]

Wow, what a band and what a music.

This is the real music, not nowadayws be made.

[popatwink2]

I heard this song a couple years after this came out, maybe 89 or 90 when I was a teenager, and loved it ever since.

[sigalia24]

אין על השיר הזה

[PAinVA]

What a great song and video! I listen to a lot of music and can often get past simplistic lyrics if the beat is good. Great music, great lyrics and great singing put this song way over the top. I could watch the guy playing violin over and over again. He's so into it (and skilled); amazing. Mike Scott and rest look so comfortable playing and singing. Where would the world be without such talented artists? Thank god we can capture this and enjoy it over and over again.

[Dannyrocksass]

I would kill to see them live...

[randomchild81]

This is on my Dad's 80's mixtape CD, reminds me of starry nights last winter :)

[jojoeverton]

Boss tune

[spacelizardlaw]

Half the story most were never told might leave you yawning & bored shiteless...

The rest of the story will tear your heart out & leave-it dumbstruck & bloody...

There'll be a day of reckoning little sweeties & THAT'S what scares me...

Threats & actions were nowhere compared to what I've always avoided waking within myself & that's simply to yawn with disinterest because the lies liars alibis half-hearts dreamers schemers dancers & romancers have all taken their toll...

Let-me go now...

[TheMarkXIV]

@spacelizardlaw I don't think we'd be bored at all, but I take note of your last instruction. Thank you for the post (and the impromptu rhythmic addition to the lyric)... The video still looks great, though.

[1kevcarr]

Top top song.

[gutmiko]

for me best song ever

[zekykon]

I wasn't born at that time but damn, i wish i was in that concert

[CaltonBhoy1967]

Mindblowing song first time I heard it - Still mindblowing now - Sheer Genius.

[millhill46]

Good music, brings memories back to me

[johnsoniow]

Epic.



[mapat22]

al depertar,, esuche esta cancion.. y me dio motivo para seguir.. bien

[TheRichardo1]

I don't really like songs from concerts but this is jolly good.

[crish125]

en verdad mi tema preferido exelente energiaaaa sin palabrassssss tk 

[ral848d]

Incredible!!! still sounds like when I first heard it all those years ago :) peace everyone

[username7046]

cool!

[lcoutosoares]

the fucking whole !!!

[charles1952ify]

still sublime.

[ErisRising]

Anyone who has ever loved someone dealing with bipolar disorder can relate to this song.

[MsLou71]

@ErisRising You are so right !

[Suxarix]

Who is the girl in the video?

[TheMarkXIV]

@Suxarix Max Edie, known to her friends as Lizard, shared a flat in Chelsea with one of the band and just got roped in.

[coolcanguy44]

Wow......awesome tune.....brings back memories.......Fuck i am getting old....lol



[Ravabby36]

whatever peeps just a great song

[magoo889]

A Classic !!!! will always tke me right back to the Glorious 80's

[elfeliz]

Too high, too far, too soon.

[JoseLisbon]

Forget the previous question.

Her name is Max Edie.

Beautiful girl with lips of Love and an angelic voice; the perfect complement for a perfect song.

[JoseLisbon]

Does anyone know the name of the female singer?

[1929memphis]

this is not a concert ,but the video of the song. the waterboys were one of the best groups in the 80's

[Torpedowill]

Pero q grandes q son. Una autentica maravilla de banda.

[johnplinehan]

no way like prince this is brilliant way better than the prima dona

[Superdude339]

Stars say it all.

[MsAnnestube]

This song played could as well be this summer"s Hit tune! Timeless and Kool poetry

[15bluethings]

wow. this blew me away.  Such an incredible band!

[vallumhigh]

yea yea but i would love to give the girl one

[ionkoldoleon]

Una de mis bandas favoritas, no ha habido nadie como ellos.

[ZtDreamRider]

I saw the Waterboys in 1984 as the support band for U2. Love this song.

[DrumlineGuru]

This song made me weep. The love of my life can see the long-term view, while I just seem to always see the now. I've made many, many mistakes that could have been avoided if I just saw "the whole of the moon." The lyrics are very personal. I love this song!

[TheMarkXIV]

@DrumlineGuru Someone a year ago logged the comment, 'To me this song is about a relationship. He's the "dreamer" and she's the realist and yet SHE saw the whole of the moon.' Smart, isn't it?

[megaladon73]

@TheMarkXIV Terrific observation - especially evident to me in the line "I spoke about wings, you just flew..." I'm trying to type a description of this song but just keep deleting it because it's so hard to put into words...

[TheMarkXIV]

@megaladon73 Yes, genius lyric. Sort of about CS Lewis and how his books made the young Mike Scott's imagination take off, but really more about... the stuff you mention. (I think the original contributor of the 'dreamer / realist' comment goes by 'hebsey1'.) Never had any complaints when I've sent people a link to this wonderful clip.

[KatfromNYNJ1]

Had the pleasure of seeing The Waterboys at the Beacon Theatre, NYC ... very late 80's, maybe even 1990. Seats were up in the stratosphere but I didn't care; I went for the music. Couldn't take my eyes off Wickham, and they were all incredible, all. Mike Scott, too, was riveting - a quiet yet riveting artist. If great music like this ever comes back to commercial radio, I'll probably be dead & buried. All I want is to be able to hear that great music, wherever I land.

[Purple1984Rain]

@KatfromNYNJ1

Great post! Most of today's music sucks but we do have a few gems like The Fray so it's not all bad :)))

[garforthtoffee]

The song is a tribute to the brilliance of Prince. There are so many nods to his 80s music, especially the synths.

[poreca]

Divine, wonderful, amazing! Putaqueopariu de bom!

[dukes6868]

brilliant

[nigele9]

A wonderful reminder of a joyful night in Glasgow with Chris, Gill and Rob on our first European project - played twice for us!!!

[jackalawson]

the girl is called max edie x

[johnyasmin13]

Wow! Is that talent or what? What a band & the sound what they have got live is spot on.they should be so proud of themselves for what they've achieved? Just a shame that we've not got many talented bands around these days who can play & sing. It's all mainly shite I mean just look at the x factor shit?it's a good job that we've got some old bands & stars left to entertain us!

[msprincessrachey]

they will be performing at the tall ships 2011 ireland 2011

[feminitedubois]

Anarchists:

others see only the crescent, (while) THEY see the whole of the moon!

[freemanlisa445]

@Frontier800 this song saved my life thru abuse and more the power i got from this song can never be repaid

[bonzie88]

@freemanlisa445 pussy

[djthelion]

moonwalk with gitairs

[woundedhorse]

who is the blonde female backing singer? I need to know cos I've booked the church

[CelticBadBoyPoet7]

Sorry People...This Song is Every Bit as Iconic as Anything Pink Floyd Has Ever Produced....And I Freakin Dig on PF.......

It's One of The Most Fuckin Incredible Poems Put to Music EVER!!!!!!!

[noahmowsen2]

the 3:55 sound, what is?

[CelticBadBoyPoet7]

@noahmowsen2 Hmmm, Maybe a Bout of Indigestion???

[briareos02]

@noahmowsen2 - I think it's supposed to be fireworks going off, which I've always imagined since the first time I heard this song

[freemanlisa445]

this song helped me survive abuse from my mother and her boyfriend my father Donald Martin Freeman was the whole of the moon

[woowoo1967]

Who is the blonde backup singer? She is stunning......

[mikealexaldana]

Esta canción me hace verdaderamente feliz

[motormusic1]

Synths, Violins and Trumpets all working together in perfect harmony... only in the 80's :))

[corro51]

Doesn't get any better than this!

[armoredinnerjacket]

@corro51

It doesn't critique the subject - it admires them and defers to them. The singer remains in awe of the soarer and any reference to 'too high' is a hint of sour grapes. In the real world, those who can see over the horizon are resented by lesser mortals (The vast majority). People only worship people who seem to be just like them at the same time - thus giving them some sense of self worth possibilities. That's why pop stars get tattoos and dress scruffily.

[zugrook101]

@armoredinnerjacket I don't agree but like that benny hill trans comedienne? I think I like you hehe.

[Berus7777]

All I have to do is watch this, and I know without a doubt that my generation made the best music of the last century... and certainly better than any music made thusfar in this one.

[aaronjasonbeau]

Awesome 80's song.  Classy and intelligent. Some of the 80's at its best.

[DavinciSM]

they are so great live that I thought until now that this was the original recording!

good old Karl Wallinger on keyboards. great songwriter resposible for She's the One

[progressiveGal73]

waterboys. one of the best bands. ever. :)

[stolacboy]

there should be an explanation why most of today's musicians are just simple unable to create music and lyrics like this...

[Berus7777]

@stolacboy There IS an explanation, and I'll give it to you; it's not in them to do so.

[stolacboy]

@Berus7777 i guess i accept this explanation..

[JBME]

Britain's the BEST when it Comes to Innovative Talented Musicians !

[MsAnnestube]

I just accidently looked up Steve Hogarth's version of the Whole of the Moon!! I wasnt sure it was this tune as a cover...but uh...it's horrible.. Only Mike and his crew can do this song right!...Right! More power to him....

[Leaf13]

One of the greatest pop/rock anthems of all time. Thank you!

[BlackBandShirt]

I wasn't even born when this came out (by a long way, I'm only 18) but this is a brilliant song!

[blinkifrik]

maar een zeer goed nummer

[1992Carmen]

schatteg

[blinkifrik]

Jammer van dat vrouwtje kutje naar de maan

[Xplorapro]

cada ves que encuentro nuevas bandas o vuelvo a escuchar canciones de los finales de los finales de los 79 hasta la decada de los 90 me pregunto cuantas cosas hubiera hecho rodeado de tremendos grupos, lo unico que me queda es disfrutar de lo que me cuenta mi hermano mayor y sus parrandas en las discotecas y aventuras que vivia en los 80's.

[abledanger01]

how on earth did you see all of the moon?

[johnplinehan]

@abledanger01 because you see all you can see

[TheOzzierocks]

This is such a great song, thanks for posting.

[MsAnnestube]

this tune doesnt have anything to do with somebody going Luna-tic does it?

[MsAnnestube]

I seem to have actually been addicted to Mike Scott...his voice....his song's and.....he's nice to look at! thus...back to the 80's with this clip! nice and timeless sound's.....hope he's doing fine............with love

[richardabbott1966]

One of the best!!!!

[mafarrikus]

The female is Jena Jameson the pornstar^^

[TheSteelworx]

Does anyone know who the female backing vocalist is in the video?

[TheSteelworx]

Who is the female vocalist in the video?

[Butterfly1Blue]

Amazing band live - saw them in Basingstoke a few years ago. Even the staff were watching!

[commanderjohnkoenig]

How come this song never reached anywhere near #1? This is a fucking good song.

[prgvidiot]

This is one of those songs that Does It For Me, and it's not a long list

[lontok11]

Such an incredible lyric. I love the way it critiques the brilliance of the person it is sung to, commenting that someone so insightful and involved in life has seen 'too far, too soon', plus how it builds up to the long fantastical list of things the other person has done or seen or known ("unicorns and cannonballs, palaces and tiers"), and then asks quite bluntly, 'How on earth did you see the whole of the moon?' I sigh indeed. The lyrics swoons.

[CelticBadBoyPoet7]

@lontok11 I Like Ur Perspective Bro...U Said it Much Better Then I Ever Could.......

[rgray27]

@lontok11 It just makes me cry

[TheMasterRhyme]

Yep, this is one of, if not the, most beautiful pieces of music and lyrics ever! It gives you chills;happy one time you hear it and sad the next. Great, gets the Muse going!!!

[stjames073]

I was stationed in the Falkland islands living on a mountain for 6 months when this was released I like everyone else love this tune as much today as I did then the hairs on my arms go up everytime i listen to it Thanks for posting you have made an old man very very happy

[sullymahopac]

@sunray1100 Sometimes it's not worth the time or energy explaining things to the StanPomeray 's of the world. Some people LISTEN, understand, feel, and can relate to the words of a great song while others just ...on second thought l'm really not sure what the hell they are doing.

[concavoconvexo8]

Poesia...

[AlbertoMax71]

@concavoconvexo8 sweet you!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[StanPomeray]

What does "you saw the whole of the moon" actually mean though?

I mean....is he referring to showing someone all of his ass? :)

[sunray1100]

@StanPomeray Are you serious ? It's metaphorical dude! he is saying he only takes bite sized chunks of the world but the person he is singing about had some balls and grasped all that life had to offer... took the whole lot. They saw the big picture and ran with it and he kinda is inspired and in awe of this person (who ever he is is singing about).  It's an amazing song and very clever lyrics. That's why 25 years later it still ROCKS !!!

[leorudiger]

This is soundtrack of my life!! What amazing song!!!

And people listen to Justin Bieber

[TheKanga7]

@leorudiger ...and we have been recently 'blessed' by the little twat here in Australia. What a bloody disgrace...

[musicResistances]

A radio station here in greece has an obsession with this song it plays like 5 times a week at a specific time and i always switch to that station the sceduled time to listen to it...I alwys love to discover old classics i have forgotten...

@musi