Waterboys - Church Not Made With Hands (By jacg)

[SoEyeSay]

I don't know what the song's about, or even really listened to the lyrics, but it's a CLASSIC!

Great music!

[IdiiinmorI]

waterboys!<3<3<3



[SMARDOx]

Masterpiece!

[IhorGK]

"Bye-bye, Shadowlands" - comes from C. S. Lewis. I find this a terrific meditation on the ultimate meaning of a life that has been reduced to the lowest of the low - which is vindicated and elevated by the Master. As with Grizabella in "Cats". It is very moving.

[buckwheatinuqueers]

Emergent religion or  Theosophy, the harbinger of Stalin and Hitler. No Thanks Also Catholic or universal

[buckwheatinuqueers]

Emergent religion or Theosophy, the harbinger of Stalin and Hitler. No Thanks

[SyndiCat1]

Oh god...I WAS at that Long Beach show...'84 or something. They blew me away. After the waterboys, U2 and the Alarm, I started looking at the world in a different way. I was that typical OC punk (TSOL, DKs, Decendents, DI, Vandals, Fear...you get it) getting into fights at the Orange Julius on the Penninsula in Newport Beach.

[nickcaveonline]

PAGANS !!

[sonofasaylor]

Awesome song !!! still holds up well...

[Garfeimaoatthe1ring]

I also got to see them for the first time in 1984 when they opened for U2, in Long Beach, CA. One of the most incredible concerts of my life, both bands. Perfection is the only way to describe it.

[auzoso]

@Garfeimaoatthe1ring I was at that Long Beach show also - remember that version of "Sweet Thing"? Then I saw them at a club in Hollywood a few weeks after - they were great and Mike Scott was so cool to us. I started listening more to the Waterboys afterward, as the U2 show was toned down and just wasn't as intense as the War Tour and show in L.A. the year before.

[estelletlc]

She is everywhere & no place...

[Roark66]

This song is about the earth...a church not made with hands not made by man. Heavenly...

[jonwalliser]

man, i just found these guys and i love em!!! its not the new music thats the best to hear its most often the old stuff thats awesome

[Chalcot]

Always been my favourite Waterboys track. Their best period....

[Sticktomato]

I was LUCKY to see them in 1984 opening for U2 in San Francisco - it blew my mind TOTALLY! I NEVER experienced st. like it before. I think I listed to their 2 so far albums for weeks and months over and over and over. Thank you Mike Scott for your blessed music!!

[60mamag]

Still love this song after all this years!

[SpacemannSpiff]

One of the most awesome songs EVER.

[HEIHVHOL]

Thank you, Mike Scott and The Waterboys - for giving me so many great hours in my youth.. Saw them in Oslo in 89, and again (MS with new band) in..2006? Come back one more time!!! (oi, I just saw now that I have already made a comment on this song. Whatever)

[LocalBusinessGroup]

Like most everyone, I have a handful of songs I must crank up whenever I hear them. This is one! One of my top 10 faves of all time...makes me feel great every time I hear it. I was fortunate enough to see just Mike Scott and his pianist play in Boulder, CO a few years back. Still ranks as a highlight in my concert-going life.

[supsdude1]

Mike Scott is a genius!



[carlill1965]

This band was untouchable for the first three albums, forget the rest, saw them twice just after This is the Sea came out; possibly 2 of the best gigs I've ever been to...

[HEIHVHOL]

One of my Top 5's from Waterboys. Thanks for making my teenage-years so nice back n the 80's..

[BobbyEvans57]

A great song, from their best album. Its a pity Mike Scott lost the plot years back

[dermot51]

@BobbyEvans57 they were a fantastic band at the start and this has to be their finest 3 minutes

[tonetooth]

I heard this song first in 1985 - I was about 13. The lyrics kind of reminded me of the moon shining across the see and land. I think the song is about the moon ... and then the 'Whole of the Moon' followed. Creative genius!

[lionmml]

Blessed Be!! Thanks for posting one of my favorite songs. :)

[gerrybasildon]

i always interpreted this song as the church of mind your own #ucking business,and live life

[Bebogeen]

Yes, and enjoy life with all the goodness it has to offer.

[rockchick80s]

Thanks for the share Dekemc - Been doing your homework I see - C.S. Lewis - very impressive.

[funkydafunker]

Greatness

[landofsuchbeauty]

I always interpreted this is an anthem to the Goddess. The Earth is her church. I still well-up with tears: In 1999, I was flying to Amsterdam from Montreal...early morning...listening to this on my walkman, watching the sun rise out the left side of the plane, and then running across to the right and the moon is lit-up, and the land is in darkness. It was one of life's perfect moments. ty for letting me share w/ u :)

[landofsuchbeauty]

shite btw GREAT edit and ty for posting jacg!

[steveBB30]

Ever since I first heard this song I too felt of it as being an anthem to a Goddess

The comment below relating the song to the Sun, made me think about light and the concept of Awen ("poetic inspiration") which can also be used a female name. so perhaps Grania, a Celtic corn (and Sun?) Goddess

[ancientcian]

i guess you could do that. i think this song was directly relating to the christian idea that a church is a group, not a building, and that god and jesus has nothing to do with the physical or the material, and that your belief and attitude should not be influenced by a building. some people wont swear in a church. whats the point of that? its just a building. he can see you everywhere anyways. the holy spirit doesn't live in the wooden church, but the church of the heart.

[ameobaassasin]

tard

[billhelen1]

To me the song is about the sun in the sky. It rises and sets every day and we are unable to touch it.

It is not contained by man.

My all time favorite Waterboys song.

[kferris575]

My all time favorite Waterboys song. They did a lot of great stuff, but this is the one I always think of first.

[DrummerGrrrl]

Okay, I've got the C.S. Lewis "Shadowlands" reference but is he singing about the Holy Spirit (also known as Wisdom)? Because this is just a cool-ass song and I've always loved The Waterboys. Plus, I like songs that are about God but not hitting you over the head--kind of mysterious.

[onlyadyinghorse]

this song's about love, a church not made with hands is a woman. glad u like it

[auzoso]

This, "All the Things She Gave Me", "The Big Music", and "Pagan Place" - THE BEST

[CoolGilr123abc]

Prettyful <3

[desy2478]

I really need to listen to more Waterboys stuff. Heard this for the first time this morning on the way to work on a freinds tape. It really brightened my mood for the day.

[LAVEEG9]

FANTASTIC!

[rockchick80s]

One of my all time FAVES by Waterboys - this was their "Big Band Period" FAB Stuff.

[cheeseleigh]

brilliant