ln Waterford, O'Sullivan's father worked in a meat factory while his mother ran a sweet shop. In 1958, at the age of 11, he moved with his family to Swindon in England in search of a better life. He attended St. Joseph's Comprehensive school in Swindon. While there he developed an interest in both music and amateur boxing. Musically he began with the guitar and progressed to the piano. In the boxing ring he had nearly 50 bouts. Meanwhile his painting and drawing had won him a place at Swindon Art College. He started there in September 1963. His aim was to be a graphic designer. He played drums in his first group The Doodles and left them to join The Prefects while attending Swindon Art College. It was while at college that he met Rick Davies, who was later a member of Supertramp. While at college he began writing songs and sending out demo tapes, alas they were always returned unopened. The first song he remembers writing was Ready Miss Steady.
After finishing college, O'Sullivan moved to London in 1967 to try and further his musical career. He took a part-time job as a salesman at the C & A department store in Oxford Street. Mike Ward who also worked at C & A, had a contract with CBS and Gilbert went with him one day and played his tapes for some of the CBS executives. Gilbert signed a five year publishing contract with CBS which called for one single a year, and released two singles Disappear/You in 1967 and What Can I Do/You in 1968. Gilbert was disappointed that he was not allowed any input into the arranging or production of the singles. Neither single did well. Disillusioned with CBS, O'Sullivan signed with the Major Minor label and released I Wish I Could Cry/Mr. Moody's Garden in 1969.
O'Sullivan came to the attention of BBC Radio 1 disc jockey, John Peel, who gave him a slot on his radio show Top Gear, little of note resulted, and O'Sullivan spent part of 1969 applying to other record labels and management companies. It was at this time that O'Sullivan formulated his 'Bisto Kid' image; grey flannel suit, flat cap, school boy tie, football socks and hobnail boots. In search of a manager he sent some demo tapes to Gordon Mills, an ex-pop singer and himself a songwriter of repute, who had successfully guided the careers of Tom Jones and Engelbert Humperdinck. Gordon Mills recognised something unique in the young Irishman and signed him for management as well as to a songwriting contract.
O'Sullivan made an irresistible impression with Nothing Rhymed, his first Top 10 hit and an introduction to his witty lyrics and original approach as a singer/songwriter. Signed to MAM Records, the label launched by Gordon Mills, who was also his record producer, great friend and surrogate older brother, O'Sullivan enjoyed four years of major success, incorporating a dozen more hit singles, ten of which reached the UK Top 10, and four Top 5 albums: Himself (1971), Back To Front (1972), I'm A Writer Not A Fighter (1973) and A Stranger In My Own Back Yard (1974).
Both Clair (written about Mills's infant daughter for whom Gilbert occasionally babysat) and Get Down were number one hit singles in Britain, and additionally, Back To Front topped the UK LP chart in 1972, emulating the success of the two million seller Alone Again (Naturally), a six week US chart-topper in 1972. O'Sullivan made his live debut in The National Stadium in Dublin in October of '72. Around this time, the singer jettisoned his so-called "Bisto Kid" image in favour of an endless series of collegiate-styled sweaters embossed with the letter "G". As quickly as O'Sullivan ascended to fame, however, his star began to fall , although singles like Ooh Baby and Happiness Is Me and You continued to chart, they sold increasingly fewer copies, and after 1973 his overseas popularity essentially ceased altogether. At home, he notched his final Top 20 hit with 1975's I Don't Love You But I Think I Like You. After a Greatest Hits album in 1976, and Southpaw in 1977, by which time the hit singles had dried up, disagreements over future direction led to a bitter split between O'Sullivan and Mills, which effectively sidelined the former as a recording artist for five years. The gruelling court case between O'Sullivan and his erstwhile manager, producer, music publisher and record company boss finally gave him control of his own recordings and the copyright in his songs, although it exacted an inevitable toll on his energy and his creativity during it's precedent-setting course.
Gilbert returned to CBS in 1980 and released Off Centre (1980) and Life & Rhymes (1982) but maintained a low profile during much of the 1980s, recharging his batteries and moving to Jersey, where he still lives with his wife and two children. Off Centre provided his 13th UK Top 20 single, What's In A Kiss?, after which legal proceedings monopolised his time. However, he continued writing songs, performing what he called "concepts within four walls" rather than starting back on the road before it was appropriate. He later recalled that the lyrics he wrote during that period were too heavily influenced by his personal emotions - having been extremely close to Mills before their disagreement, he was highly distressed to discover that his dear friend had been guilty of considerable financial greed at Gilbert's expense. Even so, he applied himself to his lonely creativity, working from 9 to 5 each day "just like Goffin & King and people like Neil Sedaka & Howard Greenfield at the Brill Building in New York used to do", although he later confessed "Really, the words were no good, because my mind was cluttered with all the problems". Lyrics have always been O'Sullivan's most unique facet, reflecting what's going on in his mind, and the strain under which he found himself was hardly conducive to much positive artistic or commercial creativity.
The first release for five years was Frobisher Drive and was only available in Germany. The same album with a slightly different track listing was released in the UK in 1989 under the title In The Key Of G, and included So What, his first chart single in almost a decade. Since the low-key comeback, the pace has increased, with five more albums. Gilbert also made a return to live performances in the early nineties, playing regularly in both Europe and Japan. In 1991, Gilbert was again in court, this time he sued American rapper Biz Markie and won the decision after Markie's unauthorized sample of "Alone Again (Naturally)" on his 1991 album I Need a Haircut. A 1992 single, Tomorrow Today had topped the Japanese charts for nine weeks, and this success led to a tour of Japan in early 1993 with his newly formed backing group, during which he recorded and filmed his first ever live album Tomorrow Today. Gilbert's newfound success in Japan led to the Japanese only release of The Little Album (1992) and Rare Tracks (1992). 1993's critical acclaimed Sounds Of The Loop (Daily Telegraph's Record Of The Week) included a duet with the legendary Peggy Lee on Can't Think Straight and even a solo version of the same song in Japanese. This album was recorded almost entirely at his home in Jersey in the Channel Islands.
By Larry (with a similar track listing to the Japanese released The Little Album) was released in 1994. Larry is a famous English cartoonist, much admired by Gilbert. Larry provided original cartoons for the album sleeve and booklet. Every Song Has It's Play was released the following year and was the soundtrack of the semi-autobiographical stage show that Gilbert had acted and sang in, in 1991. Singer Sowing Machine was released in 1997. The title is a humorous reaction by Gilbert to being constantly referred to as a singer/ songwriter. Irlish was released in 2000 and yielded three singles, Have It, Say Goodbye and Two's Company (Three Is Allowed). The album title Irlish, combination of the words Irish and English, appropriate for someone born in Ireland and raised in England. Gilbert's family was part of this migration. In 2001 The Official Gilbert O'Sullivan Website was launched as well as his own record label ByGum Records.
Gilbert continued to tour and he played a series of concerts in Ireland in 2001 and in the UK in 2002 to promote the Irlish album. A new studio album Piano Foreplay followed in 2003. In 2004 Rhino Handmade Records released a 3 CD anthology in the USA of Gilbert's music entitled Caricature: The Box. It contains 73 tracks which span the years 1967-2001. This is the first in-depth survey of Gilbert's lengthy career. It contains numerous singles and B-sides, tracks from 16 of his albums, and five previously unreleased tracks. A b-side collection entitled The Other Sides of Gilbert O'Sullivan was released in Japan in 2004 and contained many tracks available on CD for the first time. A series of concerts followed in Japan in June 2004 followed by a 20 date European Tour of the UK, Ireland, Norway and Denmark in November and December. In February 2005 a DVD/CD set of the 2004 Japanese show was released in Japan. Gilbert returned to Japan in June 2005 for a series of 13 shows. Gilbert spent the end of 2005 and the beginning of 2006 recording his next studio album "A Scruff At Heart" which was released in Japan on 25 October 2006.
Where Peaceful Waters Flow
Gilbert O'Sullivan Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Really gets you down
When you feel a pain inside you
Starting to pound
And the girl you love
She doesn't want to know
Let an old friend as a Godsend
And if the day you thought
Was drawing to a close
Just drags on and on till when
Only heaven knows
And the car you bought this morning doesn't go
Let an old friend as a Godsend
Lead you to where peaceful waters flow
There you'll find
Much to your pleasure
That you haven't got a care
All the worries you had in you
Are no longer there
Take my hand and I will lead you to a place
Where the sun will warm your heart
With all of its rays
And the sky at night
Has such a magic glow
It's feeling unbelieving
In a land where peaceful waters flow
Where you'll find
Much to your pleasure
That you haven't got a care
All the worries you had in you
Are no longer there
Follow me and I will lend you to a place
Where the sun will warm your heart
With all of its rays
And the sky at night
Has such a magic glow
It's a feeling unbelieving
In a land where peaceful waters flow
Where peaceful water flow
Take me to where peaceful waters flow
Take me back where peaceful waters flow
The lyrics of Gilbert O'Sullivan's "Where Peaceful Waters Flow" convey a message of hope and comfort during difficult times. The song's opening lines describe the struggles and pain associated with living in this world when things go wrong, including heartbreak, car breakdowns, and endless days. However, the chorus offers a solution to these problems: finding a place where peaceful waters flow.
The song suggests that finding a tranquil and serene place can help alleviate stress and worries. The idea of an "old friend as a Godsend" implies that the singer has found solace in a familiar and trustworthy person who can guide them to this place of peace. The verses suggest that this peacefulness can be found in the beauty of the natural world, with descriptions of warm sunrays and magical night skies. The repetition of the phrase "where peaceful waters flow" creates a sense of a recurring mantra, emphasizing the importance of seeking out this place of calm.
Overall, the lyrics of "Where Peaceful Waters Flow" provide a comforting message that offers respite from life's challenges. The song encourages listeners to seek refuge in peaceful surroundings and to reach out to supportive friends in times of need.
Line by Line Meaning
When the world you live in
Really gets you down
When you feel a pain inside you
Starting to pound
When you're feeling overwhelmed and your emotions are intense and painful
And the girl you love
She doesn't want to know
Let an old friend as a Godsend
Lead you to where peaceful waters flow
If the person you love doesn't reciprocate your feelings, rely on a trusted friend to guide you to a peaceful place
And if the day you thought
Was drawing to a close
Just drags on and on till when
Only heaven knows
When the day feels like it will never end and it's uncertain when it will finish
And the car you bought this morning doesn't go
Let an old friend as a Godsend
Lead you to where peaceful waters flow
If a new purchase has already caused problems, have faith in a trusted friend to make everything better by guiding you somewhere peaceful
There you'll find
Much to your pleasure
That you haven't got a care
All the worries you had in you
Are no longer there
In the peaceful place, you'll discover a liberation from all anxiety and stress
Take my hand and I will lead you to a place
Where the sun will warm your heart
With all of its rays
And the sky at night
Join me and feel the warmth of the sun and the wonder of the night sky in a place where peace flows like a river
Has such a magic glow
It's feeling unbelieving
In a land where peaceful waters flow
Where you'll find
The sky's beauty is so incredible it feels like you're in a dream in this land of peace
Follow me and I will lend you to a place
Where the sun will warm your heart
With all of its rays
And the sky at night
Trust me as your guide to this place of warmth and wonder, where tranquility abounds
It's a feeling unbelieving
In a land where peaceful waters flow
Where peaceful water flow
Take me to where peaceful waters flow
Take me back where peaceful waters flow
The serenity of this place is hard to believe - a land where peaceful waters flow, take me there again
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management
Written by: GILBERT O'SULLIVAN
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Max Law
When the world you live in
Really gets you down
When you feel a pain inside you
Starting to pound
And the girl you love
She doesn't want to know
Let an old friend as a Godsend
Lead you to where peaceful waters flow
And if the day you thought
Was drawing to a close
Just drags on and on till when
Only heaven knows
And the car you bought this morning doesn't go
Let an old friend as a Godsend
Lead you to where peaceful waters flow
There you'll find
Much to your pleasure
That you haven't got a care
All the worries you had in you
Are no longer there
Take my hand and I will lead you to a place
Where the sun will warm your heart
With all of its rays
And the sky at night
Has such a magic glow
It's feeling unbelieving
In a land where peaceful waters flow
Where you'll find
Much to your pleasure
That you haven't got a care
All the worries you had in you
Are no longer there
Follow me and I will lend you to a place
Where the sun will warm your heart
With all of its rays
And the sky at night
Has such a magic glow
It's a feeling unbelieving
In a land where peaceful waters flow
Where peaceful water flow
Take me to where peaceful waters flow
Take me back where peaceful waters flow
Source: LyricFind
Keith Timmins
Brings back so many memories. Great artist.
Irlish Donna Carl Kuchinski
I adore this song!
williamwongsin
This is a very meaningful song as you listened to its lyrics.. Great memories of the last 35 years..... Thank You for including this songs....
Max Law
When the world you live in
Really gets you down
When you feel a pain inside you
Starting to pound
And the girl you love
She doesn't want to know
Let an old friend as a Godsend
Lead you to where peaceful waters flow
And if the day you thought
Was drawing to a close
Just drags on and on till when
Only heaven knows
And the car you bought this morning doesn't go
Let an old friend as a Godsend
Lead you to where peaceful waters flow
There you'll find
Much to your pleasure
That you haven't got a care
All the worries you had in you
Are no longer there
Take my hand and I will lead you to a place
Where the sun will warm your heart
With all of its rays
And the sky at night
Has such a magic glow
It's feeling unbelieving
In a land where peaceful waters flow
Where you'll find
Much to your pleasure
That you haven't got a care
All the worries you had in you
Are no longer there
Follow me and I will lend you to a place
Where the sun will warm your heart
With all of its rays
And the sky at night
Has such a magic glow
It's a feeling unbelieving
In a land where peaceful waters flow
Where peaceful water flow
Take me to where peaceful waters flow
Take me back where peaceful waters flow
Source: LyricFind
Donna Mattis
Thanks. ❤
Sergio Amaral
Por onde anda Gilbert o Sullivan nunca mais ouvi falar dele. Grande Cantor. Tem várias músicas lindas 👏👏👏👏
william kinch
"When the world you live in really gets you down, When you feel a pain inside you starting to pound, When the bird you love, she doesn't want to know, Let an old friend, as a Godsend, Lead you to where peaceful waters flow." Beautiful song by Gilbert O'Sullivan from 1973; a classic. To tell the truth, it reminds me of Paul Simon and Arthur Garfunkel's famous "Bridge Over Troubled Water" (although, of course, in some respects the two tracks are very different).
soul4luvrs
Beautiful song. A real masterpiece from a super songwriter.
Steve Freary
he was superb in his day ! totally underrated !
william kinch
Marvellous! What an excellent track "Where Peaceful Waters Flow" still is - almost four decades after Mr O'Sullivan wrote and recorded it. Until earlier this month (August '11), I had not heard this classic song by G.O'S, for over thirty years ! From now onwards, however, I intend to listen to it frequently. I must purchase a copy of Mr O'Sullivan's splendid 1973 album - "I'm A Writer, Not A Fighter" - as soon as possible.