Marty Willson-Piper is a guitarist and member of australian independent roc… Read Full Bio ↴Marty Willson-Piper is a guitarist and member of australian independent rock band The Church.

After busking his way around the world, the englishman found himself in Australia. Having taken in an early concert by The Church, which were at that time performing as a three-piece, Willson-Piper soon joined Steve Kilbey, Peter Koppes and Nick Ward in 1980, expanding the band's lineup and broadening its sound.

Along with contributing to each of The Church's studio releases, he has maintained a steady solo effort since the mid-1980s and released several albums under his own name. Ever since, when all commitment allows it and the opportunity provides itself, Marty has been doing sporadic solo performances all over the world as well as a few tours in Australia and the USA. So far there have been released 3 solo live-albums, all documenting the spontanity, immediacy, intimacy, joy & brilliant guitarplay which make these events so special. 2004s Live From The Other Side being the latest.

Other side projects and collaborations include two stints as guitarist for UK rock group All About Eve, David Gedge's Cinerama and work with Jules Shear, Tom Verlaine, Martin Rössel, Brix Smith of The Fall and Aimee Mann.

In 2005, Willson-Piper joined veteran band The Saints to record the album Nothing Is Staight In My House and tour. The same year he also played guitar on the track Oceans on the album Fresh Wine For The Horses by Rob Dickinson.

In 2008 he played guitar and contributed vocally on the track Beatles And The Stones, originally written by The House Of Love, on the album Treason by norwegian artist Marte Heggelund.

He also works with long-time friend Andy 'Dare' Mason under the name Noctorum

Water
Marty Willson-Piper Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

[Spoken Intro]
[Marty] The gondolas, sometimes they sleep. But othertimes they swim.
[Ann Carlberger] And you?
[Marty] Me?

The sudden rush and temptation
Of drizzle on my window
To go out and swim in the streets

With you
To turn the world into Venice
To let the water shrink me
Let me float in my umbrella boat
With you

I can see the rain clouds emptying
Little needles leaning to the left
Of you
And high they fly like burst balloons
Running to the moon
For an airless rest
With you

I'll slip on the deck of the fishing trawler
Wearing comical yellow
There's fishtails going off like mousetraps
Nets so many holes yet prisons
Me just in it simply for
The water

The faces of mountains
Cut with white blood
Stampeding stallions of foam
For you
To hoof shaped pools
The sparkle of imaginary jewels

That the magician that the
Sun is creates

Overall Meaning

The lyrics of Marty Willson-Piper's song Water are heavily metaphorical and paint vivid imagery of a world transformed by rain. The song is like a love letter to the rain, as the singer expresses their desire to turn the world into Venice, floating together in their "umbrella boat". The lyrics are filled with sensory language, acknowledging the sound of rain on the window, the thrill of the sudden rush and temptation, the sight of rain clouds emptying, and the sparkle of imaginary jewels. The singer is also unafraid to express their quirkiness and desire to be free, as they slip on the deck of the fishing trawler wearing a comical yellow, amused by fishtails going off like mousetraps, and relishing in the sensation of water around them.

The images in this song can be interpreted in many ways, but the overall theme is about seeking companionship and finding joy and beauty in unexpected places, like in the rain or in the sea. The singer is longing to share these experiences with someone else, as they address "you" many times throughout the song. Water is a song that inspires reflection on the beauty and power of nature, and on the ways we can connect with one another through shared moments of wonder.

Line by Line Meaning

The sudden rush and temptation
The excitement and allure of the moment

Of drizzle on my window
The gentle sound of droplets on glass

To go out and swim in the streets
A playful desire to splash in puddles

With you
In the company of a loved one

To turn the world into Venice
An imaginative transformation of reality

To let the water shrink me
A willingness to be vulnerable and exposed

Let me float in my umbrella boat
A sense of childlike wonder and joy

With you
Connected to another person

I can see the rain clouds emptying
Observation of natural phenomena

Little needles leaning to the left
Visual description of rain

Of you
Perspective focused on a person