He became widely known for his version of "Wind Beneath My Wings" (1982), as well as his own compositions "Durham Town (The Leavin')" (1969) and "I Don't Believe in If Anymore" (1970), his 1970 hit "New World in the Morning" and his 1975 hit "The Last Farewell" (his only single to hit the US Billboard Hot 100, making it to the Top 20).
Whittakers first chart success came in 1969 when "Durham Town (The Leavin')" was his first UK Top 20 hit. In 1970 came two follow-up hits, "I Don't Believe In If Anymore" (Top 10) and "New World In The Morning" (Top 20), and 1971 brought two smaller hit singles "Why" and "Mamy Blue".
Whittaker was absent from the UK singles chart until 1975, when "The Last Farewell" went Top 3, after which it was another eleven years until "Skye Boat Song" returned him to the Top 10 of the singles chart.
Throughout the 1970s and 1980s, Whittaker had success in Germany, with German language songs produced by Nick Munro (unable to speak German at that time, Whittaker sang the songs phonetically). In time he became more fluent in German and sang and was interviewed in German on Danish television in November 2008. Whittaker retired from touring in 2013.
Moonshadow
Roger Whittaker Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Oh, I'm bein' followed by a moonshadow, moonshadow, moonshadow
Leapin and hoppin' on a moonshadow, moonshadow, moonshadow
And if I ever lose my hands, lose my plough, lose my land,
Oh if I ever lose my hands, Oh if... I won't have to work no more.
And if I ever lose my eyes, if my colours all run dry,
Oh, I'm bein' followed by a moonshadow, moonshadow, moonshadow
Leapin and hoppin' on a moonshadow, moonshadow, moonshadow
And if I ever lose my legs, I won't moan, and I won't beg,
Yes if I ever lose my legs, Oh if... I won't have to walk no more.
And if I ever lose my mouth, all my teeth, north and south,
Yes if I ever lose my mouth, Oh if... I won't have to talk...
Did it take long to find me? I asked the faithful light.
Did it take long to find me? And are you gonna stay the night?
Oh, I'm bein' followed by a moonshadow, moonshadow, moonshadow
Leapin and hoppin' on a moonshadow, moonshadow, moonshadow
The lyrics to Roger Whittaker's "Moon Shadow" are both whimsical and introspective, using the image of a playful moon shadow to explore the idea of loss and the freedom it can bring. The singer describes being followed by a moon shadow, jumping and hopping along behind him. He then contemplates what would happen if he were to lose various parts of his body or his possessions such as his hands or his land. However, instead of despairing, he sees this loss as a way out of his current life of work and struggle. He muses that if he lost his eyes, he wouldn't have to cry anymore, and if he lost his legs, he wouldn't have to walk anymore. The song ends with the singer addressing the "faithful light" and asking if it took long to find him, and if it is going to stay with him for the night.
The lyrics of "Moon Shadow" are open to interpretation, but they seem to be about finding freedom through accepting loss. The moon shadow represents a playful and carefree spirit that is unencumbered by the burdens of earthly existence. Rather than seeing loss as a tragedy, the singer sees it as an opportunity to shed his attachments and find a different way of being. The questions the singer asks at the end of the song suggest a search for something more spiritual and meaningful than the material possessions he has been contemplating.
Line by Line Meaning
Oh, I'm bein' followed by a moonshadow, moonshadow, moonshadow
The singer is being followed by an imaginary entity that he calls a moonshadow, which is jumping and hopping along with him.
Leapin and hoppin' on a moonshadow, moonshadow, moonshadow
The moonshadow is playful and energetic, jumping and hopping in step with the singer.
And if I ever lose my hands, lose my plough, lose my land,Oh if I ever lose my hands, Oh if... I won't have to work no more.
The singer contemplates the possibility of losing his ability to work and earn a living, and recognizes that it would relieve him of the burden of work.
And if I ever lose my eyes, if my colours all run dry,Yes if I ever lose my eyes, Oh if... I won't have to cry no more.
The singer considers the possibility of losing his ability to see and experience the world in vibrant colors. He recognizes that this would relieve him of the sadness and tears that come with seeing pain and sorrow.
Oh, I'm bein' followed by a moonshadow, moonshadow, moonshadow
The moonshadow continues to follow the singer playfully as he contemplates his fate.
Leapin and hoppin' on a moonshadow, moonshadow, moonshadow
The moonshadow is still energetic and vibrant, hopping along with the singer as he walks through life.
And if I ever lose my legs, I won't moan, and I won't beg,Yes if I ever lose my legs, Oh if... I won't have to walk no more.
The singer ponders the loss of his legs and acknowledges that it would relieve him of the burden of having to walk and move through the world.
And if I ever lose my mouth, all my teeth, north and south,Yes if I ever lose my mouth, Oh if... I won't have to talk...
The singer considers the loss of his ability to speak and communicate with others. He recognizes that this would relieve him of the need to talk and perhaps the pressure to engage in social interactions.
Did it take long to find me? I asked the faithful light.Did it take long to find me? And are you gonna stay the night?
The singer addresses a source of light, perhaps a symbolic representation of hope or guidance, and asks if it took a long time to find him. He also questions whether this source of light will remain with him through the night as he continues on his journey.
Oh, I'm bein' followed by a moonshadow, moonshadow, moonshadow
The moonshadow continues to be a playful and comforting presence as the singer asks questions about his journey.
Leapin and hoppin' on a moonshadow, moonshadow, moonshadow
The moonshadow remains a constant companion, jumping along with the singer on his journey through life.
Writer(s): Yusuf Islam Copyright: Cat Music Limited
Contributed by Charlie E. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
Nigel
on Jenny
I'm not sure by any means, but I wonder whether taking the midnight train is ultimately a metaphor for a more final journey. I also wonder if RW had someone specific in mind whose fate prompted this powerful song. I like it very much.