The band began in 1983 as a Vancouver-based folk trio called Evesdropper, consisting of John Mann, Geoffrey Kelly and J. Knutson. They soon changed their name to Spirit of the West, and independently released a self-titled album in 1984 before signing to Stony Plain Records, an Edmonton, Alberta roots music label.
Stony Plain released Tripping Up the Stairs in 1986. Following that album, Knutson left the band and was replaced by Hugh MacMillan.
1988's Labour Day was the band's first major success, spawning the popular single "Political" and making the band a major name on the folk festival circuit. After that album's tour, MacMillan took a temporary hiatus from the band. He was replaced by Daniel Lapp and Linda McRae, but returned before the band's next album was recorded. When MacMillan returned, Lapp left the band but McRae stayed on. (As a result, Lapp never actually appeared on a Spirit of the West recording. He pursued a solo career, however, releasing a number of albums of experimental jazz/folk/electronic fusion.)
On the strength of "Political", Warner Brothers Records signed the band, and Stony Plain released a compilation, Old Material 1984-1986 in 1989. In 1990, the band's major label debut, Save This House was released, spawning the singles "Save This House" and "Home For a Rest" (which is still considered a classic frosh week anthem at universities across Canada.)
Following that album, the band toured England with The Wonder Stuff, and decided to bring in a drummer and experiment with a more rock-oriented sound. Vince Ditrich was brought in, and the band's 1991 album, Go Figure, was the result.
Although the album retained the band's folk influences, it was more hard rock than any of the band's previous efforts, and this proved controversial among the band's fans. The album included a rock rendition of "Political", and at one show in London, Ontario, the audience presented the band with a petition demanding that they play the original version of that song. Despite the controversies, however, it became the band's mainstream commercial breakthrough, and won them many new fans in the alternative rock scene.
In 1993, the band released their most successful album, Faithlift, and scored their biggest hit single, "...And if Venice is Sinking". 1995's Two Headed, in turn, garnered significant airplay for the single "Tell Me What I Think". However, the album was not as successful on the charts, or as critically hailed, as its predecessor.
In 1996, the band performed two shows with the Vancouver Symphony Orchestra. The band included some of their hits in these shows, but also included an album's worth of songs written specifically for the occasion, and the new songs were released as Open Heart Symphony that year. (Some of the hits performed at those shows are available on the compilation Hit Parade.) Also in 1996, McRae left the band amicably to pursue a solo career, performing her last show on New Year's Eve of that year. She went on to release a solo country album in 1997, and then formed the alternative country band Cheerful Lonesome.
The remaining members recorded 1997's Weights and Measures as a four-piece, working with members of The Wonder Stuff, Capercaillie, Fairport Convention and Jethro Tull to round out the studio effort, and added Tobin Frank for their concert tour. However, with the music industry's emphasis having shifted by this time toward more mainstream pop-oriented performers, Warner put little effort into promoting the album, and dropped the band from their roster after the tour.
After Weights & Measures the band took a hiatus, although they continued to perform live, and remained a popular concert draw. During the hiatus, Mann, Ditrich and Kelly all released solo albums, Mann pursued acting roles, MacMillan worked as a session musician and producer, and Kelly and Frank recorded with The Paperboys.
The band's first new album in seven years, Star Trails, was released on July 6, 2004 on MapleMusic Recordings.
In 2005, "Home For a Rest" was named the 22nd greatest Canadian song of all time on CBC Radio One's 50 Tracks: The Canadian Version.
Mann was diagnosed with early onset Alzheimers' disease (disclosed in Sept 2014) and Ditrich has liver disease. The group gave its final performances in April 2016 at the Commodore Ballroom in Vancouver.
The band performed a reunion set at Spirit of Canada, a benefit concert for Alzheimer's awareness at the Commodore Ballroom on November 19, 2017. The concert's lineup included Odds, Barney Bentall, Dustin Bentall, Jim Byrnes, Kendel Carson, Jim Cuddy, Alan Doyle, Colin James, Sarah McLachlan, Ed Robertson, Shari Ulrich and Spirit: The Next Generation, an act consisting of the band members' children. Before the show, the performing musicians participated in a group recording of the band's signature song "Home for a Rest" as a tribute to Mann.
John Mann born September 18, 1962 in Calgary, Alberta, Canada, died November 20, 2019.
Water in the Well
Spirit of the West Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
And the gate is always open
There's wood out in the shed
And the chimney's always smokin'
The kettle's on the boil now and won't you stay for tea?
And help us with the garden and we'll help you rake your leaves
Well, money doesn't talk in this neighbourhood
A healthy bank account won't do you no good
You scratch my back and I'll scratch yours
There's water in the well
And the gate is always open
There's wood out in the shed
And the chimney's always smokin'
The kettle's on the boil now and won't you stay for tea?
And cut the children's hair before we go to the quilting bee
Well, rise and shine what a glorious day
We're learning about living in the natural way
We're all mother nature's children, daughters and sons
Our numbers are many, but we all live as one
Oh, play it for me mac
Well, buy a few acres, do your own excavation
Lay down them forms and build up the foundation
I'll gladly lend a hand if you need me brother
'Cause we are only wealthy through each other
Our roads are dirt and our highways are gravel
We're self-sufficient folks here there's no need to travel
The water is clear the earth is chemical-free
And we're all safe in our community, nuclear-free
There's water in the well
And the gate is always open
There's wood out in the shed
And the chimney's always smokin'
The kettle's on the boil, won't you stay for herbal tea?
Alone you might get tired but I can watch your colour TV
The lyrics of "Water in the Well" by Spirit of the West convey a sense of community, neighborly love and a desire to live in harmony with nature. The song opens with the lines "There's water in the well, And the gate is always open," which represents the welcoming nature of the community. The people in this neighbourhood are always ready to help each other, and there is a sense of camaraderie and togetherness. The repeated chorus "There's wood out in the shed, And the chimney's always smokin', The kettle's on the boil now and won't you stay for tea?" is an invitation to come in, sit down and relax with them. The refrain represents the warmth and hospitality of the community, where everyone is always welcome.
The song highlights their way of life where money holds little value, and mutual help and support are the norm. The lyrics "Money doesn't talk in this neighbourhood, A healthy bank account won't do you no good, But hey neighbor, I've seen that done before, You scratch my back and I'll scratch yours," shows us that they believe in the barter system where the community trades services rather than money. The lyrics "We're learning about living in the natural way. We're all mother nature's children, daughters, and sons. Our numbers are many, but we all live as one," suggest that their community is based on a philosophy of living in harmony with nature.
Overall, "Water in the Well" by Spirit of the West is a song that celebrates the power of community, friendship and a simple way of life.
Line by Line Meaning
There's water in the well
We have plenty of water here
And the gate is always open
Our community is welcoming and accessible
There's wood out in the shed
We have a supply of wood for heating and cooking
And the chimney's always smokin'
Our homes are warm and cozy
The kettle's on the boil now and won't you stay for tea?
Come join us for a warm drink and some hospitality
And help us with the garden and we'll help you rake your leaves
We believe in community and helping each other
Well, money doesn't talk in this neighbourhood
Our community values kindness and generosity over wealth
A healthy bank account won't do you no good
Money cannot buy happiness or community spirit
But hey neighbour, I've seen that done before
We have experienced the value of helping each other firsthand
You scratch my back and I'll scratch yours
We are willing to lend a hand to those who help us
And cut the children's hair before we go to the quilting bee
We are a tight-knit community that supports each other's needs
Well, rise and shine what a glorious day
We appreciate the beauty and blessings of everyday life
We're learning about living in the natural way
We value sustainability and living in harmony with nature
We're all mother nature's children, daughters and sons
We recognize our interconnectedness with nature and each other
Our numbers are many, but we all live as one
We are a diverse community, but we respect and support each other
Well, play it for me mac
Let's enjoy some music and good company
Well, buy a few acres, do your own excavation
We encourage self-sufficiency and self-reliance
Lay down them forms and build up the foundation
We support each other's building projects
I'll gladly lend a hand if you need me brother
We are always willing to help each other out
'Cause we are only wealthy through each other
Our true wealth lies in our relationships with each other
Our roads are dirt and our highways are gravel
Our community is not flashy or showy, but we value practicality and simplicity
We're self-sufficient folks here there's no need to travel
We have everything we need here within our community
The water is clear the earth is chemical-free
We prioritize environmental sustainability and health
And we're all safe in our community, nuclear-free
We prioritize safety and security for our community
The kettle's on the boil, won't you stay for herbal tea?
Come enjoy a warm herbal tea with us
Alone you might get tired but I can watch your colour TV
We are willing to keep each other company and entertain each other
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@wornoutwrench8128
I was at a music festival up on Haida Gwaii 20 plus years ago.
Spirit of the West was the headliner.
Outside concert at night.
The concert started and John walked up to the mic and said "We flew 500 miles to be here tonight, you guys can come up a bit closer to the stage."
The whole crowd surged forward.
What a great concert it was.
The local hippies were set up beside the stage keeping time on the drums, at one time there was a bit of a duel going on between the band and the hippies
People were dancing everywhere.
The grass in front of the stage turned into a mud pit but the people just kept going.
It was a hell of a night.
Thank you SOTW and thank you especially to John.
Rest in peace. Your home now.
@waivedwench
A surefire way to find out if there are any Canadians around. Play this and see who goes crazy at the first few notes!!
@92ShadowCat
waivedwench It's very true!
@chrisb6887
YUP!
@ClandestineSnowman
+waivedwench Or see who partners up for a slow dance only to be like "wtf is happening?" almost immediately.
@waivedwench
+RandomBattleXP :D
@Textey
+waivedwench hey man we can't help ourselves we love this song, especially if we've been drinking
@wallytube
The best Irish song, by a Canadian band, about a trip to England
@Rob-kf3gx
@@choobooloo1 blows my mind.
@jeanw9892
@@Rob-kf3gx I just heard this on the radio this morning . Had never heard it before and had to check it out. So different and quite good!
@KlaxontheImpailr
Throw some Americans in there and you have a party! 😂