The band's membership, past and present, has been composed mainly of musicians from the British Isles. London, Dublin, Spiddal, and Findhorn have all served as a home for the group. The band has played in a number of different styles, but most often their music can be described as a mix of Celtic folk music with rock and roll, or folk rock. After ten years of recording and touring, the band dissolved in 1993 and Scott pursued a solo career. The band reformed in 2000, and continues to release albums and tour worldwide. Scott himself emphasizes a continuity between The Waterboys and his solo work, saying that "To me there's no difference between Mike Scott and the Waterboys; they both mean the same thing. They mean myself and whoever are my current travelling musical companions."
More than thirty musicians have performed live as a Waterboy. Some have spent only a short time with the band, contributing to a single tour or album, while others have been long-term members with significant contributions. Scott has been the band's lead vocalist, motivating force, and principal songwriter throughout the group's history, but a number of other musicians are closely identified with the band.
Anthony Thistlethwaite was an original member of the band, and remained a member until 1991 when the band broke up, although he also joined a few recording sessions for A Rock in the Weary Land. After Scott and Wickham, Thistlethwaite has more songwriting credits than any other Waterboy. His saxophone, regularly featured in solos, was one half of the early group's distinctive brass section, but he has also played guitar, keyboards and a number of other instruments for the band. He pressed to return The Waterboys to a rock music sound after Room to Roam, but did not appear on Dream Harder, the result of that decision. He is now a member of The Saw Doctors, and has also released three solo albums.
Kevin Wilkinson, another original member, was The Waterboys' drummer from 1983–1984, and continued to play in some studio sessions afterwards. His most recent appearance was on A Rock in the Weary Land. He led the rhythm section of the group during its "Big Music" phase, sometimes without the assistance of any bass guitar. Scott describes Wilkinson's drumming as "bright and angular, an unusual sound".
Karl Wallinger joined the group in 1983, shortly after its formation. He left the group two years later, but in that relatively short period made important contributions to both A Pagan Place and This is the Sea. He co-wrote "Don't Bang the Drum", the environmentalism anthem on This is the Sea. His keyboards and synthesizer work expanded the group's sound, and he also did some studio work for demo sessions. Wallinger's World Party project was heavily influenced by his work with The Waterboys.
Roddy Lorimer's participation in the group began in 1983, contributing his trumpet playing "on and off" through 1990. He and Thistlethwaite took turns leading the brass section of the band, and Lorimer was also a featured soloist, most famously on "The Whole of the Moon" and "Don't Bang the Drum". He further contributed backing vocals to the song. His trumpet style is a combination of his classical training with an experimental approach encouraged by Scott. Lorimer returned for some studio work in 2006.
Steve Wickham transformed the group with his joining in 1985. His strong interest in folk music directly resulted in the band's change of direction. His initial involvement with The Waterboys ended in 1990 when Scott and Thistlethwaite wanted to return to rock and roll, but Wickham rejoined the group again in 2000, and, as of 2007, continues to perform with the band. Described by Scott as "the world's greatest rock fiddle player", he has written more songs for the band than anyone other than Scott, including the group's handful of instrumental recordings.
After 2000, Richard Naiff became one of the three core Waterboys members.Richard Naiff first recorded with the band in 1999, and joined permanently in 2000. As of 2007, he is a core member, along with Scott and Wickham. He is a classically-trained pianist and flautist, and plays keyboards for The Waterboys. Ian McNabb described him as Scott's "find of the century" and reviewers have described him as "phenomenally talented".
Other notable members of the band include bassist McNabb, leader of Icicle Works; Sharon Shannon, who became Ireland's all-time best-selling traditional musician; the experimental musician Thighpaulsandra, producer Guy Chambers, and Patti Smith Group drummer Jay Dee Daugherty.
A Man Is In Love
The Waterboys Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
How did I know?
He came walking with me
And told me so,
In a song that he sang
And then I knew,
A man is in love
With you.
A man is in love,
How did I hear?
I heard him talk too much
When you are near,
He whispered your name
When his eyes were closed,
A man is in love
And he knows.
A man is in love,
How did I guess?
I figured it out while he was
Watching your dress,
He'd give you his all
If you'd but agree,
A man is in love,
And he's me.
The Waterboys’s “A Man Is In Love” tells a story of a man who has fallen in love and, through the power of music, he shares his feelings with his close friend. The song begins with the friend recounting how the man expressed his love for someone by singing a song, revealing what was on his heart. This action demonstrates the intense and sincere love the man has for his beloved. The lyrics then shift to the friend explaining how he deduced the man's love by observing his actions. When the man was near his beloved, the friend noted that he spoke about her excessively and whispered her name when his eyes were closed, indicating the depth of his feelings for her. The song comes to a climax as the man reveals that he is the one in love, placing himself in a vulnerable position, as he asks for his beloved’s heart.
“A Man Is In Love” serves as an ode to the power of love, highlighting how it can make someone impervious to fear and able to open up about their emotions. Listening to the song, it’s easy to be swept up in the sweeping melody and passionately earnest lyrics, which seem to capture the essence of love. It reminds us that love is a force that can bring us to our knees, but it also has the power to transform us in inconceivable ways, and only a few words are needed to express its depth.
Line by Line Meaning
A man is in love,
A male individual is experiencing the emotion known as love.
How did I know?
The singer is questioning how they gained knowledge of this information.
He came walking with me
The man went on a walk with the singer.
And told me so,
During the walk, the man revealed his feelings to the artist.
In a song that he sang
The man expressed his love through a musical performance.
And then I knew,
The singer gained knowledge or understanding from the man's song.
A man is in love
Repetition of the opening line to emphasize the central theme of the song.
With you.
The man is in love specifically with the person the song is addressed to.
How did I hear?
Another instance where the artist questions how they obtained information.
I heard him talk too much
The man spoke excessively around the person he is in love with.
When you are near,
The man acts talkative specifically when in the presence of the person he loves.
He whispered your name
The man whispered the name of the person he loves.
When his eyes were closed,
The man said the person's name with his eyes shut.
A man is in love
Reiteration of the song's theme.
And he knows.
The man has awareness and understanding of his own feelings.
How did I guess?
The artist once again wonders how they were able to figure something out.
I figured it out while he was
The artist deduced the man's emotions while observing him.
Watching your dress,
The man was looking at the person he loves.
He'd give you his all
The man would do anything for the person he loves.
If you'd but agree,
The condition for the man's outpouring of feelings is the other person reciprocating his love.
A man is in love,
The man is experiencing romantic love.
And he's me.
The man who is described throughout the song is the artist himself.
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
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