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 1983โ1984, 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.
Be My Enemy
The Waterboys Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Feel like I've been sleeping in a cellar full of snakes
My wings have been clipped my shoes have been stuck with glue
Well if you'll be my enemy I'll be your enemy too
Now I've got goons on my landing thieves on my trail
Nazis on my telephone willing me to fail
They were all sent by someone (obviously well I know it was) you!
I've a bucketful of Babylon I got a handful of lead
I'm gonna put them in a gun man point it at your head
Because you stole all my friends and you gave me the buffalo blues
Well if you'll be my enemy I'll be my enemy too
Now from the slime on your tongue to the nails on your toes
From the scales on your skin to the stains on your clothes
You're gonna have to make me do something that I do not want to do
But if you'll be my enemy I'll be your enemy too
My hands are tied I'm nailed to the floor
Feel like I'm knocking on the unknown door
There's a gun at my back a blade at my throat
I keep finding hate mail in the pockets of my coat
Well I've been trying to grow I been cooling my heels
I've have been working the treadmill I've been working in the fields
And I can't get to sleep I can't catch my breath
I can't stop talking and I look like death
But I will put right this disgrace I will rearrange you
If you'll be my enemy I'll be your enemy too
If you'll be my enemy I'll be your enemy too
Be my enemy!
The Waterboys' song "Be My Enemy" is a spirited track about standing up against one's enemies. The song opens with the imagery of the dawn howling and the mainframe shaking, which sets the ominous tone of the lyrics. The singer feels like they've been asleep in a cellar full of snakes and that they've been clipped of their wings and stuck with glue. They then make the proposal for the listener to be their enemy, and they'll return the favor. The singer is dealing with people who are trying to bring them down and is seeking a response. They've got goons on their landing, thieves on their trail, and Nazis on their telephone willing them to fail. But they know that these forces were all sent by someone, and they believe it was the listener.
The singer proceeds to talk about their collection of weapons, stating that they've got a bucketful of Babylon and a handful of lead, which they're going to put into a gun and point at the listener's head. The singer is frustrated because the listener has stolen all of their friends and given them the "buffalo blues." The bridge of the song has a strange set of lyrics about the physical aspects of the listener that the singer doesn't like, from the slime on their tongue to the stains on their clothes. The singer accepts that they may have to do something they don't want to do to get back at the listener. Still, they're willing to rearrange them if the listener accepts their offer to be their enemy.
The chorus is a rallying cry for the listener to be the singer's enemy, with the singer saying, "If you'll be my enemy, I'll be your enemy too." The final lines of the song convey the singer's frustration with their situation. They're feeling stuck, with their hands tied and nailed to the floor. They've got a gun at their back and a blade at their throat, and the hate mail keeps coming. Despite this, the singer is determined to overcome their challenges and make things right. They reiterate that they'll be the listener's enemy if they accept the singer's invitation.
Overall, the song is a call-to-action for listeners to stand up against the forces trying to bring them down. The lyrics convey a confrontational attitude and a desire for retribution.
Line by Line Meaning
Well the dawn is howling and the mainframe shakes
The morning feels chaotic and unsettling, like something big and powerful is about to happen.
Feel like I've been sleeping in a cellar full of snakes
Feels like a dangerous, suffocating environment.
My wings have been clipped my shoes have been stuck with glue
I feel trapped and unable to move forward.
Well if you'll be my enemy I'll be your enemy too
If you want to start a war with me, I'll retaliate with everything I have.
Now I've got goons on my landing thieves on my trail
I'm being pursued by dangerous, criminal people.
Nazis on my telephone willing me to fail
Being harassed by hateful, extremist groups who hope to see me fail.
They were all sent by someone (obviously well I know it was) you!
You were behind these attacks, and I know it.
I've a bucketful of Babylon I got a handful of lead
I have a collection of powerful tools and resources at my disposal.
I'm gonna put them in a gun man point it at your head
I'm ready to use these tools to defend myself and fight back.
Because you stole all my friends and you gave me the buffalo blues
You caused me to lose my friends and feel a deep sense of loneliness and sadness.
Now from the slime on your tongue to the nails on your toes
I'm aware of everything you say and do, and it disgusts me.
From the scales on your skin to the stains on your clothes
Everything about you seems dirty and repulsive.
You're gonna have to make me do something that I do not want to do
You're forcing me into a situation that I don't want to be in.
But if you'll be my enemy I'll be your enemy too
I'm ready to fight back and make you my enemy as well.
My hands are tied I'm nailed to the floor
I feel completely powerless and immobilized.
Feel like I'm knocking on the unknown door
My situation feels unpredictable and uncertain.
There's a gun at my back a blade at my throat
I'm in serious danger and might be killed at any moment.
I keep finding hate mail in the pockets of my coat
People keep sending me cruel and hateful messages.
Well I've been trying to grow I been cooling my heels
I've been trying to improve myself and make progress, but it's been difficult.
I've have been working the treadmill I've been working in the fields
I've been constantly working hard, but feel like I'm not getting anywhere.
And I can't get to sleep I can't catch my breath
I'm experiencing serious anxiety and stress.
I can't stop talking and I look like death
I'm so worried and worked up that I can't stop talking and look exhausted.
But I will put right this disgrace I will rearrange you
I'm determined to overcome this difficult situation and come out on top.
If you'll be my enemy I'll be your enemy too
I'm ready to fight back and make you my enemy as well.
If you'll be my enemy I'll be your enemy too
I'm ready to fight back and make you my enemy as well.
Be my enemy!
If you want to start a war with me, I'm ready and willing to fight back.
Lyrics ยฉ BMG Rights Management, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: MICHAEL SCOTT
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@hounddogjonny
A magnificent song of spitting hate and vitriol. Anger is an energy. I love it.
@frederiquecouture3924
Gotchaโ
@AP-ld2qv
Dope...
1st Heard this on Miami Vice
@thesmithafcforever7601
Brilliant song, brilliant lyrics.......so underestimated long live the Waterboys
@fabriziorusso4932
I need this Song!!!!!
@audreyhickey1515
Deadly.
@valerieyates1427
I can really relate to this one - excellent lyrics.
@timthenchanterable
expresses the suffering of anger. cool
@frederiquecouture3924
Happy Mother's Day 2023.
@kathykeeley352
Perfect and genuinely felt.