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.
Spirit
The Waterboys Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Spirit don't
Man surrenders
Spirit won't
Man crawls
Spirit flies
Spirit lives when man dies
Man seems
Man dreams
The spirit lives
Man is tethered
Spirit is free
What spirit is man can be
The Waterboys's song "Spirit" is a powerful and insightful commentary on the dynamic between man and his spirit. The lyrics speak of how man gets tired and surrenders, while his spirit never tires and never surrenders. The spirit is often associated with flying, freedom, and the ability to live on beyond the death of the physical body. The song seems to suggest that man is limited by his physical and emotional limitations, whereas his spirit has the ability to soar beyond these limitations.
The song also speaks to the connection between man and his spirit. Man dreams and aspires to be like his spirit, while the spirit is always present inside of him. It is a part of him and perhaps the truest part of him. The chorus echoes this sentiment, "What spirit is man can be." This line can be interpreted in a couple of ways – it may suggest that man's spirit is always present and can be accessed and lived up to, or it may suggest that man has the ability to live up to the potential of his spirit.
Line by Line Meaning
Man gets tired
The physical body of man becomes exhausted and drained
Spirit don't
In contrast, the human spirit remains unwavering and undeterred by fatigue
Man surrenders
When faced with overwhelming obstacles or challenges, man may give up and accept defeat
Spirit won't
However, the human spirit refuses to give in or submit to defeat
Man crawls
In times of weakness or despair, man may feel like he is barely able to move or make progress
Spirit flies
But the human spirit remains unburdened and free to soar and rise above adversity
Spirit lives when man dies
Even after the physical body of a person has passed away, their spirit lives on and continues to exist
Man seems
Despite appearances or outward behavior, man's true nature may be unclear or unknown
Spirit is
On the other hand, the human spirit is a constant, unchanging force within every person
Man dreams
Man often has aspirations, hopes or desires for their future
The spirit lives
But it is the human spirit that gives life to those dreams and fuels the motivation to pursue them
Man is tethered
Man may feel confined or restricted by external circumstances and societal expectations
Spirit is free
However, the human spirit is not bound by these limitations and has the capacity for boundless creativity and expression
What spirit is man can be
This final line suggests that the potential of the human spirit is limitless, and that man can aspire to embody its strength and vitality
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management
Written by: MICHAEL SCOTT
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind