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.
The Wedding
The Waterboys Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
the crack-handed orchestra played
The bride and the groom stood shoulder-to-shoulder
as the ill-starred wedding was made
She lifted her veil as the groom gently kissed her
and all did appear to be well
But the limousine driver heard every harsh whisper
In the Grand Hotel ballroom the guests were assembling
the champagne like tapwater flowed
The men wearing top hats, and fop coats and top coats
the women in bustles and bows
The bride抯 jealous sister sat alone in her place
and sneered as the couple came in
The maitre-de coughed and said æšlease take your places,
the Banquet is about to begin?
The street doors burst open and an army of footman
swept in bearing salvers and trays
Fiddlers and clowns went from table to table
amid black smoke and cigarette haze
Noone saw the best man as he secretly winked
at the bride抯 jealous sister it seemed
And then cried out æ¥aiter, Bring me more drink
and more Marilyn Monroe ice-cream?
When the wine had been poured and the tables were cleared
the toasts and the speeches began
The bride and groom cut the cake, everyone cheered!
then all eyes fell on the best man.
He climbed off his chair, and he licked his cracked lips
and declared in a voice cold and dry
æhe tricked and hijacked him, with guilt she trapped him
this day is a sham and a lie?
Her father leapt up with a curse and a roar
and slew the best man in the head
The groom cried æƒlaggard!?and with a flash of his sword
his father-in-law fell down dead
The bride ran screaming in floods of bright tears
and collapsed at the foot of the stairs
Where her sister was waiting with scissors and shears
and hacked off every inch of her hair.
Up on the roof sat seven fat crows, the moon rose low in the west.
the groom was arrested still in his wedding clothes
And hanged in his pants and his vest
the bald-headed bride bought a ticket to Spain
And eloped with a wig-makers son
while her jealous mad sister, riven with shame
Became a nun!
The Waterboys' song "The Wedding" tells the story of a disastrous wedding. The father of the bride hands her over, and the couple exchanges vows while the orchestra plays. However, things start to go downhill in the limousine ride to the country hotel. The groom whispers something harsh that the driver overhears. The subsequent banquet at the Grand Hotel ballroom is a surreal scene. The guests wear extravagant clothing, and black smoke fills the air. The best man winks at the bride's jealous sister, declaring in a cold and dry voice that the marriage is a "sham and a lie." Chaos ensues as the bride's father kills the best man, and the groom kills the father-in-law. The bride runs screaming, and her jealous sister hacks off all her hair with scissors and shears. The song ends tragically, as the groom is arrested and hanged in his wedding clothes, and the bald-headed bride elopes with a wig-maker's son while her sister becomes a nun.
The lyrics of this song are rich in metaphors and allusions, creating a vivid picture of a chaotic and macabre ceremony. The crack-handed orchestra and the fiddlers and clowns add to the surreal atmosphere of the event. The men in top hats, fop coats, and top coats, and the women in bustles and bows, create a sense of artificial formality. The mention of Marilyn Monroe ice cream adds a touch of Hollywood glamour to the scene.
"The Wedding" is noteworthy for its dramatic structure, which builds tension gradually until the explosive climax. The song's story also reveals the underlying tensions and jealousies that can simmer beneath the surface of a seemingly happy occasion like a wedding. Overall, "The Wedding" is a powerful and haunting rendition of a tragic event.
Line by Line Meaning
The father who sired her handed her over
The bride's biological father gave her away to the groom during the wedding ceremony.
the crack-handed orchestra played
The band that played music during the wedding was poorly coordinated and untalented.
The bride and the groom stood shoulder-to-shoulder
as the ill-starred wedding was made
Despite the unfortunate circumstances surrounding the wedding, the bride and groom stood together as the ceremony took place.
She lifted her veil as the groom gently kissed her
and all did appear to be well
During a moment of affection between the bride and groom, everything seemed fine on the surface.
But the limousine driver heard every harsh whisper
as they drove to the country hotel
The driver who took the newlyweds to their hotel overheard their arguments and negative comments.
In the Grand Hotel ballroom the guests were assembling
the champagne like tapwater flowed
As guests arrived at the reception, they were greeted with an abundance of champagne.
The men wearing top hats, and fop coats and top coats
the women in bustles and bows
The guests dressed in formal attire, with men wearing top hats and women wearing bustles and bows.
The bride's jealous sister sat alone in her place
and sneered as the couple came in
The bride's sister, who was envious of the wedding and the attention the bride was receiving, sat by herself and glared at the newlyweds.
The maitre-de coughed and said 'Please take your places,
the Banquet is about to begin?'
The reception's head waiter prompted guests to take their seats and prepare for the meal.
The street doors burst open and an army of footman
swept in bearing salvers and trays
The waitstaff entered the reception hall in a grand manner, carrying trays of food and drink.
Fiddlers and clowns went from table to table
amid black smoke and cigarette haze
Entertainers went around to the guests' tables, performing despite the unpleasantness of cigarette smoke.
Noone saw the best man as he secretly winked
at the bride's jealous sister it seemed
And then cried out 'Waiter, Bring me more drink
and more Marilyn Monroe ice-cream?'
The best man snuck a wink towards the bride's sister, then asked for more drinks and ice cream in reference to Marilyn Monroe's famous song 'Diamonds are a girl's best friend.'
When the wine had been poured and the tables were cleared
the toasts and the speeches began
After the meal was done, various people took turns making speeches and offering toasts to the newlyweds.
The bride and groom cut the cake, everyone cheered!
then all eyes fell on the best man.
As the bride and groom cut their wedding cake, the guests shifted their attention towards the best man, anticipating his speech.
He climbed off his chair, and he licked his cracked lips
and declared in a voice cold and dry
'the tricked and hijacked him, with guilt she trapped him
this day is a sham and a lie?'
The best man stood up and accused the bride of deceitfully trapping the groom into marrying her, calling the entire wedding a sham.
Her father leapt up with a curse and a roar
and slew the best man in the head
The bride's father reacted in rage to the best man's accusations and killed him on the spot with a violent blow.
The groom cried 'Laggard!'
and with a flash of his sword
his father-in-law fell down dead
The groom attacked his father-in-law in defense, fatally striking him with a sword.
The bride ran screaming in floods of bright tears
and collapsed at the foot of the stairs
The bride broke down in emotional distress and collapsed on the stairs.
Where her sister was waiting with scissors and shears
and hacked off every inch of her hair.
The bride's sister, in a misguided attempt to help, cut off all of the bride's hair.
Up on the roof sat seven fat crows, the moon rose low in the west.
The groom was arrested still in his wedding clothes
And hanged in his pants and his vest
The groom was captured by the authorities while still wearing his wedding clothes and was eventually hanged for his crimes.
the bald-headed bride bought a ticket to Spain
And eloped with a wig-makers son
The bride, now with no hair, fled to Spain with a wig-maker's son, running away from the traumatic events of the wedding.
while her jealous mad sister, riven with shame
Became a nun!
The bride's sister, overcome with guilt and remorse, drastically changed her life path and became a nun.
Contributed by Brayden P. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
Thomas Fioriglio
Thanks for posting this. Any info about this song? Is this an original or a traditional song? I know it was released as a b-side in 2007 but a live version, not this one.