They enjoyed working together so much that they decided to create an album together. Co-written by all the group members, the songwriting and recording were accomplished over a ten-day period at Dave Stewart's house, as Dylan was due to go out on tour. Their first studio album, Traveling Wilburys, Vol. 1 was released on October 18, 1988. The band members were credited under various pseudonyms, all sons of a fictional Charles Truscott Wilbury, Sr. The album was immediately dubbed as one of the top 100 albums of all time by Rolling Stone, and was a critical and commercial success, spawning several successful singles and eventually reaching triple-platinum sales status in the US. Additionally, it was nominated for several awards and won the Grammy Award for Best Rock Performance by a Duo or Group in 1989.
The death of Orbison on December 6, 1988 prevented further full collaborations, and the band continued without him. In 1990, they released a second studio album titled Traveling Wilburys, Vol. 3. The intentional misnumbering is attributed to Harrison's sense of humor; additionally, the pseudonyms for all members were changed. The album met with less success than its predecessor, and the group eventually disbanded in 1990, their final released recording being the song "Nobody's Child", the title track of a benefit album released to benefit Romanian orphans.
In 2007, a compilation of both albums was released, entitled The Traveling Wilburys Collection. As well as both of the original albums, the release included bonus tracks and music videos; additionally, previously uncredited session drummer Jim Keltner, who appeared in some of the group's music videos, was listed as a member of the group, as was Dhani Harrison, the son of George who had assisted in some parts of the overdubbing of the previously unreleased material.
New Blue Moon
Traveling Wilburys Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Nothing but you
Am I waiting
Looking for a new blue moon
I'm so tired waiting
Waiting for you
And I'm waiting
Looking for a new blue moon
So many moons have come and gone
And none of them were blue
So many times the son came up but
Came up without you, you, ya yoo hoo oo
You won't call me
Call me lonely
And I'm waiting
Looking for a new blue moon
So many moons have come and gone
And none of them were blue
To many times the son came up but
Came up without you, you, ya yoo hoo oo
Someday waiting you want me
Someday you may see
I was waiting
Looking for a new blue moon
I was waiting
Looking for a new blue moon
Blue blue moon
The Traveling Wilburys' "New Blue Moon" is a song about longing and waiting for someone who does not reciprocate the same feelings. The singer of the song expresses that they do not want anything but the person they are waiting for, but they feel tired and frustrated waiting for them to show up. The singer explains that they are looking for a new blue moon, which refers to the rare and unusual occurrence of a blue moon. The blue moon in this song symbolizes the idea that the singer is waiting for something that may never happen or is very unlikely to happen. The phrase "new blue moon" also has a sense of hopeful anticipation that something good might happen, but the singer is still waiting.
The repetition of the lines "So many moons have come and gone and none of them were blue" and "Too many times the sun came up but came up without you" emphasizes the singer's frustration and disappointment at waiting for someone who never shows up. The use of the word lonely in the line "You won't call me, call me lonely" further emphasizes the singer's loneliness and desperation. The final verse of the song expresses hope that someday the person the singer is waiting for will want them and see their love, but until then, they will continue looking for a new blue moon.
Line by Line Meaning
I don't want nothing
I don't want anything else
Nothing but you
Only you
Am I waiting
Am I patiently hoping
Looking for a new blue moon
Hoping for a rare opportunity that seldom comes
I'm so tired waiting
I'm exhausted from waiting
Waiting for you
Hoping for your presence
And I'm waiting
Still patiently hoping
Looking for a new blue moon
Still hoping for a rare opportunity
So many moons have come and gone
So much time has passed
And none of them were blue
And none of them were special
So many times the son came up but
So many times the sun has risen but
Came up without you, you, ya yoo hoo oo
Came up without you beside me
You won't call me
You won't communicate with me
Call me lonely
Make me feel lonely
And I'm waiting
And still hoping
Looking for a new blue moon
Hoping for a rare opportunity
Someday waiting you want me
Someday, when you're ready, you'll want me
Someday you may see
Someday you may discover
I was waiting
I was hoping
Looking for a new blue moon
Hoping for a rare opportunity
I was waiting
I was hoping
Looking for a new blue moon
Still hoping for a rare opportunity
Blue blue moon
A rare and special opportunity
Lyrics © Wixen Music Publishing, BMG Rights Management, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Peermusic Publishing
Written by: Bob Dylan, Jeff Lynne, Tom Petty, George Harrison
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Ken Swanston
"New Blue Moon"
I don't want nothing
Nothing but you
Am I waiting
Looking for a new blue moon
I'm so tired waiting
Waiting for you
Am I waiting
Looking for a new blue moon
So many moons have come and gone
And none of them were blue
So many times the sun came up but
Came up without you, you, ya yoo hoo oh
You won't call me
Call me lonely
Am I waiting
Looking for a new blue moon
So many moons have come and gone
And none of them were blue
Too many times the sun came up but it
Came up without you, you, ya yoo hoo oh
Someday when you hold me
Someday you may see
I was waiting
Looking for a new blue moon
I was waiting
Looking for a new blue moon
Blue Moon
Joe Banish
Jeff and George’s voices were meant to harmonize together. Just great stuff.
Raystargazer
Great video! Damn I miss these guys. What a fantastic band. Just not enough time to get in the public eye. Rest easy George and Roy. You'll never be forgotten.
Benj Clarke
and Tom, now, too. God save Bob & Jeff!
Maria Pratiwi
I love all songs from this incredible band!
Lost in all
Good. that is the law in 47 of 50 states.
TheLeen61
RIP Tom. Monday was a very sad day for the music world but Tom's music will live forever.
Suzie Que
The greatest collaboration ever. Superstars of the 5th dimension. Every song. Every voice. The magic never ends.
zephyrquartz
What a brilliant band they were! Such joy in their output. I just LOVE this song!
Rover Dover
I MISS THESE GUYS :-( WHAT A GREAT GROUP OF MUSIC MAKERS
Werner Bednarzik
Jeff Lynne lead-singer on this track. Fantastic Rock'n'Roll vocalist!