Wallinger recorded the first two World Party albums (Private Revolution and Goodbye Jumbo) practically single-handed. The former reached the US Top 40 and the single ‘Ship Of Fools’ broke into the Top 30 (it was hastily dropped by radio in his native Great Britain because of the Zeebrugge ferry disaster). Goodbye Jumbo took equal amounts of inspiration from the eco movement and the Beatles, and the highly catchy single ‘Message In The Box’ provided Wallinger with his first UK Top 40 hit.
Wallinger’s muse, a relaxed and melancholic take on mid-period Beatles, has not so much been updated as revitalized on his subsequent, sterling work, although a minor breakthrough was made with 1993’s Bang!, which featured Wallinger’s only UK Top 20 hit to date, ‘Is It Like Today’, and reached number 2 on the album charts. On Bang!, Wallinger was joined by Chris Sharrock (drums, ex-Icicle Works) and Dave Catlin-Birch (guitars/keyboards). Some of the reviews for 1997’s Egyptology were unnecessarily cruel (especially the New Musical Express). It was by his standards another good album, which, although still locked into the Beatles’ sound (this time circa 1968), featured some great moments, notably the gentle ‘She’s The One’ and the meatier ‘Curse Of The Mummy’s Tomb’. The former indirectly gave Wallinger a worthy chart-topping single, when Robbie Williams’ cover version reached the top of the UK singles chart in November 1999 (Williams’ songwriting partner Guy Chambers (b. 12 Jan 1963, England) was at one time a member of World Party).
The next World Party album, 2000’s Dumbing Up, retreated from the ambitions of Egyptology, and found Wallinger resorting to his pick ‘n’ mix style of songwriting. He is one of the best magpie songwriters around, and the strong influence of ELO, Bob Dylan (‘Bob Dylan’s 115th Dream’ in the shape of ‘Who Are You?’) and even Rare Bird (shades of ‘Sympathy’ in ‘All The Love That’s Wasted’) could be heard, in addition to strong memories of the Beatles’ ‘Dear Prudence’ and ‘Baby You’re A Rich Man’ in ‘Another 1000 Years’.
Source: The Encyclopedia of Popular Music by Colin Larkin.
Thank You World
World Party Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Fall on me like tears
And time around me stretches back
And forth across the years
Was I sent to see your beauty
Just to please my aching heart
Well I want to say good morning
But I don't know where to start
Ah thank you world
Ah thank you world
Ah thank you world
Ah thank you world
Well I'm lying in the dw
And I'm staring at the stars
Yeah He laid me down this blanket
Now I call this blanket grass
And the sun is my alarm
And the moon she makes me dream
And my food is wild honey pie
And water from the stream, thank you world
Ah thank you world
Thank you world
Ah thank you world
for giving me my children
Ah thank you world
For keeping me alive
Ah thank you world
Yeah yeah yeah
Are you getting the vibe?
Yeah Yeah Yeah
Are you really alive?
Yeah yeah yeah
Are you getting the vibe?
Yeah yeah yeah
Are you really alive?
CHORUS
She is everything I need
She is living guaranteed
She's what I mean when I say
Everything's alright
She got diamonds she got pearls
She got wisdom
And this girl is all you need
To know that everything's alright
And I need to know that everything's alright
------------------------------------------------
DON'T BLAME ME...
The World Party song "Thank You World" expresses gratitude for the beauty and wonder of the world around us. The lyrics paint a vivid picture of the natural world: colors, scents, and symphonies, stretching back across time. The singer is overwhelmed by the beauty of his surroundings, and wonders if he was "sent to see your beauty" to ease his "aching heart." The chorus repeats the phrase "thank you world," expressing gratitude for everything the world has to offer.
The second verse of the song describes a more intimate relationship with the natural world. The singer lies in the grass, staring at the stars, feeling a deep connection to the earth. He relies on the sun and the moon to guide his days and dreams, and sustains himself with wild honey and water from a stream. He continues to express gratitude for everything the world provides, including his children and his own life.
Overall, "Thank You World" is a celebration of nature, and a call to appreciate everything the world has to offer. It encourages the listener to be present in the moment, to notice and appreciate the beauty of the world around them.
Line by Line Meaning
Colours scenst and symphonies
The beauty of the world surrounds and overwhelms me
Fall on me like tears
The beauty is so moving, it feels like tears falling on me
And time around me stretches back
I feel connected to the past and the history that surrounds me
And forth across the years
And also to the future, stretching ahead of me
Was I sent to see your beauty
I wonder if I was put on this earth just to appreciate the beauty of the world
Just to please my aching heart
To soothe the pain and longing I feel
Well I want to say good morning
I want to greet the world with gratitude and joy
But I don't know where to start
It's hard to express just how grateful I feel for everything
Thank you world
But nonetheless, I want to express my gratitude
Ah thank you world
Thank you. Thank you. Thank you.
Well I'm lying in the dw
As I lay down to sleep outdoors
And I'm staring at the stars
I gaze up at the vast expanse of stars above me
Yeah He laid me down this blanket
I feel like God has provided for me and taken care of me
Now I call this blanket grass
I feel so in tune with nature that I see my blanket as grass
And the sun is my alarm
I wake up to the warmth and radiance of the sun
And the moon she makes me dream
At night, the moon fills me with inspiration and wonder
And my food is wild honey pie
I sustain myself on the natural, delicious gifts of the world
And water from the stream, thank you world
Everything I need to survive and thrive comes from the world, and I am so grateful
Thank you world
Thank you so much for everything you provide me
Ah thank you world
I can't say it enough - thank you
Thank you world
I truly mean it - thank you
For giving me my children
Especially for the incredible gift of my children
For keeping me alive
For sustaining my life and health
Yeah yeah yeah
I am filled with joy and gratitude
Are you getting the vibe?
Do you feel the same way too?
Yeah Yeah Yeah
I hope you can feel the joy and gratitude I feel
Are you really alive?
Are you really awake and connected to the beauty of the world?
She is everything I need
The 'she' here could be referring to the world in general or to a specific person or force - whatever it is, it provides me with everything I need
She is living guaranteed
I can always count on the world's continual existence and life
She's what I mean when I say
When I express gratitude to the world, this is what I am thanking
Everything's alright
Everything truly is alright - the world provides me with all I need
She got diamonds she got pearls
The world is filled with precious gems and treasures, both literal and metaphorical
She got wisdom
The world is also a source of great wisdom and knowledge
And this girl is all you need
The 'girl' here refers to the world, and all you need in life is its beauty and sustenance
To know that everything's alright
By appreciating the world, you can find peace and reassurance that everything really is alright
And I need to know that everything's alright
For my own peace of mind and wellbeing, I need to stay connected to the beauty and goodness of the world
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: KARL EDMOND DE VERE WALLINGER
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
2020 Vision
Well I'm lying in the dew
And I'm staring at the stars
Yeah He laid me down this blanket
Now I call this blanket grass
And the sun is my alarm
And the moon she makes me dream
And my food is wild honey pie
And water from the stream, thank you world
Ah thank you world
Thank you world
Ah thank you world
For giving me my children
Ah thank you world
For keeping me alive
Ah thank you world
Yeah yeah yeah
Are you getting the vibe?
Yeah Yeah Yeah
Are you really alive?
Angie s
Going to see him for the 3rd time tonight. I think the music is timeless, I could listen to it everyday.
Mark Hesford. Crate Diggers Of The World Unite.
Three times in one night....!?!?
BlessingTX7
Karl is very nice. I'm press and I hung out with him in Dallas. He had a brain tumor and nearly died, recovered, thank goodness, they toured in 2013, did you see then then? LOL oh I see you posted this 5 yeard ago. Just interested.
Guy Desrochers
what a superb song this is. Gives me a warm feeling that all is right with the world , even though it isn't
Christopher B
Yes, I know what you mean Guy.
Erika Miller
Karls music with World Party never gets old...very relevant in today's world.
Christopher B
You are 100% correct there!
Blake McVey
This album has not gotten old, even though it's about to turn 25. I can still remember the record store recommendation from Randy's Music and Movies in Edmond, OK when I was a sophmore in college.
jogirl22
Thank You Karl Wallinger!!! love your music!!!
Rich Fuell
the bass drops out for the chorus....total genius...