Whole of the Moon

The Waterboys

About Whole of the Moon

"The Whole of the Moon" is a song by the Waterboys which was released as a single from their album This Is the Sea in 1985. It is a classic of the band's repertoire and has been consistently played at live shows ever since its release. Written and produced by Mike Scott, the subject of the song has inspired some speculation. The single was not a big success when initially released in 1985, only making the lower ends of the chart, although it reached number 12 on the Australian chart. Subsequently, it became one of The Waterboys' best-known songs and their most commercially successful. It is arguably the band's signature song and was the Ivor Novello Award winner "Best Song Musically and Lyrically" in 1991. 


Year:
1989
4:57
112 
#2

 Watch: New Singing Lesson Videos Can Make Anyone A Great Singer

I pictured a rainbow
You held it in your hands
I had flashes
But you saw the plan
I wandered out in the world for years
While you just stayed in your room
I saw the crescent
You saw the whole of the moon
The whole of the moon

Hmm, you were there in the turnstiles, with the wind at your heels
You stretched for the stars and you know how it feels to reach too high
Too far
Too soon
You saw the whole of the moon
I was grounded
While you filled the skies
I was dumbfounded by truth
You cut through lies
I saw the rain dirty valley
You saw Brigadoon
I saw the crescent
You saw the whole of the moon

I spoke about wings
You just flew
I wondered, I guessed and I tried
You just knew
I sighed
But you swooned, I saw the crescent
You saw the whole of the moon
The whole of the moon

(The whole of the moond) with a torch in your pocket and the wind at your heels
You climbed on the ladder and you know how it feels to get too high
Too far
Too soon
You saw the whole of the moon
The whole of the moon, hey yeah!

Unicorns and cannonballs, palaces and piers
Trumpets, towers and tenements
Wide oceans full of tears
Flags, rags ferryboats
Scimitars and scarves
Every precious dream and vision
Underneath the stars, yes, you climbed on the ladder
With the wind in your sails
You came like a comet
Blazing your trail too high
Too far
Too soon
You saw the whole of the moon

 Become A Better Singer In Only 30 Days, With Easy Video Lessons!


The Waterboys

The Waterboys are a band formed in 1983 by Mike Scott. The band's membership, past and present, has been composed mainly of musicians from Scotland, Ireland and England. Edinburgh, London, Dublin, Spiddal, New York, and Findhorn have all served as homes for the group. The band has played in a number of different styles, but their music is a mix of Celtic folk music with rock and roll. After ten years of recording and touring, they dissolved in 1993 and Scott pursued a solo career. They reformed in 2000, and continue to release albums and tour worldwide. Scott 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… more »

2 fans

Written by: Michael Scott

Lyrics © Warner Chappell Music, Inc.

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind


10 facts about this song

Release Details
"The Whole of the Moon" was initially released by The Waterboys in 1985 on their album "This is the Sea," but it has since been re-released multiple times.
Chart Success
The song achieved the highest charter in the UK Singles Chart, reaching the number 3 spot in 1991 after it was re-issued.
Recognition
The song ranked 376 on the list of "500 Greatest Songs of All Time" by the Rolling Stone magazine in 2010.
Band's Origin
The Waterboys is a British-Irish folk-rock band that was popular during the 1980s.
Song's Theme
The lyrics of "The Whole of the Moon" are claimed to express admiration and acknowledgment of another person's experiences and achievements.
Inspiration
Lead vocalist and songwriter of The Waterboys, Mike Scott, has cited several sources as the song's supposed inspirations, including the musician Prince and author C.S. Lewis.
Cover Versions
Various artists have covered the song, including Fiona Apple, Prince, U2, and Mandy Moore.
Instrument Avant-garde
An early demo version of the song, before the iconic trumpet part was added, was included in a 2006 collector’s edition of ‘This Is The Sea’.
Game Soundtrack
"The Whole of the Moon" was featured in the video game Grand Theft Auto V's fictional radio station, "Los Santos Rock Radio."
Notable Performances
The Waterboys' performance of the song at the 1986 Glastonbury Festival is particularly well-remembered.

Discuss the Whole of the Moon Lyrics with the community:

0 Comments

    Citation

    Use the citation below to add these lyrics to your bibliography:

    Style:MLAChicagoAPA

    "Whole of the Moon Lyrics." Lyrics.com. STANDS4 LLC, 2024. Web. 25 Apr. 2024. <https://www.lyrics.com/lyric/1548468/The+Waterboys/Whole+of+the+Moon>.

    Missing lyrics by The Waterboys?

    Know any other songs by The Waterboys? Don't keep it to yourself!

    Watch the song video

    Whole of the Moon

    154.2K
    2,256     46

    Browse Lyrics.com

    Quiz

    Are you a music master?

    »
    "Fa-fa-fa-fa-fa-fa-fa-fa-fa-far better Run, run, run, run, run, run, run away oh, oh, oh"
    A Pulled Up
    B Uh-Oh, Loves Comes to Town
    C Disorder
    D Psycho Killer

    Free, no signup required:

    Add to Chrome

    Get instant explanation for any lyrics that hits you anywhere on the web!

    Free, no signup required:

    Add to Firefox

    Get instant explanation for any acronym or abbreviation that hits you anywhere on the web!

    The Waterboys tracks

    On Radio Right Now

    Loading...

    Powered by OnRad.io


    Think you know music? Test your MusicIQ here!