Mike Scott (Scottish musician)

Michael Scott (born 14 December 1958) is a Scottish musician, who became famous as the founding member and chief songwriter of the musical group The Waterboys.

Quotes

A metaphor for seeing God's signature in the world.
- An indication of what he meant by the term "The Big Music" of a Waterboys song, a phrase which came to be applied to the group's early musical style, and that of a few other bands, as quoted in "Pieces of eighties" by John Robinson, in The Guardian (23 April 2004)
- Variant:
- A metaphor for seeing God's vision in the world.
  - As quoted in "The Making Of... The Waterboys’ The Whole Of The Moon", in Uncut (June 2013)

I recorded "…Moon" on my own with a drum machine, then brought musicians in as they were needed. It's about a person who has a spectacular, meteor-like rise, but burns out or dies young. Though the song ain't about him, the nearest equivalent would be Hendrix. Adding a list of all the things the hero/heroine saw raised the emotional temperature. The final chorus now had an extra fatefulness. To express this I inserted "you came like a comet, blazing your trail", then a "comet", a firework sample from a BBC sound effects record. That sweetly collided with Anthony's sax solo, so that it sounds as if the sax erupts from the comet itself. Magic like that just happens. … The Beatles' "Penny Lane" influenced the trumpet break — the sudden injection of super-fresh, bright and clear horns, a sound of optimism and clarity. Bowie's "Fame" inspired the final descending vocal, thought up and sung by Karl. I wanted the whole thing to sound like a carnival.
- As quoted in in Uncut (July 2008)

A Pagan Place (1984)

She is everywhere and noplace
Like a breath or like a wind
she moves among men
They would seek to hold her as a prize
But she is in the shadows,
the ocean and the sand
She is everywhere and noplace,
Her church not made with hands
Uncontained by man.
- "Church Not Made With Hands"

This Is the Sea (1985)

I pictured a rainbow — you held it in your hands
I had flashes — but you saw the plan

I have heard
the big music
and I'll never be the same
something so pure
just called my name.
- "The Big Music"

I have drowned
in the big sea
now I find I'm still alive
And I'm coming up forever
shadows all behind me
ecstacy to come
- "The Big Music"

Come with me on a journey beneath the skin
We will look together for the Pan within.
- "The Pan Within"

The stars are alive and nights like these
were born to be sanctified by you and me.
- "The Pan Within"

Once you were tethered
now you are free
That was the river
this is the sea.
- "This Is The Sea"

You're trying to make sense
of something that you just don't see
You're trying to make sense now
and you know you once held the key
But that was the river
this is the sea.
- "This Is The Sea"

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
you just stayed in your room
I saw the crescent
You saw the whole of the moon.
- "The Whole of the Moon" · Official video (1985) · Live cover by Fiona Apple (2021)

I was grounded
while you filled the skies
I was dumbfounded by truth
you cut through lies
I saw the lone empty valley
you saw Brigadoon
I saw the crescent
You saw the whole of the moon
- "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"

Flags, rags, ferryboats, scimitars and scarves
every precious dream and vision underneath the stars
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!
- "The Whole Of The Moon"

Room to Roam (1990)

This album gets its title from the line of a song within Phantastes: A Faerie Romance for Men and Women by George MacDonald

How long will I love you?
As long as stars are above you
And longer if I can
- "How Long Will I Love You?" · Mike Scott performance (2012) · Jon Boden, Sam Sweeney & Ben Coleman cover version used in the film About Time (2013) · Ellie Goulding cover (2013)

How long will I want you?
As long as you want me to
And longer by far
- "How Long Will I Love You?"

Dream Harder (1993)

I dreamed about Jimi Hendrix
he came back for one day
was born weepin' out of an egg
the mid-wife said …

He played my guitar like a lightning storm
like twirlin' feathers in the wind
he could make it sound like the end of the world
a fire, the flick of a knife…

He's like a man you'd meet any place
until you recognize that ancient Face
The Great God Pan is alive!
- "The Return Of Pan"

At sea on a ship in a thunderstorm
on the very night the Christ was born
a sailor heard from overhead
a mighty voice cry "Pan is Dead!"
So follow Christ as best you can
Pan is dead — Long live Pan!
- "The Return Of Pan"

Some say the Gods are just a myth
but guess Who I've been dancing with...
The Great God Pan is alive!
- "The Return Of Pan"

I dreamed about Jimi Hendrix
he came back for one day
was born weepin' out of an egg
the mid-wife said
and straight away began to pray
with lifted head
- "The Return of Jimi Hendrix"

He was young and black and beautiful
big eyed, perfect skin an'
he played my guitar like a lightning storm
like twirlin' feathers in the wind
he could make it sound like the end of the world
a fire, the flick of a knife
he could squeeze it slow and masterful
like the hand that brought the world to life
- "The Return of Jimi Hendrix"

He made all Manhattan shake
and every street and sidewalk quake
his stratocaster caused the mighty Empire State
to vibrate
- "The Return of Jimi Hendrix"

/p>He did a forty-two minute
cosmic rise in future shocks
Star Spangled Banner
in the back of CBGB's
He stopped every clock in New York state
and every heart that heard him
and time itself was beaten and confused
and fell lamb-like under the spell of his
fabulous flashing fingers
He played an encore at the Bitter End
a heartburst Little Wing
even the waiters cried
and then we fell outside
and in the dusty dawn of Bleeker street
a sweet rain fell
and Jimi died.
- "The Return of Jimi Hendrix"

Universal Hall (2003)

This album takes its name from the performance theatre of the Findhorn Foundation.

I'm gonna look twice at you
until I see the Christ in you
when I'm lookin through the eyes of love.

This light is for the world.
Send out from this wooden frame
a beacon made of holy flame
like a bridge across the morning sky
from candle to the hills of high
this light is for the world.
- "This Light Is for the World"

This light is for the world
send it out with sword of fire,
with cymbal, drum and angel choir,
music in the heart of it
proclaiming that the lamp is lit
this light is for the world.
- "This Light Is for the World"

I'm gonna look twice at you
until I see the Christ in you
when I'm lookin through the eyes of love..
- "The Christ in You" · Video at YouTube (with images from Findhorn)

every breath is yours, beloved
every breath is yours
- "Every Breath Is Yours"

Ain't no words for the things I'm feeling
ain't no tongue can tell
no name for the song my soul's revealing
and all is very well…
- "Ain't No Words for the Things I'm Feeling"

Seek the light
find the light
feel the light
be the light.
- "Seek the Light" (co-written with May East and Craig Gibsone)

I've lived here before in days of old
I recognise these buildings in my soul
I know each winding road
and every rise
is friendly and familiar to my eyes
- "I've Lived Here Before" (co-written with Liam Ó Maonlaí)

I can feel it in my blood
that I belong
to this strange and stony rock I stand upon
yet I cannot put a name upon it
I cannot place the time
nor see the land as it once was
nor tell which house was mine
no I cannot put a name upon it
which was where and when
yet here I am
a perfect stranger
home again.
- "I've Lived Here Before" (co-written with Liam Ó Maonlaí)

There's confusion in my head as I depart
but a singing, ringing, soaring in my heart
for beyond all time and space and doubt
I know
I've lived here before
long ago.
- "I've Lived Here Before" (co-written with Liam Ó Maonlaí)

I feel you move me
in such sweet silence
always dancing, always dancing
never ever getting tired
- "Always Dancing, Never Getting Tired"

You are an eternal being of love
you are the light of the world.
- "E.B.O.L."

I sacrifice my power on the altar of your love
that it may be born again on another world.
Come friend, let us climb the winding flights of stairs
through the narrow door into the chamber bare
a single candle burns as we seat ourselves
words take form in our minds and repeat themselves :
"My beloved and I are one…"
- "Universal Hall" (co-written with Steve Wickham)

If high stream of dreams and truth be told
and our intentions be entwined
then from these high flung tower walls
let healing grace and blessings fall
over all this cracked and broken land
from northern crag to southern down
from Universal Hall to Camden town
from city square to village green
from parliament to housing scheme
from Iona to the the Hill of Dreams
I sacrifice my power on the altar of your love
that it may be born again on another world.
- "Universal Hall" (co-written with Steve Wickham)

Book of Lightning (2007)

There’s a day to ride thumb on a thunderhead
There’s a day to make fantasy real
There’s a day to deny and a day to decry
and a day for the man with the wind at his heels!
- "The Man With The Wind At His Heels" · Video at YouTube

External links

Wikipedia

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Mike Scott (Scottish musician)

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Mike Scott

Mike Scott - The Waterboys official website