Waterboys, The - The Whole Of The Moon Lyrics






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

You were there at 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 truths
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

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

Unicorns and cannonballs
Palaces and piers
Trumpets, towers, and tenements
Wide oceans full of tears
Flags, rags, ferry boats
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





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Waterboys, The The Whole Of The Moon Comments
  1. C.... O....

    ¡Qué temazo! (What a hit!)

  2. J.... S....

    50s to early 60s and 80s to 90s had the best music. I missed this in my childhood but Let It Snow introduced me to it. I had to immediately find the original song. ❤️

  3. F.... D....

    Bela música bons tempos.

  4. A.... H....

    I can't believe I never heard this song before.

  5. T.... S....

    I got married this day last week. This was our first dance! Never gets old!

  6. D.... R....

    Great video and Max Edie looks gorgeous in this 💕

    D.... R....

    She’s kinda rockin’ an Edie Sedgwick look here. Coincidence?

  7. E.... S....

    Michael Scott PLEASE COME TO THE STATES, AND SPECIFICALLY, THE PACIFIC NORTH WEST! I NEED TO SEE YOU BEFORE I DIE! :-(

  8. E.... S....

    Words can't do this song justice. In my humble opinion, this is not a song, this is poetry put to the most amazing music! Bob Dylan, I love you, but EAT YOUR HEART OUT! :-)

  9. P.... v....

    At the and of the song It is like I hear the voice of David Bowie is that possible?

  10. L.... W....

    Love this song X classic

  11. T.... H....

    This is no one hit wonder of a band. They have been around for many years. Suggest you give this album “Fisherman's Blues” from 1988 a listen. I’ve been a fan for over 30 years, saw them in concert at the Orpheum in Boston in 1989. From the first song the audience were on their feet and dancing, an amazingly wonderful experience.

    T.... H....

    Great concert at the old Orpheum! I loved that place!!

  12. S.... C....

    I too fell for this song after the end of THE AFFAIR. I love everything about the song. I looked up the definition of Brigadoon. Considering how young the bank was in 1985, I believe this song is a masterpiece.

  13. S.... ....

    Lightning in a Bottle

  14. J.... W....

    This song is amazing..this song is the beauty of God... The Universe and inhabitants.

  15. D.... J....

    Anyone know why this version is different to the album version? This is vastly superior IMO and it's the first time I've found it in great quality.

  16. S.... l....

    Uhh !! It reminds me of summer evenings with trees and I waiting for that music to play on the radio ...

  17. D.... M....

    I was in the 10th grade. Take me back man. Take me fucking back!

  18. p.... ....

    The Affair, series finale. Such a beautiful song!

  19. P.... m....

    This song and the '80s are quantumly entangled

  20. C.... R....

    I'll always love how the other instruments come out one by one until the epic climax.

  21. D.... c....

    SONiC....still !❤️

  22. M.... S....

    It's a perfect song, not a single note needs to be changed.

  23. d.... ....

    love it. brought by fiona apple cover

  24. l.... o....

    Every arsehole and his dog is listening to this, thanks to Jamie Boyle bringing our mate Lee Duffy into the light 😁

  25. R.... J....

    I spoke to Mike Scott via Twitter. Asked him if it really took him 15 minutes to write this song (as per Wikipedia) to which he replied 'no, it took months' - not suprising. Unbelievable song.

    R.... J....

    Ross Johnson Jets an amazing song. Brings tears to my eyes when I hear it. A friend of mine introduced me to it ten years ago. It’s a song that’s reminds me of he and I and how we were as people . He died a few years after I first heard the song. Breaks me up when I hear it now.

  26. M.... W....

    A smashing tune. It's my 23rd favourite 1980s song.

  27. J.... G....

    TV show 'The affair' brought me here

  28. T.... C....

    GOD brought me here

  29. G.... ....

    This track is simply brilliant and the very first track i remember hearing from them

  30. M.... �....

    Escuchando en enero 202o!

  31. N.... S....

    This is the first I have heard this song...Waterboys ! I have never heard of them...but it now is on the top of my favorite songs✌️

  32. F.... M....

    Absolute classic back in 80's and even today 2020. Just saw U2 "Joshua Tree Tour" in Australia and they open every show before coming on with it...

  33. D.... G....

    Live vocals and live violin, live trumpet and sax, anything else? Great performance

  34. B.... C....

    I love this! I first heard it on the Showtime show The Affair. I was instantly obsessed with it & now it’s one of my favorite songs ever.

  35. S.... K....

    Don't know why I hadn't heard of this band before. Fisherman's blues were in one of the episodes of Ray Donovan and now I think I've heard most of their songs, liked them all so far.


    Love the variety in the instruments and songs, they all sound unique.

    S.... K....

    All that matters is that you have now.

    Welcome and deep peace to you

  36. R.... ....

    Let it snow brought me here. Such a great song!

  37. A.... D....

    Play this loud sorry mum

  38. C.... B....

    Great song! Thanks tons for sharing!

  39. H.... 2....

    One of the most beautiful songs ever written!

  40. e.... ....

    i’m here because my physics teacher told me to check it out

  41. T.... B....

    Wally! You, know what this song meant to Lisa and Me! Bless You My Friend! Your Never Forgot! 💯❤️👊

  42. M.... B....

    This song was sung in an episode of an Irish show in the 90’s called Father Ted

  43. T.... T....

    After all those years I still love this song so very much. 
    Check their perfect Bowie tribute @4:20..

    T.... T....

    THAT THEN THERE thats the great Karl Wallanger of World Party fame, in retrospect his work on this Waterboys song cant be understated, that pop polish, the bassline and the vocal backing arrangings , the synth key stabs, are all his.

  44. P.... ....

    Prince's version brought me here. I see why he liked it.👍

  45. C.... f....

    The Very good song

  46. C.... F....

    Check the lads out singing this song in the pub - just search “lads singing whole of the moon in pub” AMAZING!!

  47. J.... I....

    Always makes me cry.

  48. T.... ....

    2020 still love it.

  49. J.... J....

    Beautiful

  50. M.... S....

    Still the best version

  51. c.... ....

    Incredibly beautiful!!

  52. M.... G....

    Heard this on Sirius radio this morning. Hadn't heard it in years

  53. r.... ....

    The Affair brought me here and I can’t get this song out of my head since

  54. d.... ....

    It is joy, hope, redemption and self-reflection all in one... What a song.

    d.... ....

    I agree. The lyrics are incredibly.

  55. H.... L....

    Takes me back to the first cool bar I used to go. I walked in and this was playing. Brilliant

  56. D.... D....

    Love you Donna, RIP you wonderful angel......

  57. I.... A....

    NOAH F***NG SOLLOWAY

  58. M.... N....

    Thanks to Dublin's Q102, i now know this terrific song...

  59. b.... c....

    Love this song and band. Whatever became of them? I remember hearing this for the first time in the 80's...

    b.... c....

    They're still very active and released a new album this year called "Where the Action Is."

  60. J.... T....

    The Affair!

    J.... T....

    🥰🥰🥰👍

  61. T.... A....

    Just a another classical song, so good feel factor..
    Love this song,, thank you Moon........

  62. M.... ....

    #TheAffair

  63. n.... ....

    The affair bought me here ... beautiful meaning song!.. thank you

  64. e.... m....

    One of the best songs ever made. Never dates 🥰❤️

  65. G.... P....

    Christmas 2019 and the explosion sound still catches me unawares :D

    G.... P....

    Here Dec 19th...Merry Christmas..

  66. N.... B....

    The Maz!

  67. m.... n....

    This song is just brilliantly
    done.
    The words make this song
    One of the 1980s best ever.
    Love it.

    m.... n....

    Amen...

    m.... n....

    May be the best of song of the 1980's !!!

    m.... n....

    @bruce walter I want to use this to teach metaphor, parallelism, contrast, example, and punctuation.
    It's pretty perfect.

  68. E.... ....

    here from Let it snow. Kinda basic movie but not that bad.

  69. D.... A....

    I have loved this song since I first heard it in 1980 (Written by Michael Scott and performed by the Waterboys) even Bob Dylan has said that a better song can’t be written. As much as I love this song it’s beauty and power always breaks my heart a little. A magnificent piece of music performed to perfection

    D.... A....

    I can't agree more, I adore this song, this performance, but the feeling is so much more than nostalgia. It's like the greatest joy, mixed with the most profound loss. As you say beaks my heart, just a little bit.

    D.... A....

    But also, Mike Scott.... excuse me while I melt.

    D.... A....

    gertie moo I agree with you also (although Mike probably melts you in a different way than he does me😉) I do want to mention Karl Wallinger aka World Party (always worth checking out) playing keyboards.

    D.... A....

    Mike didnt write it till 1985

    D.... A....

    Doc Gonzales I stand corrected. 1985 it is

  70. M.... E....

    The movie 'Let It Snow' brought me here... I love this awesome tune! ❤❤❤

  71. F.... r....

    Quien viene por noches blancas? 🥴😻

  72. i.... ....

    What happened to these guys?

  73. J.... B....

    A true f-ing classic

  74. A.... R....

    This song, the band said is for those who can resonate with it. Cheers to us! 🔥♥🌛🌝🌚

  75. W.... S....

    Brings back memories of the UK love it 😍🇨🇦

  76. B.... A....

    I love,classic songs like this.

  77. S.... S....

    YOU..SEE..THE..WHOLE..OF..THE..MOON love it..

  78. B.... S....

    Great song

  79. Y.... F....

    I love this Video

  80. b.... ....

    Who's here after hear this playing at U2's concert?

    b.... ....

    Not me. Good, was it?

    b.... ....

    @Guy Pierson absolutely.

    b.... ....

    Joshua Tree Tour Mumbai 2019

  81. S.... X....

    U2! But this guys hair is amazing

  82. �.... ....

    Why isn’t a dvd 📀 of all their videos available-desperately needed! I was there when this was first released! Classic- great lyrics

  83. U.... ....

    This is music, folks and when lyrics actually mattered.

    U.... ....

    They still do, but it's more rare these days

    U.... ....

    @Fiona I don't think it's more rare that lyrics are meaningful; I think people have forgotten meaningless lyrics from the 80s by now

    U.... ....

    The lyrics here are pure poetry.

    U.... ....

    And didnt have 30 writers just to repeat ooooh baby 50 times

    U.... ....

    Marina Diamandis still makes good lyrics but other than that yeah... Hard to find new bands. The ones on top are trash. "Shake my booty blah blah"!

    Remember when The Black Eyed Peas did Where Is The Love? Incredible lyrics. They devolved to "my humps my humps my lovely lady lumps". Wtf? Now it's all about insane dumb lyrics and swimsuit wearing twerkjerks.

  84. W.... M....

    Had me in tears...such an anthem

  85. c.... ....

    Only discovered this after watching U2 in Singapore. Great song!

    c.... ....

    Saw them in NZ! The moon was full!! Hope you had a great time

    c.... ....

    Same too and it was a great show!

  86. w.... h....

    I'm here because of U2 Joshua Tree Tour 2019

    w.... h....

    @suyatno budijanto mantaaap

    w.... h....

    Beem in my head since

  87. S.... D....

    Just listened this from the U2 concert, one of the reason why 80's was the best decade I've been.

    S.... D....

    This is true for a lot of us..have been listening it for the past 2 days..Thanks U2..what a concert from The Greatest Band since Led Zep..Rock will live on..Cheers

    S.... D....

    Joshua Tree Mumbai 15th December 2019

    S.... D....

    SAMEEE LMFAO

    S.... D....

    Yep...I went to U2 here in Australia 2019 and heard it again...Why the hell were they not as big commercially as U2. Such a brilliant songwriter.

    S.... D....

    exactly everyone else, I've got to my head U2 saitama Japan.
    great song.

  88. M.... S....

    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

    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 🌕

    M.... S....

    Americans need to know that “torch” means flashlight in the UK, not actual fire.

  89. M.... D....

    Amazing band

  90. m.... ....

    Ein richtig guter Song. Love this

  91. 1.... ....

    Love this song so much♥️♥️♥️♥️♥️♥️

  92. S.... C....

    Love this even more after season 5 of The Affair 😍

    S.... C....

    Love the mob flash at the finale "The Affair", and I heard it at U2 concert in SG. Love it even more.

    S.... C....

    Stella C yes

    S.... C....

    Ditto! I haven’t been able to get this song out of my mind, LOL

    S.... C....

    That series finale was one of the best finales I've ever seen. Joy, sadness, and a look ahead. Good luck, Noah. I hope you finally conquered your demons.

  93. K.... N....

    Den Song hatte ich vergessen und dann kam die Flash Mob-Dance Szene in Final Affaire (oder so ähnlich). Dabei ist das wirklich ein Song, der sich aus der Masse heraushebt. Never forget anymore.

    K.... N....

    Karin Neff
    IMHO ‘The Affair’ is one of the greatest series in recent years - I love everything about it and ofc the music ‚nailed it‘ as well ;)
    Can’t believe either that I’ve forgotten that song (and the Band at all) all those years - maybe bc it was released almost 35 years ago - I don’t know, but I’m glad it’s back in my head now 🖤

    K.... N....

    @ARealPartOfMe It was on the Fisherman Blues album, released in about 1985 if I remember correctly (might have been '84, the mid-eighties are abit hazy now ;-D )

  94. p.... ....

    Málaga 1990

  95. J.... P....

    Great song!!!

  96. D.... D....

    Super song and vois

  97. D.... D....

    Finally! A decent copy of this video!!

  98. N.... P....

    🎵💙🎵💙