Mike Scott (musician)

Once you were tethered
now you are free
That was the river
this is the sea.

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 Pagan Place (1984)

She is everywhere and noplace
Like a breath or like a wind…

• 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 have heard
the big music
and I'll never be the same
something so pure
just called my name.

I'm coming up forever
shadows all behind me
ecstacy to come…

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

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

I was grounded — while you filled the skies
I was dumbfounded by truth — you cut through lies …

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!

• 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"

• 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"

Dream Harder (1993)

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

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 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'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"

• 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"

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 the wind at his heels
  • "The Man With The Wind At His Heels"

External links

• Mike Scott - The Waterboys official website