Song: “The Whole of the Moon”
A soundscape that sweeps you away, and lyrics about seeing the full picture
Mike Scott was walking with his girlfriend one evening in New York City when she asked him how hard it was to write a song. He pulled a piece of paper from his pocket and scribbled a few lines, describing a moment they had just been sharing — “I saw the crescent. You saw the whole of the moon.”
These lines became the seeds of the Waterboys’ 1985 classic. Another song that wasn’t an immediate hit, “The Whole of the Moon” has only grown more popular and enmeshed in culture over time.
Contemplating those people who see farther and may burn faster because of it, the song has production values that immediately catapult you into a Scottish mode, highlands about you, wind whipping, and waves crashing in the distance. The trumpets were meant to mimic those on the Beatles’ “Penny Lane,” to suggest the sky opening up in brilliant light.
The band was not a fan of the ’80s synths, but found a way to incorporate them here in a gorgeous soundscape.
Max Edie, the female singer who comes in around the 2:40 mark, was told to sing as if she were “a carefree eight-year-old.”
The song has been covered by Fiona Apple and Prince. It’s in C, with a sauntering tempo of 108 bpm.
“The Whole of the Moon” has always lifted my spirits, no matter what is going on. The ending is delirious.
Enjoy!
Suggest a song to cover by email. Thanks!