# 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 handsUncontained 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.
** "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)

* 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.
* 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 youwhen 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

* Mike Scott - The Waterboys official website