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The Waterboys — November Tale
Album: Modern Blues
Avg rating:
6.7

Your rating:
Total ratings: 1586









Released: 2015
Length: 5:16
Plays (last 30 days): 0
Her communique arrived with its expression of her feeling
I swear I had no idea she'd been holding in concealing
Such a storm of words unsaid
That absurd as it appears
Had been blowing in her head
For twenty-seven years

I knew I had to face her so I grabbed my Davey Crocket
Threw a scarf around my neck
And twenty dollars in my pocket
Found her in the same old place
Pamphlet in her fist
When she saw my windblown face
Well look at who it is

Meet me on the mad parade
When the midnight bells are chiming
We'll dress up as the harlequin and the clown
Pile all the blunders that we've made
In a tower too tall for climbing
And we'll burn the damn thing down

In the grey November light she was older, still alluring
Her hair grey and longer than it ever had been during
The days we loved and slept
In her bed of faded wood
In the little place she kept
In a crumbling neighborhood

We walked along a while
Like we were old companions
But I could feel the gulf between us
Yawning like a canyon
She with her church and code
Her extravagant beliefs
Me a creature of the road
A child of dust and grief

Meet me on the mad parade
When the midnight bells are chiming
We'll dress up as the harlequin and the clown
Pile all the blunders that we've made
In a tower too tall for climbing
And we'll burn the damn thing down

She smoked a cigarette and blew smoke rings at the ceiling
Said if your problem is long standing, man
Why don't you try kneeling
Now your face I see you're still
A sinner in the mist
Setting up your little will
As king in place of His

I said I've heard about sin
Down the long wheels of ages
I cracked books of lies
With a thousand twisted pages
Then I looked her in the eye
And asked her clear and plain
If your religion was a lie
Then what would remain

She said I've got my beating heart
Two loving hands to heal with
There's nothing in my day
That I ain't got the strength to deal with
I said darling I profess
The same things applies to me
As for all the rest
We agreed to disagree

Meet me on the mad parade
When the midnight bells are chiming
We'll dress up as the harlequin and the clown
Pile all the blunders that we've made
In a tower too tall for climbing
And we'll burn the damn thing down
Yes we'll burn the damn thing down
Comments (84)add comment
Oh, I like this song of the Waterboys MUCH better than their more popular songs.
Delicious like a cake
So, I have to do a SLIGHT mia culpa, here.

I've heard RP play "Long Strange Golden Road" -- and I detest that song, FWIW -- SO many times -- I'd totally written The Waterboys off.

This song ain't too bad, tho.

I sure do love having my eyes (and ears) opened up!

Thanks, RP!!
Wish I could see them live
Please come back down under Waterboys!
Pretty good poetry in the songwriting. I like the lyrics a lot.
I gotta say, it's growing on me. I guess you could say that for the guy on the cover too. 
My grandma used to say "Well, well, look at who it is!" whenever we would visit. I don't think Mike Scott is singing about his grandma, unless they have a very unique relationship.
Mike Scott is up there with the best of rock groups who have successfully kept relevant with the times and kept creating great music.
That said, while a good solid album, it’s hard for him (or anyone for that matter IMHO), to approach the excellence that was Fisherman’s Blues.
I’ve lived through decades of music. This one touches multiple decades. Great tune and a magical performance
Titre excellent comme tout l'album. The Waterboys est un très bon groupe
Thanks RP.
Really digging this right now. Raised my rank to a solid 9.
November is so long and dreary. 
I like it (lyrics included) but it's not as epic as "Long Strange Golden Road".
 lizardking wrote:

I'm glad you have the skip button available....though I disagree with your assessment (other than the Daffy Duckish part) - I do think the lyrics are great....especially:

Pile all the blunders that we've made 
In a tower too tall for climbing
And we'll burn the damn thing down.  

Yup....this is a 9.321 for me...Long Live RP!!
 
To each his own. Can't win 'm all. But please add this one to the pile ;) 

Long love RP!
 Clyde_Bedow wrote:
Sonically quite pleasant.
Lyrically, trying too hard.
Feels like one of those "poetry slams" and not in a good way.
 
You're new to Mike Scott aren't you?
 MayBaby wrote:

Hmm, I'm bumping it from a 7 to 8 having just now read the lyrics.
 
I’ll see your 8 and raise it to 9, having just now read all the lyrics. (All I had caught before was the line about “if your problem is long-standing...”)
 Clyde_Bedow wrote:
Sonically quite pleasant.
Lyrically, trying too hard.
Feels like one of those "poetry slams" and not in a good way.
 
Hmm, I'm bumping it from a 7 to 8 having just now read the lyrics.
 DaidyBoy wrote:
I think

"I cracked books of lies"

should be:

"A cracked book of lies"

Or perhaps I'm not thinking.  It just appears to me that I am.
 
"I cracked books of lies with a thousand twisted page" is the whole thought, but not the whole of the moon.
 DaidyBoy wrote:
I think

"I cracked books of lies"

should be:

"A cracked book of lies"

Or perhaps I'm not thinking.  It just appears to me that I am.
 
I recently acquired this CD to listen to whenever I please, and it FINALLY dawned on me that this isn't a 'lost love' song as much as a 'lost love due to religious differences' - or so I interpret....and with that understanding, I think the "I cracked books of lies" to be correct....and I'm going to +1 to 10....this one hits me hard for some reason...LLRP!!
 Dirkson wrote:
Waterboys lyrics: It's like Daffy Duck is force reading you a Dictionary.

Thank god for the skip button RP!
 
I'm glad you have the skip button available....though I disagree with your assessment (other than the Daffy Duckish part) - I do think the lyrics are great....especially:

Pile all the blunders that we've made 
In a tower too tall for climbing
And we'll burn the damn thing down.  

Yup....this is a 9.321 for me...Long Live RP!!
Waterboys lyrics: It's like Daffy Duck is force reading you a Dictionary.

Thank god for the skip button RP!
 Clyde_Bedow wrote:
Sonically quite pleasant.
Lyrically, trying too hard.

Feels like one of those "poetry slams" and not in a good way.
 
Please show us some of your lyrics obtained without hard try.
The Waterboys...not to be confused with "The Underwater Boys" by Shriekback
I think

"I cracked books of lies"

should be:

"A cracked book of lies"

Or perhaps I'm not thinking.  It just appears to me that I am.
Just like November around these parts -- largely monochromatic and it seems to last forever.
This is a modern tale indeed. Y'all lighten up on this one. It's all rather truthy, if not necessarily musical (as we expect of The Waterboys, of course). May need to take it down to an 8. Dunno. Mr. Bill will likely play it again in about an hour, though (yeah, go figure). So I'll decide then what to do with this one,er, card: Play or fold. 
 lizardking wrote:

I can see how you'd feel that way, in fact I had that feeling too apparently as I had rated this as a 4, maybe it's timing or context or whatever, just that late in my work week (Fri at 420 ;-) ) after the FABULOUS set BillG's provided over the last 2.5 hours, well I had to bump to the 8 level and found something that resonated in his delivery and content.

 And I think Stuck in the Middle with you might fit nicely after this!



 
My comment from a year ago caught my eye because (maybe?) BillG listened to me and played "Stuck in the Middle with You" after this track.  NICE!!!

I've already upped my 8→9 on this Waterboys' track....there's something I really dig in how he spits the lyrics out....yeah right up my alley for the music, lyrics and presentation.  And followed by another of my 9's....life's fine LONG LIVE RP!!

Boooooooooooooring.
This song is played at least once per day. Not that great a song.  Please give this a break.  Thanks.
Reminiscent of Van Morrison... Perhaps it's an Irish thing.
They remind me a bit of Roger Clyne and the Peacemakers.
 Clyde_Bedow wrote:
Sonically quite pleasant.
Lyrically, trying too hard.
Feels like one of those "poetry slams" and not in a good way.

 
I can see how you'd feel that way, in fact I had that feeling too apparently as I had rated this as a 4, maybe it's timing or context or whatever, just that late in my work week (Fri at 420 ;-) ) after the FABULOUS set BillG's provided over the last 2.5 hours, well I had to bump to the 8 level and found something that resonated in his delivery and content.

 And I think Stuck in the Middle with you might fit nicely after this!

Long Live RP!
Sonically quite pleasant.
Lyrically, trying too hard.
Feels like one of those "poetry slams" and not in a good way.
I'm a lifelong fan and the Modern Blues album is one of their best yet...a fabulous band to see live if you ever get the chance...
 
The Water Boys...
Not to be confused with "The Underwater Boys" by Shriekback
such a great story, not unlike many conversations my wife and I have had over the past 40 years but we're still together
I think  one of The best, I saw them last year in California and I enjoyed a lot 
This one took a few listens to grow on me. At first, all I felt was disappointment that I wasn't hearing Fisherman's Blues for the 1000th time (seriously, I don't think it will ever get old). But then one day I found myself humming this melody while walking down the street and was surprised because I couldn't place the song immediately. However, the tune was clearly defined in my head, and I couldn't wait to hear whatever song it belonged to again! And here we are :-) 
 Quipper wrote:

Relationships and religion can be serious subjects to write about. Even though Mike Scott has seemed at times to be a little full of himself, I see nothing wrong with the tone he takes here. Interesting writing and a great band for many years...

 Nice one Quipper! Agree whole-heartedly...


thanx Bill
 Northern_Lights wrote:
Anything from this record makes me turn off the sound as fast as I can. It sounds like they are trying way to hard to be serious and to be taken seriously. I (almost) never complain about anything Bill plays, at worst his picks are something new and interesting. For this I will make an exception. To my ear this is garbage trying to be treasure. Throw it back in the can.

 
Relationships and religion can be serious subjects to write about. Even though Mike Scott has seemed at times to be a little full of himself, I see nothing wrong with the tone he takes here. Interesting writing and a great band for many years...
Anything from this record makes me turn off the sound as fast as I can. It sounds like they are trying way to hard to be serious and to be taken seriously. I (almost) never complain about anything Bill plays, at worst his picks are something new and interesting. For this I will make an exception. To my ear this is garbage trying to be treasure. Throw it back in the can.
Saw them last year in Galway, Ireland in a old ballroom called Seapoint leisure center. It was one of the best gigs i saw in my life. God 
bless Mike Scott and Steve Wickham  ...even thought i am an atheist  :)
lyric correction
.
In the great November lake she was older, still alluring 
should be
In the grey November light she was older, still alluring 
.
She said if God looked beaten hard 

should be
She said "I've got my beating heart 

 
Just prooves they were the real deal in 1983 and nice to hear they still got what it takes.
 lily34 wrote:
yes, but creepy cover art.

 
I like it. It is really nice Green Man. {#Daisy}


meh.

Har-li-k(w)aen


 joelbb wrote:

I don't think they are smart enough to be in on any joke.  If I hear this mo-fo mispronounce "harlequin" one more time, I'm going postal.

 
Really?  So how do you pronounce harlequin?
 Buckize wrote:
What is it with this horrible group lately?  So pretentious, so precious.  Their songs seem to last at least 20 minutes, and the words are such crap. Like poems from 7th graders that think they are pretty damn smart.  It's almost like they are in on the joke by presenting parody as serious music.  This is National Lampoon stuff.

 
I don't think they are smart enough to be in on any joke.  If I hear this mo-fo mispronounce "harlequin" one more time, I'm going postal.
 Buckize wrote:
What is it with this horrible group lately?  So pretentious, so precious.  Their songs seem to last at least 20 minutes, and the words are such crap. Like poems from 7th graders that think they are pretty damn smart.  It's almost like they are in on the joke by presenting parody as serious music.  This is National Lampoon stuff.

 
WTF?

 
  Imagine ! She is prompting
 All along with  a '' come hither."
What is it with this horrible group lately?  So pretentious, so precious.  Their songs seem to last at least 20 minutes, and the words are such crap. Like poems from 7th graders that think they are pretty damn smart.  It's almost like they are in on the joke by presenting parody as serious music.  This is National Lampoon stuff.
To me, this song has an Al Stewart touch.  In a good way :)
 
Every Waterboys track could be made twice as good by being made half as long.  Ten seconds of the Van Morrison track that followed this made it clear that he has in spades what the Waterboys lack, and have always lacked, and will always lack. Please - less! pxd
just bad
Interesting the first two times. Now a little tedious.
I love the Waterboys but this song is waayy over played. Along with all Steely Dan songs.
 lily34 wrote:
yes, but creepy cover art.

 
It's a damn fine ghillie suit.
Waitin on a Sunny Day at St. Dominic's Preview. 
 
Good song well done
Enjoy this.  Sounds like Mr Burns.
 Oz-2 wrote:
Backing a little Steely Dan perhaps?
 

You say that like sounding a little Steely Dan is a bad thing?


A great new album to listen too.{#Fever}
About 4 minutes too long
Had to turn it up a bit.  Good song.
Very nice. Now, let's hope they make it to my little burg.
Rather nice for a Wednesday morning here in sunny FL. 
 Babette55 wrote:
Overplayed....just my opinion {#Undecided}

 
Dude
Backing a little Steely Dan perhaps?

Grows on you.  
 lily34 wrote:
yes, but creepy cover art.

 
But quite cool! Gonna have to send a pointer to a winemaker friend for inspiration.
Overplayed....just my opinion {#Undecided}
This is the second song I have heard from this album. I like both. Nice that they continue to make some decent music.
that opening guitar hook reminds me of another, but can't quite remember which? 
 Frater_Kork wrote:
Mike Scotts voice and singing reminds me of Phil Lynott from Thin Lizzy.

 
Murray McLauchlan to me.
Mike Scotts voice and singing reminds me of Phil Lynott from Thin Lizzy.
And it's a hard, it's a hard, it's a hard, and it's a hard, ...

I'm sure it's an intentional reference, liking the song 
Saw these guys in May in Victoria, BC, Canada. Great show!
yes, but creepy cover art.

Picked up this album after hearing Long Strange Golden Road. (Thanks Bill!)  I haven't been disappointed.  Great tune and album.


This band is growing on me.  Whiskey and Water....boys
 blkstd wrote:
yay! H2O boys!
yayourself :D
 
 


yay! H2O boys!