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The Waterboys — Old England
Album: This is the Sea
Avg rating:
6.5

Your rating:
Total ratings: 496









Released: 1985
Length: 5:27
Plays (last 30 days): 0
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A man looks up on a yellow sky
And the rain turns to rust in his eye
Rumours of his health are lies
Old england is dying

His clothes are dirty shade of blue
And his ancient shoes worn through
He steals from me and he lies to you
Old england is dying

Still he sings an empires song
And still he keeps his beliefs strong
And he sticks his flag where it ill, belongs
Old england is dying

You're asking what makes me sigh now
What it is makes me shudder so
Well
I just FREEZE in the wind
And I'm numb from the pummeling of the snow
That falls from high in yellow skies
Where the well loved flag of england flies
Where the homes are warm and the mothers sigh
Where comedians laugh and babies cry
Where criminals are televised politicians fraternized
Journalists are dignified and everyone is civilised
And children stare with heroin eyes, heroin eyes, heroin eyes
Old England!

Evening has fallen
The swans are singing
The last of Sundays bells is ringing
The wind in the trees is sighing
And old england is dying
Comments (130)add comment
 LindaSimmers wrote:

Pretty Good.


Yes!  The WBs are hit or miss for me.  This tune is a hit!
Posted 6 months ago by joejennings    [ Reply ]
Pretty Good.
Posted 9 years ago by LindaSimmers    [ Reply ]

Great track by an original and versatile musician/band. Product of a particular era for sure—I suspect it's hard for folks who hit their teens post-Thatcher to get into it though.


Posted 13 years ago by danicavm    [ Reply ]
Blech
Posted 14 years ago by Raechel    [ Reply ]
Anything from Mike Scott and The Waterboys is fine with me. "Fisherman's Blues" is my favorite album...
Posted 14 years ago by citizenkeith    [ Reply ]
 peter_james_bond wrote:
Gimmie a 'C', a bouncing 'C'!

Wasn't Old England replaced by New England?

 
And New Amsterdam was replaced by New York

Posted 14 years ago by Dillinquent    [ Reply ]
This group was the precursor to The Walkmen.{#Yes}
Posted 14 years ago by sirdroseph    [ Reply ]
 peter_james_bond wrote:
Gimmie a 'C', a bouncing 'C'!

Wasn't Old England replaced by New England?

 

You're correct - and Istanbul was Constantinople.
Posted 14 years ago by SinisterDexter    [ Reply ]
Miserable and depressing, IMHO. A 22 minute Jethro Tull track would be better. Well...not really.
Posted 14 years ago by steve_san_carlos    [ Reply ]
 toterola wrote:

The girl who wrote that review is definitely a graduate of the "Lester Bangs" school of kick-'em-in-the-nuts journalism. Good read, nonetheless.

 
She is absolutely full of shit!


Posted 14 years ago by lattalo    [ Reply ]
 lerxst wrote:
Saw them open for U2 at the Tower Theater near Philly in 1984.  Never saw or heard much from them after that.
 
I missed them at the Cap Center for the same tour; stayed in the parking lot altering my attitude... ah, high school.

Posted 14 years ago by robco1    [ Reply ]
more Waterboys is better: bumper stickers should be issued.

Great song by a great band
Posted 14 years ago by jersey_birdman    [ Reply ]
Saw them open for U2 at the Tower Theater near Philly in 1984.  Never saw or heard much from them after that.
Posted 14 years ago by lerxst    [ Reply ]
this is a DREADFUL song - please make it stop
Posted 15 years ago by liser    [ Reply ]
One of my favorite '80s new wave songs.  Brings me back to my college days .....

Posted 15 years ago by beachmom    [ Reply ]
will it never end?
Posted 15 years ago by guinadese    [ Reply ]

On of the firsts albums i buyed. Mike Scott is a strong musician, with different registers, from rock to folk. This is the "big music".


Posted 15 years ago by joanot    [ Reply ]
Briliantly amazing
Posted 15 years ago by TheKing2    [ Reply ]
 More_Cowbell wrote:
annoying
 
I agree, it needs more cowbell!

Posted 15 years ago by Felix_The_Cat    [ Reply ]
annoying
Posted 15 years ago by More_Cowbell    [ Reply ]
Gimmie a 'C', a bouncing 'C'!

Wasn't Old England replaced by New England?

Posted 15 years ago by peter_james_bond    [ Reply ]
Sucko-Barfo, oh yeah!
Posted 15 years ago by Felix_The_Cat    [ Reply ]
I wish I could have played the Love Bazooka (i.e., sax) for the Waterboys. I'd forgotten how good that song was.

And now that I see he got to go through life with the untouchably fine name of Anthony Thistlethwaite, that desire is even greater. Some guys have all the luck.


Posted 15 years ago by FrankMc    [ Reply ]
very, very british
nice
Posted 15 years ago by federico    [ Reply ]
 ScottFromWyoming wrote:
I like this album a lot but Ira's a hater:

Edinburgh-born singer/guitarist/pianist Mike Scott formed the Waterboys in London, singing bombastic folky rock derived in equal parts from U2, Bruce Springsteen and Bob Dylan. On The Waterboys (and its five-song American condensation, later supplanted by a belated issue of the entire LP), Scott, saxophonist Anthony Thistlethwaite, an organist and various rhythm players squeeze every ounce of drama into his preciously poetic lyrics and pseudo-epic melodies. Enough of a selfconsciously sensitive artiste to confuse extended song length and artistic depth, Scott comes off as a modestly talented blowhard. 
Read it all at Trouser Press
 
The girl who wrote that review is definitely a graduate of the "Lester Bangs" school of kick-'em-in-the-nuts journalism. Good read, nonetheless.

Posted 15 years ago by toterola    [ Reply ]
That's pretty clever, maintaining that off-beat kinda rhythm on the piano! (I know there must be a technical name, but I dropped piano , to my everafter regret, when I was 11.)


Posted 15 years ago by lawman    [ Reply ]
I like this album a lot but Ira's a hater:

Edinburgh-born singer/guitarist/pianist Mike Scott formed the Waterboys in London, singing bombastic folky rock derived in equal parts from U2, Bruce Springsteen and Bob Dylan. On The Waterboys (and its five-song American condensation, later supplanted by a belated issue of the entire LP), Scott, saxophonist Anthony Thistlethwaite, an organist and various rhythm players squeeze every ounce of drama into his preciously poetic lyrics and pseudo-epic melodies. Enough of a selfconsciously sensitive artiste to confuse extended song length and artistic depth, Scott comes off as a modestly talented blowhard. 
Read it all at Trouser Press
Posted 15 years ago by ScottFromWyoming    [ Reply ]
 calypsus_1 wrote:

 

It seems there are users in RP Station that behave as agitators and destructive; and poor education and lack of respect; frustation repressed? infantis behaviour? Bizarre situations? are a genuine obstacle and nuisance to who frequents the RP Station with interest the positive aspects and seriously; should in future there by the administrator a default filter good habits and customs that avoids this type of abuse.

These situations "gratuitous-pure-exhibitionism" telling should be given warning, and if they are not binding, must be banned.

The Waterboys - Old England -  ** 7 **


  personally, I think the "me and god hate this song" thing is kinda funny, regardless if I agree with his opinion about the music or not. Free speech right? Do you think he' really just trying to be destructive?  I thought he was trying to be funny.


Posted 15 years ago by Mandible    [ Reply ]
 calypsus_1 wrote:

 

It seems there are users in RP Station that behave as agitators and destructive; and poor education and lack of respect; frustation repressed? infantis behaviour? Bizarre situations? are a genuine obstacle and nuisance to who frequents the RP Station with interest the positive aspects and seriously; should in future there by the administrator a default filter good habits and customs that avoids this type of abuse.

These situations "gratuitous-pure-exhibitionism" telling should be given warning, and if they are not binding, must be banned.

The Waterboys - Old England -  ** 7 **


 
hear hear!!! we could start with "him & god" and his gramatical ineptitude

Posted 15 years ago by Limpopoking    [ Reply ]
I saw the whole of the moon!

Posted 16 years ago by TanteJensen    [ Reply ]

 

It seems there are users in RP Station that behave as agitators and destructive; and poor education and lack of respect; frustation repressed? infantis behaviour? Bizarre situations? are a genuine obstacle and nuisance to who frequents the RP Station with interest the positive aspects and seriously; should in future there by the administrator a default filter good habits and customs that avoids this type of abuse.

These situations "gratuitous-pure-exhibitionism" telling should be given warning, and if they are not binding, must be banned.

The Waterboys - Old England -  ** 7 **


Posted 16 years ago by calypsus_1    [ Reply ]
Loved this song when it came out... but God, the sax sounds so overdone now... our 80's ears were tuned differently. The horn is at it's most effective on this song when it's brought down QUIET. And therein lay the lesson for musicians ever after!
Posted 16 years ago by deselby    [ Reply ]
That sax always lets you know it's 80's music.
Posted 16 years ago by weevilkinevil    [ Reply ]
Peculiar mix these guys use. It's like they found a knob on the mixing desk marked "tinny" and turned it up to 11.

I wonder what they would sound like with a "normal" tonal balance?
Posted 16 years ago by lewie221    [ Reply ]
 wenatchee wrote:
Like cheese blowing through a tuba while someone bangs away at the keys
 
Ahhhh...cheesetuba. Quite the image.
As for me, the random horn blasts made me think of Rob Lowe playing sax in St Elmo's Fire. Just as out of place and amusing.

Posted 16 years ago by notremotely    [ Reply ]
omg - somebody make it stop... please.....
Posted 16 years ago by gofishbish    [ Reply ]
This is a wonderful album, but I do think this is the worst track on the LP.
 
Posted 16 years ago by MCKY    [ Reply ]
Sorry, this is annoying...
Posted 16 years ago by stevo_b    [ Reply ]
  

Oooh! Oi loves me a Songe of merrie Aulde Englande.  But not this one.


Posted 16 years ago by Hannio    [ Reply ]
Mike Scott is pretty decent, but this is not a good representation.
Posted 16 years ago by Jared    [ Reply ]
Nope, I can't enjoy this one, either. Ugh.
{#Stupid}
Posted 16 years ago by 2Hawks    [ Reply ]
Phillistines the lot of you !!!!

Posted 16 years ago by scozzie    [ Reply ]
bokey wrote:
Horribly unlistenable at this time
Horribly unlistenable at any time.
Posted 16 years ago by Excelsior    [ Reply ]
I love this track. Lyrically beautiful, it is absoultely spot on the truth.
Posted 16 years ago by Atlantis    [ Reply ]
Horribly unlistenable at this time
Posted 16 years ago by bokey    [ Reply ]
i adore mike scott but this is painful.
Posted 16 years ago by lophrequa    [ Reply ]
Like cheese blowing through a tuba while someone bangs away at the keys
Posted 16 years ago by wenatchee    [ Reply ]
firerytrigon wrote:
Terrible song, bad message, awful group!!! 1 is too much.
Agreed!
Posted 16 years ago by Excelsior    [ Reply ]
There are far better tracks off this record, namely the title track, "The Whole of the Moon" and the opening track that aren't played on RP. Still good to hear this one though.
Posted 16 years ago by phlattop    [ Reply ]
Saw them last year in Sheffield.....it was the best they'd been. Celtic soul with buddhist undertones, very spiritual guy Mike....goes his own way. Sometimes it's worth following. :-)
Posted 16 years ago by si    [ Reply ]
Terrible song, bad message, awful group!!! 1 is too much.
Posted 16 years ago by firerytrigon    [ Reply ]
Excellent excellent. I love the waterboys.
Posted 16 years ago by rosedraws    [ Reply ]
The military march tempo fits the context and content of the song, if you were to listen to the lyrics. That is one of the things that makes the Waterboys such a great band with such enduring songs... they are tapestries woven from the fiber of the topic being addressed, rather than being a pop replay of what is currently fashionable in the music industry. OLD ENGLAND A man looks up on a yellow sky and the rain turns to rust in his eye rumours of his health are lies old england is dying his clothes are dirty shade of blue and his ancient shoes worn through he steals from me and he lies to you old england is dying still he sings an empires song and still he keeps his beliefs strong and he sticks his flag where it all belongs old england is dying you're asking what makes me sigh now what it is makes me shudder so well I just FREEZE in the wind and I'm numb from the pummeling of the snow that falls from high in yellow skies where the well loved flag of england flies Where the homes are warm and the mothers sigh where comedians laugh and babies cry where criminals are televised politicians fraternized journalists are dignified and everyone is civilised and children stare with heroin eyes, heroin eyes, heroin eyes Old England! evening has fallen the swans are singing the last of Sundays bells is ringing the wind in the trees is sighing and old england is dying
Posted 16 years ago by jadewahoo    [ Reply ]
horstman wrote:
This wasn't their finest moment by any stretch of the imagination! Too "march to the beat of a soldier" tempo, repitition without innovation. Started out okay and then went south pretty hard and fast. Solid 3.
I'm not giving it a 3, but there are far, far better songs by the Waterboys. For those that don't like this song, please don't judge the band by it.
Posted 16 years ago by MLavender    [ Reply ]
Love the Waterboys ... its that piano melodic beat behind it thats so catchy to the ear,, they do this with the piano or the mandolin quite well
Posted 16 years ago by huebdoo    [ Reply ]
This wasn't their finest moment by any stretch of the imagination! Too "march to the beat of a soldier" tempo, repitition without innovation. Started out okay and then went south pretty hard and fast. Solid 3.
Posted 17 years ago by horstman    [ Reply ]
Nabla wrote:
even like Supertramp?
Please don't bring Supertramp in on any Waterboys discussions or you may be sentenced to listening to 10 consecutive playings of "Breakfast in America" as your penance...
Posted 17 years ago by treatment_bound    [ Reply ]
Very good song and album Clearly underrated in RP, though, IMHO
Posted 17 years ago by qosforever    [ Reply ]
Changing to a 10. Heard the first few chords and was taken back for a lovely trip down memory lane.
Posted 17 years ago by shakylegs    [ Reply ]
crazy wrote:
sounds like david grey
even like Supertramp?
Posted 17 years ago by Nabla    [ Reply ]
sorry didn't read down the comments
Posted 17 years ago by crazy    [ Reply ]
sounds like david grey
Posted 17 years ago by crazy    [ Reply ]
Selling (old) England by the Pound...?
Posted 17 years ago by Nabla    [ Reply ]
TKTuttle wrote:
Everything everyone below said that was bad about this song, and then some. Gah.
At the risk of being criticised for airing a negative opinion: I agree! This guy's singing style and voice are terrible! Yipes! And the militaristic marching flavour of the beat is really droning. Hup-two-three-four!
Posted 17 years ago by musikalia    [ Reply ]
coldatlantic wrote:
It occurs to me that his vocal rhythm is a lot like David Gray, especially on this track.
Well said. Ain't a bad thing either. Very cool, indeed.
Posted 17 years ago by Verpeiler    [ Reply ]
gntlemanartist wrote:
Almost as bad as Dylan.
That's pretty low!
Posted 17 years ago by baddog8it    [ Reply ]
Very cool - I've never heard it before. It occurs to me that his vocal rhythm is a lot like David Gray, especially on this track.
Posted 17 years ago by coldatlantic    [ Reply ]
Harrowing eyes.....heroin eyes........ Munsch's "Scream" Can't help wondering if different instrumentation might have made this into something much different, perhaps better.
Posted 17 years ago by TerryS    [ Reply ]
H-bomb wrote:
oh no!!! that nasty sax was not the end!!! it just keeps going! make it stop!
Regret to agree. AMG says this group performs "Celtic rock," but this sounds so far from that that I wondered whether it was the wrong cut.
Posted 17 years ago by rKokon    [ Reply ]
I like this jam but it's only a 7 - for now
Posted 17 years ago by buckskin    [ Reply ]
este es uno de los mejores discos que jamás se han realizado en la historia del rock and roll
Posted 17 years ago by 34bogas    [ Reply ]
love this band!
Posted 17 years ago by bodhisattva1031    [ Reply ]
pret-a-porter wrote:
it's 4/4 time - the trick is that the piano rhythm accents the offbeat - which is helped along by the military sounding snare
I'd thought that, but there's so much going on rhythmically that I thought I was also hearing something a little more exotic. I have to pay better attention next time around. Tnx.
Posted 17 years ago by MtnGoat    [ Reply ]
MrCaps wrote:
This album is A1. I have not heard this since the 80's. Boy does time fly.
It's amazing how modern this sounds...especially since it's over 20 years old.
Posted 17 years ago by DrCyKosis    [ Reply ]
MtnGoat wrote:
I respect this, alot. But I don't really like it. Anyone hazard a guess at a time signature?
it's 4/4 time - the trick is that the piano rhythm accents the offbeat - which is helped along by the military sounding snare
Posted 17 years ago by pret-a-porter    [ Reply ]
I respect this, alot. But I don't really like it. Anyone hazard a guess at a time signature?
Posted 17 years ago by MtnGoat    [ Reply ]
ah - I was over in lrc land and just looked up to see what was hap'nin on the main line - so often I miss great songs this song is genius!!!!
Posted 17 years ago by pret-a-porter    [ Reply ]
...like liver, this band is not for everyone. But for those who love it, it is rich indeed...
Posted 17 years ago by lovelifealways    [ Reply ]
andersja wrote:
Sounds a little like John Lennon music.
So THAT's why it sounds so bad...
Posted 17 years ago by pinto    [ Reply ]
mrmojorisin wrote:
This song has not aged well.
Have you?
Posted 17 years ago by Zep    [ Reply ]
I haven't heard much of these guys, but I like 'em. Reminds me of James.
Posted 18 years ago by laprincessa    [ Reply ]
God someone please shoot these guys.
Posted 18 years ago by bokey    [ Reply ]
Sounds a little like John Lennon music.
Posted 18 years ago by andersja    [ Reply ]
this band was way overestimated
Posted 18 years ago by federico    [ Reply ]
Mis-quote, "Me thinks thou dost protesteth too much!"
Posted 18 years ago by Mack    [ Reply ]
Posted 18 years ago by buck-arkansas    [ Reply ]
This song has not aged well.
Posted 18 years ago by mrmojorisin    [ Reply ]
They shoulda used this over the end credits of "V For Vendetta..."
Posted 18 years ago by NorthernLad    [ Reply ]
oh no!!! that nasty sax was not the end!!! it just keeps going! make it stop!
Posted 18 years ago by H-bomb    [ Reply ]
Sweet choice. Thanks Bill! I had not heard this in a long time, and wondered if it was new. The political themes are errily current. Eh, England never changes (nor does the US). "Old Van Morrison" eh? Maybe you had listen to *both* again! When was the last time you listened to the Van Man, anyway?
Posted 18 years ago by gregormiz    [ Reply ]
Almost as bad as Dylan.
Posted 18 years ago by gntlemanartist    [ Reply ]
Great band, great catalog
Posted 18 years ago by Johnny_Wave    [ Reply ]
Everything everyone below said that was bad about this song, and then some. Gah.
Posted 18 years ago by TKTuttle    [ Reply ]
The piano sounds SO amateurish it is annoying - not to mention the overwrought vocals. Blah.
Posted 18 years ago by justlistening    [ Reply ]
RichardPrins wrote:
(just love the piano hammering and sax! Dynamics & lyrics too)
Wow, I find the piano very distracting. Detracts from an already marginal piece IMHO.
Posted 18 years ago by justlistening    [ Reply ]
Horrible Song
Posted 18 years ago by Luna2    [ Reply ]
Posted 18 years ago by KSC    [ Reply ]
Posted 18 years ago by elduderino    [ Reply ]
Interestingly enough, early in the song, I thought the singer might have been Brian Molko, of Placebo. Stylistically very different, but the voice had a similar nasal whine.
Posted 18 years ago by SoulOfMyShoe    [ Reply ]
Lazy8 wrote:
Not just scratches, big ugly gouges down the blackboard.
Good description. I was sitting here very annoyed at this, and this is the exact description I was looking for.
Posted 18 years ago by SCprof    [ Reply ]
Man, that is some bad sax. I mean, really bad.
Posted 18 years ago by bigstory    [ Reply ]
Not one of their best, but it's nice to hear the H20 boys here!
Posted 18 years ago by crockydile    [ Reply ]
i've been sitting here while enjoying this tune trying to figure out where i've heard this sound before. oh, yes: Van Morrison. good to hear some new "old Van Morrison," even if its called the Waterboys. i have to give it a seven; that's a 9 because i really like it, minus 2 for suspect originality.
Posted 18 years ago by nohopenofearnoname    [ Reply ]
Not just scratches, big ugly gouges down the blackboard.
Posted 18 years ago by Lazy8    [ Reply ]
Always enjoy hearing the Waterboys!
Posted 18 years ago by jadewahoo    [ Reply ]
Old England is dead.
Posted 19 years ago by ottojama    [ Reply ]
Cool choice RP! This is a great tune by a great band!
Posted 19 years ago by dtb    [ Reply ]
Wow -- great pleasure to hear the Waterboys here. And it hardly matters the song, there is just something about this band and music that make me woozy, in a good way. Keep 'em comin'!
Posted 19 years ago by gussie    [ Reply ]
Been waiting for a Waterboys tune to respond to. Wow. I was first introduced to the band when I watched "Riding Giants," the documentary on the surfing culture and the quest to ride the highest wave. Great movie, and the final song was the Waterboys,' "This is the Sea." What an apropos finish to a excellent movie. Lyrics not for the intellectually challenged, the band zeros in on social themes, such as this, "Old England." Great history lesson.
Posted 19 years ago by JJAB    [ Reply ]
nuno wrote:
Excelent tune. One of those I can't believe I've forgoten about. This has been a very nice sequence with Kate Bush's Cloudbusting and now this one. Hope it keeps up. Good job!
yes, what nuno said!
Posted 19 years ago by Angloray    [ Reply ]
So it's a "he," yet all I keep hearing is Chryssie Hynde mixed with Concrete Blonde (and a little Midnight Oil thrown in for good measure).
Posted 19 years ago by radiojunkie    [ Reply ]
(just love the piano hammering and sax! Dynamics & lyrics too)
Posted 19 years ago by R_P    [ Reply ]
His voice evokes an earnestness, hard to find , where others actually shout, he succeeds. An 8.
Posted 19 years ago by trekhead    [ Reply ]
Wow I'm more impressed every hour with RP! Would love to hear Fisherman's Blues by the Waterboys too.
Posted 19 years ago by yogaboat    [ Reply ]
Posted 19 years ago by edechewe    [ Reply ]
Great song with somehow a lot of tension in it. I like it more and more.
Posted 20 years ago by Lkw    [ Reply ]
i came in on the middle and thought I heard "like a rolling stone". So-k
Posted 20 years ago by katzendogs    [ Reply ]
Great unique voice!
Posted 20 years ago by spieler    [ Reply ]
:meditate.gif:
Posted 20 years ago by Zukiwi    [ Reply ]
Remastered re-release includes 14 more tracks on bonus disc...
Posted 20 years ago by R_P    [ Reply ]