flashback friday - this is the sea

so, i grew up by the beach, which means, inevitably, i have a thing about the ocean. i spent most of my childhood summers at the beach and many spring breaks camping at another beach. i surfed (or at least, tried to - i would never be so naive to claim i was ever any good at it) and boogieboarded. so, when i listen to the waterboys' excellent this is the sea, it takes me back to my childhood is so many good ways.

formed in 1983 and hailing mainly from scotland (with irish and english members as well), the waterboys tend to have an interesting yet fairly timeless mix of rock and celtic folk to their songs. they've put out nine studio albums (with a tenth due this september) as well as numerous compilations and solo albums (especially from singer mike scott).



and as good as their songs tend to be, my favorite is, without any competition, is this is the sea. anchored by a guitar which simulates the pull of waves and sent adrift with lovely lyrics, the song is almost spiritual sounding. chills, friends. chills are what i get whenever i hear this one.

these things you keep
you better throw the away
you wanna turn your back
on your soulless days
once you were tethered
an' now you are free
once you were tethered
an' now you are free
that was the river
this is the sea

and now, if you're feelin' weary
if you been alone too long
or maybe you been sufferin' from
a few too many
plans that have gone wrong
and you're tryin' to remember
how fine your life used to be
runnin' around banging your drum
like it's 1973
well that was the river
this is the sea

and now you say you got trouble
you say you got pain
you say you got nothin' left to believe in
nothin' to hold onto
nothin' but chains
you been scourin' your conscience
and rakin' through your memory
scourin' your conscience
rakin' through your memory
but that was the river
this is the sea, yeah

now i can see you wavering
as you try to decide
you got a war in your head
and it's tearin' you up inside
you're tryin' to make sense
of something that you just don't see
tryin' to make sense now
and you know that you once held the key
but that was the river
this is the sea
yeah, yeah, yeah

now i hear there's a train
it's comin' down the line
it's yours if you hurry
you got still enough time
and you don't need no ticket
and you don't pay no fee
naw, you don't need no ticket
and you don't pay no fee
because that was the river
and this is the sea
that was the river
this is the sea
behold the sea

(mp3) this is the sea by the waterboys

not an official video, but so very fitting, especially since the song was featured in the excellent surfing documentary riding giants (which you really ought to watch, because i'm not joking about its excellence; besides, it's about surfing, peeps. and if you don't like surfing, well...i can't help you):



buy this is the sea by the waterboys HERE.