In my daily (often excessive) perusal of youTube videos yesterday, I stumbled across a video of one of my favorite bands, Dawes, covering “Fisherman’s Blues” by The Waterboys.
For those who aren’t familiar with The Waterboys, they are most famous for their 1985 release, This is the Sea, and chances are you’ve heard the most popular song from that album, “The Whole of the Moon,” on the radio a handful of times. Three years later, after lead singer and principal songwriter, Mike Scott, moved from Scotland to Ireland, they released Fisherman’s Blues, which has a more traditional Irish feel and sounds a bit like it might sound if Bob Dylan, circa 1981, decided to join The Pogues.
In Dawes’ rendition of the title track of Fisherman’s Blues, they abandon the Irish feel altogether and adopt an entirely original groove that drummer, Griffin Goldsmith, executes with near perfection. I’ve watched the following video upwards of ten times already, and I still get chills from the intensity with which lead singer, Taylor Goldsmith, sings the redemptive final verse of this incredible song. Check it out:
“I know I will be loosened
From the bonds that hold me fast
That the chains all hung around me
Will fall away at last
And on that fine and fateful day
I will take me in my hands
I will ride on that train
I will be the fisherman”
Recommended further listening:
Along with the aforementioned Waterboys’ albums, listen to Mike Scott’s solo albums from the mid-90’s, Bring ‘Em All In and Still Burning. There are beautiful songs on both of these albums that are clearly devotional in nature, namely “Learning to Love Him” and “Everlasting Arms,” respectively. Enjoy!
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Love the Waterboys!