The song is inspired by You Am I’s songwriter Tim Rogers listening to the 2015 album Modern Blues by the Waterboys, and being particularly inspired by the song “I Can See Elvis”.
For context, in 2019 Rogers was doubting his future in music, and was considering disbanding his group. He took an exten...
[Verse 1]
There's a Scottish man
Who's fronting an American band
Now he lives in Dublin though
And I'm in Rosedale, lookin' for ghosts
Oh, Edinburgh, Galway, Nashville, Ulladulla
Breakin' my heart in four places
He's singin' 'bout a Mississippi boy
Who once held the world like a toy
Now he's a-lookin' down from heaven
Smokin' reefers with myths and legends
Oh, Tupelo, Vegas, Mollymook, Memphis
Breakin' my heart in four places
[Chorus]
Oh, and it may not be his greatest LP
As I'm windin' these streets, tears on my knees
All the fishermen and women in the bottle shops by seven
Talkin' where they're bitin'
The best four places
The best four places
Go!
[Verse 2]
Car stereo pushin' me farther down the road
I got a Waterboy singin' for the King
And my eyes are glazin' over
Oh, highway, bottle shop, caravan, no plans
Lookin' for a start in four places
His voice reminds me of what I've left behind
And now I'm gonna go fishing
Trying to imagine what to do next time
Oh, ventricle, aorta, muscle and blood
Building a heart in four places
[Chorus]
Oh, and nine out of ten stargazers would agree
This ain't the centre of the universe, let alone me
But the tenth sees a face in every constellation
While I'm spinning my wheels
In four places
In four places
Go!
[Verse 3]
There's a Scottish man
Who's fronting an American band
Now he lives in Dublin though
And I'm in Rosedale, lookin' for ghosts
Oh, Edinburgh, Galway, Nashville, Ulladulla
Breakin' my heart in four places
Go!
The Waterboy was written by Tim Rogers.
The Waterboy was produced by You Am I.
You Am I released The Waterboy on Fri May 14 2021.