Bring ‘Em All In

A Year of Creating Dangerously, Day 194: Mike Scott Gives Me a Prayer

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“I’ve got a lot of things to change
A whole man to rearrange
And if you show me how
I’ll begin right now”

Mike Scott was recently featured on this blog. I quoted a song from his first solo album called Bring ‘Em All In. Scott is a Scottish musician and a brilliant songwriter, the man responsible for the band The Waterboys. I didn’t actually own his first solo album, I was just aware of his music. After that post I thought I should go on Amazon and order that album. However, before I could even do that I was haunting my local Value Village this past weekend. As is my custom, I stopped to look at the used CD rack.

And what, to my surprise, should meet my eyes? Why Bring ‘Em All In, a bit beat up and worn but not enough for me to scorn!

I bought that CD and proceeded to listen to it and listen to it and listen to it again. A wonderful collection of songs – thoughtful, whimsical, wistful and real.

As was listening to it (again) on the car stereo on the way to work yesterday, the fourth track on the album struck me so close to where I live that it was almost scary. I have been going through some major personal changes in life recently, trying to sort things out and rearrange things. Mike Scott gave words and music to how I’m feeling.

So today I wanted to share those lyrics and that song with you.  It is a prayer, something I’ve had a hard time doing of late. Thankfully, Mike recorded a prayer for me.  And maybe for you, too.

What Do You Want Me to Do?

I’ve tried to do things my own way
And I’ve tried to do what people say
And I’m going nowhere fast
And I’m turning to you at last

What do you want me to do?
What do you want me to do?
What do you want me to do, Lord?

I can see the lights of home
But I can’t get there on my own
I can see the landing strip
But I need you to steer my ship

What do you want me to do?
What do you want me to do?
What do you want me to do, Lord?

I’ve been a fool and I’ve been a clown
I let the enemy turn me around
I’ve wasted love and I’ve wasted time
I’ve been proud and I’ve been blind

I’ve got a lot of things to change
A whole man to rearrange
And if you show me how
I’ll begin right now

What do you want me to do?
What do you want me to do?
What do you want me to do, Lord?
What do you want me to do, Lord?
What do you want me to do, Lord?

I’m listening
I’m listening
I’m listening
I’m listening
I’m listening

 

A Year of Creating Dangerously, Day 176: Sunday God Quote – Mike Scott

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This Sunday’s God Quote goes out to all you spiritual wanderers out there.

Mike Scott is the founding member, songwriter and lead guitarist of the band The Waterboys. But, really, Mike Scott is The Waterboys as he has always grabbed various musicians to perform with him over the years. He’s a Scotsman who calls Ireland home. He has that restless creative spirit that is so often tinged with a religious wistfulness. I love his songwriting and I love his honesty. So for this Sunday here are the lyrics to “Long Way to the Light”, almost a novella in song as it takes you along in his story. The song was on his 1995 solo album Bring ‘Em All In. Below the lyrics is a video to the song.

Scott barely mentions God in “Long Way to the Light” but, to me, it is clearly the song of a man setting his face towards a higher purpose.

I’m sitting in my bedroom
Overlooking Findhorn Bay
Cluny Hill in the distance
Summer on the way

Blue skies and sailing boats
Like a picture in a book
I can’t believe I got here
Or how long it took

Living one step at a time
Putting one foot in front of the other
It sure feels right

Healing on my mind
Been a long way
Been a long way to the light

I’d made it to Manhattan
Built myself a nest
I meant to get right back to doing
Exactly what I do best

Plugging in an electric guitar
Leading a band
Well, if you want to give God a laugh
Tell him your plans

Summer in the city
Wilting in the heat
Buzzing up and down to Bearsville
And back to Hudson Street

I learned meditation
And how to visualize
Just breathing, being still
Never felt more alive

Living one step at a time
Putting one foot in front of the other
It sure feels right

Healing on my mind
Been a long way
Been a long way to the light

I spent the fall in transit
Circling the moon
Like a cat on a hot tin roof
Like a fiddle without a tune

I found what I was searching for
In Mrs. Caddy’s book
I had to go there straightaway
Have myself a look

I flew back to Scotland
Anticipation in my bones
The old country welcoming me
Like a prodigal coming home

I knelt and kissed the tarmac
In the wild Atlantic rain
Felt the fiery Gaelic blood
Rising in my veins

Living one step at a time
Putting one foot in front of the other
It sure feels right

Healing on my mind
Been a long way
Been a long way to the light

I spent the night in Glasgow
Flew to Inverness
I found the place and at the first
I was not impressed

Nobody said hello
The faces left me cold
Back then how was I to know
All that would unfold?

I entered the Sanctuary
Heard the voice of a girl
Sending out a circle of light
Clear across the world

I shuddered in the Power
Like a seedling in a storm
I’ve been traveling to this place
Since the moment I was born

I flew back to New York City
Singing the big city blues
The sand of Findhorn Bay
Still clinging to my shoes

Tried to restart my life
But the life I knew was gone
I had to let go everything
But that’s another song

Living one step at a time
Putting one foot in front of the other
It sure feels right

Healing on my mind
Been a long way
Been a long way to the light
A long way to the light

So I’m sitting in my bedroom
Overlooking Findhorn Bay
Cluny Hill in the distance
Summer on the way

I’m watching the sailing boats
Bobbing to and fro
Time to hit the road
The only way I know

Living one step at a time
Putting one foot in front of the other
It sure feels right

Healing on my mind
Been a long way
Been a long way to the light