241:, however their relationship had become strained by this time. In his autobiography, Scott revealed: "I knew that the relationship was in terminal decline. I wanted out. Squeezed into seat 31F, I wrote down my feelings in verse on the back of my boarding pass, the beginnings of a new song called "Fisherman's Blues"." Some of the lyrics were also inspired by the
29:
301:
described it as a "rapt declaration" with Scott "hooting with glee as he leads us through his gypsy ramble". He added it was "a welcome chance" to hear the song again, but with "more reservations" than with the recently re-released "The Whole of the Moon", as "Fisherman's Blues" "appeared at the time
294:
considered the song to be superior to the "most overrated" "The Whole of the Moon" and praised it for "show just what Scott is capable of with a bit of effort and intelligence". He added that the band's recent "renewed interest could well catapult this raggle-taggle charmer into the top ten". Ian
302:
when Scott was relocating to Galway, switching his view from the stars to the soil, lowering his sights from 'You saw
Brigadoon' to 'I wish I was a fisherman'." Gittins also noted the "mighty version" of "Medicine Bow" on the single.
236:
Scott began writing the song on a plane flight from New York to London, at the end of the
Waterboys' North American tour in November 1985. During his time in New York, Scott had a meeting with the band's manager,
260:
in 2013, Scott recalled: "I wrote the third verse in the studio. The music got written that day in the studio as well. I had the chords, but the tone of the song came from Steve
Wickham's fiddle accompaniment."
1420:
1436:
1669:
315:
commented on the song: "Scott strums his acoustic guitar as if every chord's a mile, while bandmates Steve
Wickham and Anthony Thistlethwaite hasten his speed." Ian Abrahams of
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1412:
1315:
285:
praised it as "rousing anthem" and added, "With its duelling fiddles and mandolins it should lead everyone frantically jigging into the New Year."
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described the song as "thrillingly evocative", adding: "Nailed in just two run-throughs, it's perfect, definitive and timeless."
1659:
256:, Ireland, on 23 January 1986 as part of the first session for the album of the same name. Speaking of the song's recording to
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folk", with "effective use of mandolin and fiddle" and "straightforward production". Jerry Smith of
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200:, which was released in 1988 as the lead single from their fourth studio album of the
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The single was reissued in the UK on 27 May 1991 to promote the compilation album
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719:
819:"Mike Scott of The Waterboys - "Fisherman's Blues": They're Playing My Song"
276:
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228:. The reissue reached number 17 in Ireland and number 75 in the UK.
1067:"British single certifications – Waterboys – Fisherman's Blues"
1421:
The Whole of the Moon: The Music of Mike Scott and the
Waterboys
1087:
1091:
640:
Pat McCarthy, Pearse Dunne - recording of "Fisherman's Blues"
212:, and produced by Scott. The song reached number 3 on the US
1437:
In a
Special Place – The Piano Demos for This Is the Sea
571:
Sales+streaming figures based on certification alone.
219:
chart, number 13 in
Ireland and number 32 in the UK.
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1048:"The Waterboys Chart History (Alternative Airplay)"
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288:In a review of the 1991 reissue, Terry Staunton of
275:considered the song to be a "spirited recording of
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82:
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46:
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21:
773:"News: Waterboys re-release 'Fisherman's Blues'".
1670:Song recordings produced by Mike Scott (musician)
743:
741:
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643:Will Read Dick - recording of "Fisherman's Blues"
689:"The Waterboys Fisherman's Blues Chart History"
868:"Images for The Waterboys - Fisherman's Blues"
749:"WATERBOYS | full Official Chart History"
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646:Phil Tennant - mixing on "Fisherman's Blues"
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938:Staunton, Terry (25 May 1991). "Singles".
534:
499:
436:
27:
18:
720:"The Irish Charts - All there is to know"
627:Noel Bridgeman - drums on "Lost Highway"
624:Liam O'Maonlai - piano on "Lost Highway"
377:
329:
955:Gittins, Ian (8 June 1991). "Singles".
656:
567:
45:
34:
1665:Songs written by Mike Scott (musician)
1413:The Secret Life of the Waterboys 81–85
1032:"The Waterboys: Artist Chart History"
7:
1378:The Live Adventures of the Waterboys
14:
927:– via World Radio History.
906:Smith, Jerry (14 January 1989).
196:" is a song from folk rock band
1405:The Best of the Waterboys 81–90
225:The Best of The Waterboys 81–90
384:
336:
1:
1071:British Phonographic Industry
1292:An Appointment with Mr Yeats
1056:. Retrieved 1 January 2021.
1038:. Retrieved 1 January 2021.
269:On its release as a single,
16:1988 single by The Waterboys
1686:
1588:Building the City of Light
893:Music & Media Magazine
458:New Zealand Singles Chart
1655:Chrysalis Records singles
1517:How Long Will I Love You?
1203:List of Waterboys members
1125:
779:. 25 May 1991. p. 3.
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248:The song was recorded at
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1538:Everybody Takes a Tumble
1268:A Rock in the Weary Land
848:Mike Scott Waterboys.com
792:Adventures of a Waterboy
1602:Rare, Precious and Gone
1036:Official Charts Company
794:. Jawbone. p. 74.
245:poem "The Night Mail".
1660:Ensign Records singles
1166:Anthony Thistlethwaite
614:Peter McKinney - drums
603:Anthony Thistlethwaite
1510:And a Bang on the Ear
1489:The Whole of the Moon
1450:The Magnificent Seven
891:"Previews: Singles".
637:Mike Scott - producer
331:7", 12" and CD single
250:Windmill Lane Studios
178:And a Bang on the Ear
1468:A Girl Called Johnny
1308:Out of All This Blue
790:Scott, Mike (2017).
669:Mike Scott Waterboys
619:Additional personnel
513:Irish Singles Chart
450:Irish Singles Chart
204:. It was written by
1640:The Waterboys songs
1496:Don't Bang the Drum
1429:Too Close to Heaven
1316:Where the Action Is
941:New Musical Express
536:
483:Alternative Airplay
400:"Fisherman's Blues"
380:
352:"Fisherman's Blues"
332:
291:New Musical Express
22:"Fisherman's Blues"
908:"A&R: Singles"
535:
378:
330:
265:Critical reception
217:Modern Rock Tracks
153:singles chronology
76:December 1988 (US)
1627:
1626:
1563:A Life of Sundays
1524:The Return of Pan
1503:Fisherman's Blues
1324:Good Luck, Seeker
1284:Book of Lightning
1244:Fisherman's Blues
1188:Jay Dee Daugherty
1145:Trevor Hutchinson
998:"Fisherman's Box"
944:. pp. 14–15.
895:. 1 January 1989.
609:Trevor Hutchinson
577:
576:
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521:UK Singles Chart
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307:Fisherman's Blues
272:Music & Media
194:Fisherman's Blues
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169:Fisherman's Blues
78:January 1989 (UK)
50:Fisherman's Blues
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1612:Related articles
1581:Bring 'Em All In
1531:Glastonbury Song
1351:Bring 'Em All In
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755:. 30 April 1983
753:Official Charts
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547:Certified units
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379:Cassette single
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305:In a review of
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162:"Medicine Bow"
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47:from the album
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1228:A Pagan Place
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1220:The Waterboys
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1212:Studio albums
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961:. p. 31.
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503:Chart (1991)
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440:Chart (1989)
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239:Gary Kurfirst
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41:The Waterboys
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1650:1988 singles
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1397:Compilations
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1322:
1314:
1306:
1300:Modern Blues
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1260:Dream Harder
1258:
1252:Room to Roam
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1074:. Retrieved
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1005:. Retrieved
1001:
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981:. Retrieved
979:. March 1989
976:
967:
958:Melody Maker
956:
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939:
933:
921:. Retrieved
919:. p. 21
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875:. Retrieved
871:
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851:. Retrieved
847:
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827:. Retrieved
825:. 2013-01-03
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776:Melody Maker
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672:. Retrieved
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365:Lost Highway
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213:
193:
191:
168:
66:Lost Highway
48:
1619:World Party
1595:Love Anyway
1556:World Party
1548:Other songs
1370:Live albums
295:Gittins of
243:W. H. Auden
140:Producer(s)
1645:1988 songs
1634:Categories
1131:Mike Scott
1007:2019-01-30
983:2019-01-30
916:Music Week
877:2019-01-30
853:2019-01-30
829:2019-01-30
759:2019-01-30
729:2019-01-30
698:2019-01-30
674:2019-01-30
651:References
632:Production
605:- mandolin
591:Mike Scott
467:UK Singles
282:Music Week
277:Dylanesque
232:Background
206:Mike Scott
145:Mike Scott
125:Mike Scott
1193:Katie Kim
1053:Billboard
1021:Charts.nz
823:Songfacts
693:Billboard
580:Personnel
508:position
488:Billboard
445:position
258:Songfacts
214:Billboard
202:same name
109:Chrysalis
1475:December
1076:4 August
599:- fiddle
564:200,000
73:Released
1460:Singles
872:Discogs
561:Silver
549:/sales
540:Region
325:Formats
182:(1989)
173:(1988)
164:(1986)
1452:(2021)
1446:(2013)
1440:(2011)
1432:(2001)
1424:(1998)
1416:(1994)
1408:(1991)
1389:(2005)
1381:(1998)
1362:(1997)
1354:(1995)
1335:(2022)
1327:(2020)
1319:(2019)
1311:(2017)
1303:(2015)
1295:(2011)
1287:(2007)
1279:(2003)
1271:(2000)
1263:(1993)
1255:(1990)
1247:(1988)
1239:(1985)
1231:(1984)
1223:(1983)
973:"SPIN"
923:2 June
798:
611:- bass
433:Charts
392:Length
344:Length
254:Dublin
105:Ensign
83:Length
59:B-side
37:Single
911:(PDF)
389:Title
341:Title
100:Label
1078:2023
977:SPIN
925:2022
796:ISBN
506:Peak
443:Peak
425:4:18
414:5:18
403:4:23
370:4:18
355:4:23
312:Spin
208:and
556:BPI
524:75
516:17
481:US
476:32
471:OCC
461:20
453:13
385:No.
337:No.
252:in
39:by
1636::
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810:^
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707:^
691:.
667:.
558:)
494:3
491:)
473:)
419:3.
408:2.
397:1.
360:2.
349:1.
309:,
180:"
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107:,
92:23
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90::
88:4
68:"
64:"
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