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Shearwater — Whipping Boy
Album: Winged Life
Avg rating:
6.9

Your rating:
Total ratings: 764









Released: 2004
Length: 4:39
Plays (last 30 days): 0
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If I told you once, then I told you twice
That I would have paid just about any price
Just to see him jump, just to see him laugh
I would have washed in the blood of an innocent man

Let the whipping boy ride (x4)

The boy says to the wolf, "You're gonna be my dog"
The boy ties the wolf to a fence post
The wolf says, "Boy, if you're gonna be my man
Let's see how you fit in those britches"

I found a river doesn't run to the sea
I found a river through the dead lands
I found a river been beaten by the sun
But a river that never did surrender to the sands

Let the whipping boy ride (x4)
Comments (91)add comment
Play ger eyes.
Posted 7 years ago by Rockit999    [ Reply ]
 n4ku wrote:
There's a little black spot on the sun today.

Wait What?

 
yeah I heard a little bit of it
Posted 8 years ago by Skydog    [ Reply ]
 n4ku wrote:
There's a little black spot on the sun today.

Wait What?

 
No, that was yesterday! 😀😀
Posted 8 years ago by pcc    [ Reply ]
"That was Shearwater, from the 50 Shades of Grey soundtrack..."
Posted 9 years ago by Baby_M    [ Reply ]
The West London jury is totally out still on this one, cannot decide if it's a repetitive plagiarism of my least liked Police track or something good. Have to wait for it to play again...
Posted 9 years ago by DavidS_UK    [ Reply ]
There's a little black spot on the sun today.

Wait What?
Posted 10 years ago by n4ku    [ Reply ]
 WonderLizard wrote:

What's fascinating about the time we live in and the vast amounts of information that can be transmitted and accessed is that we get to listen to young bands today who were influenced by their parents' music: Led Zep, Fleetwood Mac, Tony Orlando--without necessarily being aware of the chain of influences that preceded them. For example, Robert Randolph, the pedal steel blues guitarist, tells this one on himself.

One day he's noodling away at "Voodoo Chile," and someone comments how much like Hendrix he sounds. He sez, "No, man, this is a Stevie Ray (Vaughan) song." The other guy then tells him that Stevie Ray got the song from Hendrix, and Randolph is like dumbstruck, "No shit?" Randolph had heard of Hendrix, but had no idea who he was, his recordings, and so on. Now this perhaps is an extreme example, but when you first heard "Crossroads," did you know it was an update of Robert Johnson's "Crossroads Blues?"

 
Shame on Robert Randolph...

As I've written on other RP song comment pages, it still puzzles me that Eric Clapton quit The Yardbirds in March 1965 because he was a blues purist and the band was experimenting with pop songs like "For Your Love." Yet by July '66 he's in Cream which did not exactly adhere to standard blues styles. Yes, "Crossroads" was a 1969 update of "Crossroads Blues" but I think Robert Johnson would have had trouble recognizing his song...
Posted 10 years ago by kcar    [ Reply ]
 Proclivities wrote:
It sounds pretty much like a traditional "folk" song; the style is hundreds of years old.  Does anyone here realize that there were people making music before the 1960s?  However, it wouldn't surprise me if these guys did listen to Zeppelin and been inspired, many musicians have.

 
What's fascinating about the time we live in and the vast amounts of information that can be transmitted and accessed is that we get to listen to young bands today who were influenced by their parents' music: Led Zep, Fleetwood Mac, Tony Orlando--without necessarily being aware of the chain of influences that preceded them. For example, Robert Randolph, the pedal steel blues guitarist, tells this one on himself.

One day he's noodling away at "Voodoo Chile," and someone comments how much like Hendrix he sounds. He sez, "No, man, this is a Stevie Ray (Vaughan) song." The other guy then tells him that Stevie Ray got the song from Hendrix, and Randolph is like dumbstruck, "No shit?" Randolph had heard of Hendrix, but had no idea who he was, his recordings, and so on. Now this perhaps is an extreme example, but when you first heard "Crossroads," did you know it was an update of Robert Johnson's "Crossroads Blues?"
Posted 10 years ago by WonderLizard    [ Reply ]
It sounds pretty much like a traditional "folk" song; the style is hundreds of years old.  Does anyone here realize that there were people making music before the 1960s?  However, it wouldn't surprise me if these guys did listen to Zeppelin and been inspired, many musicians have, but Led Zeppelin certainly did not invent this genre or sound.
Posted 11 years ago by Proclivities    [ Reply ]
I just read the message in a bottle: "They stolen my song - Sting".
Posted 11 years ago by Orodrigues    [ Reply ]
Bill's on a very dark roll.....
Posted 11 years ago by oldfart48    [ Reply ]
 LOL!!
BWGunner wrote:
I think it's really nice that Robert Plant is still doing really relevant music. Oh, oops. 
 

 


Posted 11 years ago by mediamarv    [ Reply ]
I think it's really nice that Robert Plant is still doing really relevant music. Oh, oops. 
 
Posted 11 years ago by BWGunner    [ Reply ]
Excellent! And this was back in 2004....

https://shearwatermusic.com/ 
Posted 11 years ago by gonzafr    [ Reply ]
 Matyx wrote:




I was thinkin this iz kool n i Like it!
 

Was thinkin' I would agree.

But for the purists, there is far too much style borrowed from Led Zepplin.  


Posted 11 years ago by westslope    [ Reply ]
Just noticed this... Nice sound
Posted 11 years ago by tphord    [ Reply ]
FANTASTIC > 9!
Posted 11 years ago by Stingray    [ Reply ]
I honestly thought this was a Joe Strummer cut I had never heard before.
Posted 11 years ago by DD gypsyman    [ Reply ]
This has nothing in common with Mumford and Sons. It does use a banjo, but it doesn't beat us over the head with it.

WonderLizard wrote:

Bingo. There's a lot of something going around: Mumford and Sons, The National, Avett Brothers, Fleet Foxes. Wait! Let's stick a label on it/them before Rolling Stone does! {#Lol}

 


Posted 11 years ago by coachc    [ Reply ]
Not my favorite from Shearwater, but love this band!!
Posted 11 years ago by coachc    [ Reply ]
Cool!
Posted 11 years ago by Easyrider    [ Reply ]
 LizK wrote:
UGH
 

{#Whipit} {#Arrowu}  speaking of whippin'
Posted 12 years ago by rdo    [ Reply ]
7—>8
Posted 12 years ago by vivyruest    [ Reply ]
 Carl wrote:
a_genuine_find wrote:

I was thinking Gotye ... {#Think}
 

 RoelantSiekman wrote:


I was thinking Radiohead..
 
I was thinking Okkervil River.
 



I was thinkin this iz kool n i Like it!
Posted 12 years ago by Matyx    [ Reply ]
I'll kick you out of this home
If you don't CUT THAT HAIR!
Posted 12 years ago by LPCity    [ Reply ]
a_genuine_find wrote:

I was thinking Gotye ... {#Think}
 

 RoelantSiekman wrote:


I was thinking Radiohead..
 
I was thinking Okkervil River.
Posted 12 years ago by Carl    [ Reply ]
 jhorton wrote:
Ooops, for a minute there, I thought Robert Plant had finally done something post LZ that I didn't hate.

Nope, still waiting. 
 

HA!
Posted 12 years ago by peyotecoyote    [ Reply ]
 a_genuine_find wrote:

I was thinking Gotye ... {#Think}
 

I was thinking Radiohead..
Posted 12 years ago by RoelantSiekman    [ Reply ]
 sajitjacob wrote:
The Maori eat the Sooty Shearwater they call it the Muttonbird; It tastes like very very salty and fatty mutton. An acquired taste.
Also, this is a great song. {#Angel}

Edit. Hey Bill just followed this with "Salt of the Earth" from the 'stones. The Maori harvest the birds by grabbing them from their underground burrows. The mutton bird is the salt of the earth! Spoooky.
 
This is another reason I find this place so compelling. Bill often links songs in his '5 piece sets'. . . . sometimes obvious - sometimes obscure, sometimes with words, sometimes with style of music, sometimes with humour. . . sometimes not at all. 
Posted 12 years ago by SquiddlyDiddly    [ Reply ]
As a birder, I approve of this band's name.
Posted 12 years ago by Grammarcop    [ Reply ]
bup bup didoo bup bup ba didoo boop
bup bup didoo bup bup ba didoo boop
bup bup didoo bup bup ba didoo boop
bup bup didoo bup bup ba didoo boop
What a terrific lead-in to something really exciting!

Hey! . . . . Sheeeeit!   Where's the really exciting bit?


Posted 12 years ago by Hasan    [ Reply ]
Shearwater is now 2 for 2 in my book. Second tune I've heard from this that I like. On a roll, boys!
Posted 12 years ago by ziakut    [ Reply ]
I like it, in fact quite likeable!
Posted 12 years ago by aspicer    [ Reply ]
 pianocomposer wrote:

Banjo can be okay. But this is very repetitive. Did I mention it seems to repeat itself? OMG. Downgrade to a 6.
 
ever listen to bela fleck, or the late earl scruggs? repetitive? hardly!
Posted 12 years ago by zenhead    [ Reply ]
 westslope wrote:

Almost sounds like Porcupine Tree...... 

 
I was thinking Gotye ... {#Think}
Posted 12 years ago by a_genuine_find    [ Reply ]
The Maori eat the Sooty Shearwater they call it the Muttonbird; It tastes like very very salty and fatty mutton. An acquired taste.
Also, this is a great song. {#Angel}

Edit. Hey Bill just followed this with "Salt of the Earth" from the 'stones. The Maori harvest the birds by grabbing them from their underground burrows. The mutton bird is the salt of the earth! Spoooky.
Posted 12 years ago by sajitjacob    [ Reply ]

Grown to a 7.

It is like.... she's out of bounds but you just can't help looking all the same.


Posted 12 years ago by westslope    [ Reply ]
UGH
Posted 12 years ago by LizK    [ Reply ]
But it does sound like No Quarter so I strongly suggest that everybody not like this song.  Seriously.  
Posted 12 years ago by westslope    [ Reply ]
Hi, Bill! If you insist playing this song, I'll call The Police.
Posted 12 years ago by Orodrigues    [ Reply ]

Almost sounds like Porcupine Tree...... 


Posted 12 years ago by westslope    [ Reply ]
 oldviolin wrote:
uh oh, a banjo...what is the world coming to? Stay tuned...
 
Banjo can be okay. But this is very repetitive. Did I mention it seems to repeat itself? OMG. Downgrade to a 6.
Posted 12 years ago by pianocomposer    [ Reply ]
Ooops, for a minute there, I thought Robert Plant had finally done something post LZ that I didn't hate.

Nope, still waiting. 
Posted 12 years ago by jhorton    [ Reply ]
 sirdroseph wrote:


There was a big flare a couple of days ago too. The weather is fine here today though! All of these comments are interesting, but have nothing to do with this song.{#Stupid}

No, I do not hear The Police at all.{#No}
 
Really?  Other than this song having different chords and a different melody, it sounds just like "King Of Pain".
{#Wink}

Posted 12 years ago by Proclivities    [ Reply ]
Besides Tori Amos, another King of Pain copy? Call The Police!!!
Posted 13 years ago by Orodrigues    [ Reply ]
uh oh, a banjo...what is the world coming to? Stay tuned...
Posted 13 years ago by oldviolin    [ Reply ]
 Baby_M wrote:

Someone should swat you for that one.  {#Cheesygrin}
 
But in a GOOD way.... This is the ONLY place a set like that would ever fly. I loves me my RP. Commercial-free, FCC-free.... FREEEEEEEEEE! 

Posted 13 years ago by Cynaera    [ Reply ]
This IS a good one!{#Guitarist}
Posted 13 years ago by LSC    [ Reply ]
 Hannio wrote:
There's a little black spot on the sun today...

 
But soooo much better.

Posted 13 years ago by lattalo    [ Reply ]
 Hannio wrote:
There's a little black spot on the sun today...
 
Correct.  {#Curtain}
Posted 13 years ago by HearsayDave    [ Reply ]
diggin it {#Yes}
Posted 13 years ago by miamizsun    [ Reply ]
 xkolibuul wrote:

C'mon, Fred, that album cover alone warrants at least a '6'. 
 
True, and this song has grown on me, so 6 from the Nottingham jury it is.

Posted 13 years ago by fredriley    [ Reply ]
 Hannio wrote:
There's a little black spot on the sun today...

 

There was a big flare a couple of days ago too. The weather is fine here today though! All of these comments are interesting, but have nothing to do with this song.{#Stupid}

No, I do not hear The Police at all.{#No}
Posted 13 years ago by sirdroseph    [ Reply ]
Sounds a lot like Robert Plant...
that's a good thing!
Posted 13 years ago by boober    [ Reply ]
Chillbanjo. . . nice.
Posted 13 years ago by SquiddlyDiddly    [ Reply ]
There's a little black spot on the sun today...

Posted 13 years ago by Hannio    [ Reply ]
Great! Some equally fine or even better cuts on that CD: "My Good Deed", "St. Mary's Walk", "Wedding Bells" and "The World in 1984". Awesome live band btw!


Posted 13 years ago by jpdribbler    [ Reply ]
Banjo = {#Clap}
Posted 13 years ago by sirdroseph    [ Reply ]
 Cynaera wrote:

{#Lol} It's probably too late.... But I agree - some VERY good music going around.  Has "Angsta-Rock" already been used?

Slinking away now.

 
{#Lol} "Angsta-Rock!" I like it! BTW, no need to slink away from great punmanship...

Posted 13 years ago by WonderLizard    [ Reply ]
Gave this one a 7 as it really is 'quite likeable'.
This song embodies why I listen to R.P. I would have never found it any other way. Good stuff.
Posted 13 years ago by BikeCoachDave    [ Reply ]
GOOD - yes!

Wishes from Ypsilanti, Michigan!


Posted 13 years ago by Stingray    [ Reply ]
 The_Enemy wrote:
"Whipping Boy" follows "Flogging Molly". I love Bill's jokes in the playlist.

Maybe next we'll hear something from 'Rum, Sodomy and The Lash"?
 
Someone should swat you for that one.  {#Cheesygrin}
Posted 13 years ago by Baby_M    [ Reply ]
 fredriley wrote:
The bird on the cover looks to be a Manx Shearwater, a nocturnal seabird highly ungainly on land but adept in the sea. Which is rather more interesting than the music, particularly the singer who makes Thom Yorke sound exciting. A nailed on Ho-Hum from the Nottingham jury {#Sleep}
 
C'mon, Fred, that album cover alone warrants at least a '6'. 
Posted 13 years ago by xkolibuul    [ Reply ]
 socalhol wrote:
This song just keeps getting better & better !  
  bump


Posted 14 years ago by cohifi    [ Reply ]
It wouldn't fit the tune but I keep wanting them to go into double-time with that banjo.
Posted 14 years ago by spigolli    [ Reply ]

I've been wondering how long it would be before Bill brought together Choir of Young Believers' "Hollow Talk" with "Whipping Boy."  Its such a natural pairing of two great songs. 

Thanks Bill!


Posted 14 years ago by vandal    [ Reply ]
 WonderLizard wrote:

Bingo. There's a lot of something going around: Mumford and Sons, The National, Avett Brothers, Fleet Foxes. Wait! Let's stick a label on it/them before Rolling Stone does! {#Lol}

 
{#Lol} It's probably too late.... But I agree - some VERY good music going around.  Has "Angsta-Rock" already been used?

Slinking away now.

Posted 14 years ago by Cynaera    [ Reply ]
This song just keeps getting better & better !  
Posted 14 years ago by socalhol    [ Reply ]

Posted 14 years ago by Jonathan_pa    [ Reply ]
 meadowwoods wrote:

Very much a MMJ vibe...I like it!
 
Here in Boulder, MMJ means Medical Marijuana and it has that kinda vibe also. :)

Posted 14 years ago by Bocephus    [ Reply ]
 chyk5 wrote:


Thanks for the didactic review. Do they use the expression "the jury has retired" in the UK?
 
I think in the UK, it's "The jury has adjourned to the nearest pub." (I'm teasing,O valued Nottingham constituent.) {#Daisy}
Posted 14 years ago by Cynaera    [ Reply ]
How about (Cute) Nature Boys Singing in their Upper Register
Posted 14 years ago by rp1125    [ Reply ]
 WayUpNorth wrote:
Nice, like Great Lake Swimmers kinda ...

 
Bingo. There's a lot of something going around: Mumford and Sons, The National, Avett Brothers, Fleet Foxes. Wait! Let's stick a label on it/them before Rolling Stone does! {#Lol}

Posted 14 years ago by WonderLizard    [ Reply ]
from Scientific American

Jonathan Meiburg


They are both too cute.

Posted 14 years ago by vesta0424    [ Reply ]
i like this man's voice—-have another of their albums but haven't listened to all of it.
Posted 14 years ago by Giselle62    [ Reply ]
One of my favourite songs by Shearwater, I love the "haunting" melodic tone this song has!
Posted 14 years ago by rssarma    [ Reply ]
"Whipping Boy" follows "Flogging Molly". I love Bill's jokes in the playlist.

Maybe next we'll hear something from 'Rum, Sodomy and The Lash"?
Posted 14 years ago by The_Enemy    [ Reply ]
Shearwater is an Austin Tx band formed by Will Shef and Jonathan Meiburg of Okkerville River.  Shef is no longer with Shearwater, but Meiburg (a degreed ornithologist) continues to be the lead singer. . .
Posted 14 years ago by vandal    [ Reply ]
The bird on the cover looks to be a Manx Shearwater, a nocturnal seabird highly ungainly on land but adept in the sea. Which is rather more interesting than the music, particularly the singer who makes Thom Yorke sound exciting. A nailed on Ho-Hum from the Nottingham jury {#Sleep}
Posted 14 years ago by fredriley    [ Reply ]
 Relayer wrote:
No idea who these guys are, but I like the song a lot.
 
Same same...

Posted 14 years ago by Huey    [ Reply ]
 socalhol wrote:
Oh yeah, I like this — nice vibe — kind of a My Morning Jacket / Fleet Foxes feel to it
 
Very much a MMJ vibe...I like it!


Posted 14 years ago by meadowwoods    [ Reply ]
No idea who these guys are, but I like the song a lot.
Posted 14 years ago by Relayer    [ Reply ]
 socalhol wrote:
Oh yeah, I like this — nice vibe — kind of a My Morning Jacket / Fleet Foxes feel to it
 
Better than FF, not quite as good as MMJ. . .


Posted 14 years ago by vandal    [ Reply ]
Another wicked banjo. . .

8

Posted 14 years ago by vandal    [ Reply ]
What a great song!!!!
Posted 14 years ago by coolpeople_rule    [ Reply ]
Banjos make my world go round.
Posted 14 years ago by Photo-John    [ Reply ]
 socalhol wrote:
Oh yeah, I like this — nice vibe — kind of a My Morning Jacket / Fleet Foxes feel to it
 
I agree with you too.

Posted 14 years ago by cohifi    [ Reply ]
Oh yeah, I like this — nice vibe — kind of a My Morning Jacket / Fleet Foxes feel to it
Posted 14 years ago by socalhol    [ Reply ]
Cool! {#Music}
Posted 14 years ago by peter_james_bond    [ Reply ]
Very nice. It caught my attention at work.
Posted 14 years ago by Leslie    [ Reply ]
Nice, like Great Lake Swimmers kinda ...

Posted 14 years ago by WayUpNorth    [ Reply ]