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The Waifs — Sun Dirt Water
Album: Sun Dirt Water
Avg rating:
7.2

Your rating:
Total ratings: 2212









Released: 2007
Length: 3:33
Plays (last 30 days): 3
would you trade me for all the pretty girls
all the ones who came before?
who left you broken hearted
with your back up against the wall?
would you cash in all your high times
for some lasting company?
or a warm soft breast for you to lay your head on
for all of eternity?

well if you're holding out for something
then just reach and we'll rise above
give me sun, give me dirt, give me water
give me sweet everlasting love

would you travel right across the world
to meet a woman that you didn't know?
if you thought that she might be the one
to put your roots down with and grow?
would you take her hand and walk with her
through the narrow gate of life?
oh gather your load, prepare to travel the road
that's gonna lead you from trouble and strife

well if you're holding out for something
then just reach and we'll rise above
give me sun, give me dirt, give me water
give me sweet...

would you trade me for all the pretty girls
all the ones who came before?
who left you broken hearted
with your back up against the wall?
would you cash in all your high times
for some lasting company?
or a warm soft breast for you to lay your head on
for all of eternity?

well if you're holding out on something
then just reach and we'll rise above
give me sun, give me dirt, give me water
give me sweet everlasting love

give me sun, give me dirt, give me water
give me sweet everlasting love
Comments (89)add comment
Good advice for those seeking a lasting relationship (Though I did actually "Travel right across the world" to meet a girl who I thought might be the one before I realised its best to look closer to home)
 coloradojohn wrote:

Talent is a gift for manifesting expression that transcends, and if someone can use a style of speech to make use of its intrinsic musicality, I admire that. I love the fact that The Waifs are from Oz, a wondrous realm I'm blessed to have explored three lengthy times and would love to absorb still more of, but I also love the way they use that ol' Southern States' Country twang to match the bluesy bends and rhythms of the song to get maximum expression of appropriate feeling. While other languages undeniably have their idiosyncratic charms (the clever but maddening tonal complexities of Chinese or Thai, the delightfully satifsfying doubling that occurs in Malay and Indonesian, the coy teasing of implied subjects and verb-final structures of Japanese, Korean, Cherokee, or Quechua -- and so many Native lingos of the Americas!), throughout all the regional variations of English there is a fluid richness of synonyms, structures, and accents that makes it perhaps unrivaled for Rock, which, as a wise Professor of Music at CU explained to me, is exactly the same as Classical, where you have a signature key, variations on a theme, and an invigorating return to the tonic.  Like RP, its reach is vast, vibrant, and vital!


you are a gem here CJ…
Nice set Bill!
Talent is a gift for manifesting expression that transcends, and if someone can use a style of speech to make use of its intrinsic musicality, I admire that. I love the fact that The Waifs are from Oz, a wondrous realm I'm blessed to have explored three lengthy times and would love to absorb still more of, but I also love the way they use that ol' Southern States' Country twang to match the bluesy bends and rhythms of the song to get maximum expression of appropriate feeling. While other languages undeniably have their idiosyncratic charms (the clever but maddening tonal complexities of Chinese or Thai, the delightfully satifsfying doubling that occurs in Malay and Indonesian, the coy teasing of implied subjects and verb-final structures of Japanese, Korean, Cherokee, or Quechua -- and so many Native lingos of the Americas!), throughout all the regional variations of English there is a fluid richness of synonyms, structures, and accents that makes it perhaps unrivaled for Rock, which, as a wise Professor of Music at CU explained to me, is exactly the same as Classical, where you have a signature key, variations on a theme, and an invigorating return to the tonic.  Like RP, its reach is vast, vibrant, and vital!
 Slickamoe wrote:

If I hadn't looked I would have thought this was Joan Osborne.



I can totally see where you are coming from!  
 Solanus wrote:

In the brilliant movie The Commitments, the band manager Jimmy Rabbitte stops the female singers during practice. He says to them, in his strong north-side Dublin accent, "It's 'Ride, Sally, Ride', not [in an outrageous north-side Dublin accent], 'Ride, Sally, Ride.'"


yeah, excellent! lol
Classic group this, and a classic piece.
The Waifs were playing a music festival here in Grass Valley Ca, a long time ago.  I went to by a CD and talked to one of the ladies, asking where in Australia they were from.  The exchange went like this: Western Australia.  Where in western Australia.  South western.  What town.  You never heard of it.  Try me.  Albany.  I have friends in Albany and have been there 5 times...  In the end I discovered my friend taught her mother how to code data bases... Small world.


 Caino wrote:
Am I alone in thinking this is destined for a Tarantino soundtrack somewhere down the line 
 
He usually chooses more obvious tunes, IMO
michaelc wrote:
Tom Waits in a dress
 

When this started I thought I was watching Jessica Jones.
 Solanus wrote:

In the brilliant movie The Commitments, the band manager Jimmy Rabbitte stops the female singers during practice. He says to them, in his strong north-side Dublin accent, "It's 'Ride, Sally, Ride', not [in an outrageous north-side Dublin accent], 'Ride, Sally, Ride.'"
 
"Roid, Sally, roid"
Strikingly similar to “smoke from a distant fire”, yes?
If I hadn't looked I would have thought this was Joan Osborne.
 Caino wrote:
Am I alone in thinking this is destined for a Tarantino soundtrack somewhere down the line 

 
Very possibly, yes....considering he only has one more movie to make.  Let's see what happens!
 Proclivities wrote:

It's annoying how often that asshole's name shows up in the song comments here.

 

FIFY
 southcoastsounds wrote:
Wouldn't it be nice to hear an Ozzie band who sing in an Ozzie accent?

 
In the brilliant movie The Commitments, the band manager Jimmy Rabbitte stops the female singers during practice. He says to them, in his strong north-side Dublin accent, "It's 'Ride, Sally, Ride', not [in an outrageous north-side Dublin accent], 'Ride, Sally, Ride.'"
 Caino wrote:
Am I alone in thinking this is destined for a Tarantino soundtrack somewhere down the line 
 
It's annoying how often that guy's name shows up in the song comments here.
Was in an Australian pub earlier this evening and they had Irish Hurling on one screen full on Aussie rules on another and, fortunately, all of 'em were on mute while this group was blasting out their epic Crazy Train. Much better.
 Caino wrote:
Am I alone in thinking this is destined for a Tarantino soundtrack somewhere down the line 

 



My thought too. It has that soundtrack feel of someone doing something bad to someone or something.
Thought it was KT Tunstall. 
 
Am I alone in thinking this is destined for a Tarantino soundtrack somewhere down the line 
 southcoastsounds wrote:
Wouldn't it be nice to hear an Ozzie band who sing in an Ozzie accent?

 
Yes, I'd like that a lot!
 michaelc wrote:
Tom Waits in a dress

 
Tom never looked so good.
Love those shoes.
Tom Waits in a dress
 Zonkers wrote:
I thought this was Grace Askew. It sounds a lot like her. If you haven't heard her yet, take the time to do so. Imagine Tom Waits crossed with Joan Osbourne
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yuzJvJpM1to 

 
Grace is a sweet AbbaZabba! Wow she's cool Zonkers, thank you!
This is juicy.
quite likeable!
{#Bananapiano}  8 >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> 9
I thought this was Grace Askew. It sounds a lot like her. If you haven't heard her yet, take the time to do so. Imagine Tom Waits crossed with Joan Osbourne
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yuzJvJpM1to 
Y'all can play this one a few more times than the frequency of comments might imply interest. Dig it!
Wouldn't it be nice to hear an Ozzie band who sing in an Ozzie accent?
 lmic wrote:
 ArbiterOfGoodTaste wrote:
You give me fever.
In these shoes? I don't think so.

 

Was that a Kirsty MacColl reference? I love that song! {#Sunny}
{#Daisy}
sweeeeeeeeet!
 Mike_S wrote:
They totally stole the show from Bruce Cockburn in Quebec city at www.infofestival.com/Festival/en-ca_section1.html...been a fan since.
 
As much as I like B.C. and like the W's it
 really it is not that hard to to do (stealing the show that is)  ;-)

About the cover: it's from the Sun Dirt Water CD single, not the album. The single is available for purchase here: https://www.waterfrontrecords.com/product/71193
Wow...had not heard this before...caught my attention.
Oh great, just great!  More transplanted Aussies! 
Okay - gave it a 7, but day-am, this is pretty sweet, sultry stuff. {#Bounce}
 Cynaera wrote:

Echoing this... I left for five minutes to do some recon on the house, and I got back and heard the last part of this song. Wow. I like it. I'l need to hear it again to know how to rate it, but based on my very limited hearing of it, I'd give it 8.

Geez.

 
Myself I'm starting with a more conservative 6, but I won't be surprised if I increase it on further listenings.
 

 MsJudi wrote:
Oh, wow!
 
Echoing this... I left for five minutes to do some recon on the house, and I got back and heard the last part of this song. Wow. I like it. I'l need to hear it again to know how to rate it, but based on my very limited hearing of it, I'd give it 8.

Geez.

lmic
(Sacramento, CA)
Posted: Nov 20, 2008 - 11:09 < Reply >

 ArbiterOfGoodTaste wrote: You give me fever.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

In these shoes? I don't think so.


{#Lol}

Oh, wow!
 Hinkamp wrote:
everyone sounds like Joan Osborne
 
Ha! I thought it was just me - it does seem like everyone writes that for all my favorite bands. And I don't really like Joan Osborne. What is with that comparison all over RP?!?
 LD wrote:
I thought it was Joan Osborne at first. I like it.
 
Yes.  Me too...speaking of strong, soulful, & sexy female vocalists.  Some similar qualities as J.O. to be sure.

Hey, you're beautiful and all, but your horselaugh just made something shrivel up.
 lmic wrote:
 ArbiterOfGoodTaste wrote:
You give me fever.
In these shoes? I don't think so.

 
Personally, I LIKE both of the pairs of shoes on this album cover. By the way, Amazon shows a different album cover.  (Yes, I know they're CD covers.  Your point?)
 lmic wrote:
 ArbiterOfGoodTaste wrote:
You give me fever.
In these shoes? I don't think so.

LOL!
Such a Sultry Song! :D
 ArbiterOfGoodTaste wrote:
You give me fever.
 
Me too.

 ArbiterOfGoodTaste wrote:
You give me fever.
In these shoes? I don't think so.

You give me fever.
LOVE the Waifs.
3. I am in a generous mood.
What is she squawking right before the guitar solo?
The dark-haired waif was pregnant when I saw the group in San Francisco a couple years back. Good to see they've got meat on their bones.
They totally stole the show from Bruce Cockburn in Quebec city at www.infofestival.com/Festival/en-ca_section1.html...been a fan since.
I think I'm in love...
Soooo dull. Total snoozefest and not in a good way. Sounds like every university jazz band you've ever heard. I agree with the 'not worth all the airplay' call.
I'm really digging it, almost makes me feel like I'm at a club listening to it live!
tired of this really annoying song, RP. It just doesn't merit the amount of airplay it gets.
Hinkamp wrote:
everyone sounds like Joan Osborne
This made me guffaw.
everyone sounds like Joan Osborne
Josephine wrote:
I got the cd a few weeks ago, and it's been on heavy rotation on my player ever since! Love 'The Waifs'
Does anyone know how someone in the U.S. can get this album?!!? I love the Waifs.
Not really familiar with this band, but this particular tune just isn't doing it for me.
Just tuned in and got to hear one on my favorite bands. Thanks RP for playing the Waifs, I believe they have a great sound and I'm happily awaiting the arrival of their new CD "two months back ordered here in the USA". Have a great day Charlie
Is this Shivaree?
a_genuine_find wrote:
YEAH! Me too!
I hear "Fever."
Nice melody. Lilting but sweet.
teapot wrote:
I hear that song "Spooky" in this one.
YEAH! Me too!
a homeless, forsaken or orphaned child, similar to a ragamuffin or urchin
I hear that song "Spooky" in this one.
great song
Waif me.
the waifs rock! the states could use more of them! :)
I love strong female voices like this. I do wish she'd do some more modern-style stuff. But hey, i love this voice either way!
I may have to buy this cd.
I thought it was Joan Osborne at first. I like it.
Thanks RP for playing this group. I was first introduced to them from you and I'm happily awaiting the new album this week. Charlie
Give me sun Give me dirt Give me water Give me sweet everlasting love
Thank you and goodnight
I like them, given them an 8. They don't really remind me of anyone, Good original sound. Good stuff coming out of 'stralia these days :-)
Reminds me of a dirtier Bitter:Sweet.