World Party – Way Down Now

The first song I heard from this band was She’s The One that I saw in the movie Matchmaker. I liked the song more than I did the movie.  The second song I heard from them was Ship Of Fools. Lately, I’ve been diving into the albums and more songs than those two. Their album Goodbye Jumbo is a pop masterpiece. When I thought of them at first, it was for their Beatles-type melodies and phrasing, but they also throw in the Rolling Stones. 

Before World Party took form, Wallinger had already built up a behind-the-scenes resume worth bragging about. Born in Prestatyn, Wales, he grew up listening to everything from soul and psychedelia to classical and punk. He was a true musical sponge. His big break came in the early ‘80s when he became the musical director for The Rocky Horror Show play, which led to studio work and eventually landed him in The Waterboys for their This Is the Sea era. 

Right out of the gate with this song, you’re greeted with that slinky, rubbery guitar riff that instantly calls to my mind Sympathy for the Devil, and that’s no accident. Wallinger even throws in some “woo-woos” in the chorus.

By now, he’d fully embraced his role as DIY guy, writing, producing, and playing virtually everything himself. Goodbye Jumbo was a masterful example of building an album. Every song is stitched together from analog and digital, but nothing hits quite like Way Down Now, which kicks the album off like a cool joyride through pop

He was armed with a drum machine, some trusty analog gear, and a pile of vintage records for inspiration. This album, to me, is a cross between Britpop and a bar-band.

The song peaked at #1 on the Billboard Mainstream Rock Charts, #5 on the Alternative Charts, #53 in Canada, and #66 in the UK in 1990. Goodbye Jumbo peaked at #36 in the UK, #26 in Canada, and #73 in the Billboard Album Charts. 

Way Down Now

Inside my TV, INever stop to wonder whyI’m way down nowI’m way down now

Some faceless get on the screenThe most honest man I’ve ever seenI’m way down nowI’m way down now

Won’t you show meSomething true today?C’mon and show meAnything but this

She took us by the handHell was the promised landI’m way down nowI’m way down now

I’m lying by the roadBecause she cut off all my clothesI’m way down nowI’m way down now

Won’t you show meSomething true today?C’mon and show meAnything but this

Inside my future lifeWhat I see just makes me cryI’m way down nowI’m way down now

The clocks will all run backwardsAll the sheep will have two headsAnd Thursday night and FridayWill be on Tuesday night instead

And all the times will keep on changingAnd the movement will increaseThere’s something about the living, babeThat sends me off my feet

There’s breeding in the sewersAnd the rats are on their wayThey’re clouding up the imagesOf my perfect day

And I know I’m not aloneAnd I know I’m not aloneAnd I know I’m not alone

Anything but thisCan you hear me?

Inside my TV, II never stop to wonder whyI’m way down nowI’m way down now

Then some faceless get comes on my screenThe most honest man I’ve ever seenI’m way down nowI’m way down

Something newSomething trueSomething newSomething trueSomething newSomething newSomething true

…

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Author: Badfinger (Max)

Power Pop fan, Baseball, Beatles, Alternative music, old movies, and tv show fan. Also anything to do with pop culture in the 60s and 70s... I'm also a songwriter, bass and guitar player. Not the slightest bit interested in politics at all.

37 thoughts on “World Party – Way Down Now”

  1. I really only know Workd Party by name and recall Ship of Fools but little else! Interesting fact, Jumbo the elephant died in St. Thomas, not more than a half hour drive from where I grew up.

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    1. OH that sucks about the elephant. Good band though…Robbie Williams covered She’s The One and made it to number 1 in the UK…although I like World Party’s version much more.

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      5. Its probably right, but Jumbo is probably the best known elephant and he died in captivity. He got hit by another train while they were trying to load him on the Circus train. So it makes sense to use the name. Sorry that is more than you wanted to know about Jumbo. It’s a local legend and there is a statue and a plaque.

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      6. Information/trivia is what we do! I love trivia…even if it’s sad…always. Yea it probably did tie into that Randy.

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    1. Jim it looks like a Gretsch guitar and I love them. They are high end guitars that I’ve played many times in music shops. George Harrison played one as well….different model though.

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    2. Sorry Jim….of course I missed “first video”… that looks like a strat and he is playing it upside down because he is left handed….thats my best guess

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      2. For some people yes…and I like them as well… it makes me feel like I have control of it more. It depends on the guitar player. I know some that like huge guitars….what I really like is a short neck. My fingers are not super long. John Lennon played a guitar with a short neck with his black Rickenbacker…You can go everywhere on the neck really easy. Basses are that way as well…some have short scale necks some long…the long give you a better tone.

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  4. He named the band after a song he co-wrote for Fisherman’s Blues, the Waterboys album. I loved the band and have all of their albums. This is a particular favourite, from which When The Rainbow Comes and Put The Message In The Box are real standouts for me. Sadly, we lost him in March 2024 but the range of those paying tribute to him spoke volumes.

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    1. I picked between Put The Message In The Box and this one to post today…I’ll get to that onein the future. . Yea I read about him passing away…this album is awesome…I’m going to check out the others.

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  5. Excellent song. Sadly even the alt rock stations now only seem to remember ‘Ship of Fools’ by him/them, which is a great one too but they had a number more of those. Actually a band I need to dig deeper into, I only know the limited number of singles they had but the albums usually got good reviews.

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    1. I like Ship of Fools…but it’s not my favorite by them. She’s The One is excellent. That one SOUNDS like a hit the moment you listen to it.
      If you want to start with an album…this one is great and probably the one they are best known by.

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      1. yeah, I remember it being talked a lot about back then and it probably is worth me grabbing, at least second hand. Wallinger was a real talented singer and songwriter

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      2. If you want to test drive it first…it’s on youtube…the complete album.
        He was talented.

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    1. It is a good song on an album with many. He did take a lot of influences in…a little Beatles and a little Stones…mixed very well.

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  7. Karl Wallinger was a pretty talented artist. I love most of the World Party songs I’ve heard. “Ship of Fools” has to be one of the best ’80s songs. I also remember “Way Down Now.” Obviously, Wallinger loved the ’60s. It’s sad he already passed away.

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  9. Pingback: World Party – Way Down Now – MobsterTiger

  10. Sounds vaguely familiar. Had the “Ship Of Fools” 45, and don’t really know much else. Sounds good. Should check out more of them.

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    1. The one that sounded like hit to me was “She’s The One”….Robbie Williams covered it and it was number 1 in the UK…I like World Party’s version though.

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