Walk On Water
Recording Artist: Ozzy Osbourne
Writers: Jim Vallance
Ozzy Osbourne
Date Written: March 1994 / Vancouver Canada
Albums: Beavis and Butthead Do America (1996)
Back On Earth (1997)
Prince of Darkness (2005/March 22)
Charts: #28 - Billboard Mainstream Rock Tracks Chart / 1996 (8 weeks on the chart)
Audio-1: Walk On Water / studio version
 
 

Ozzy Osbourne: vocals
Joe Holmes: guitar
Produced and recorded by Moby
Audio-2: Walk On Water / demo version
 
  Ozzy Osbourne: vocals
Jim Vallance: guitar, keyboards, bass, drums
Produced and recorded by Ozzy and Jim at Armoury Studios, March 1994 (see the track sheet below).
Comments:
Above: studio track sheet for the demo version of
"Walk On Water".  Click on image to view larger.
I've lost track how many times Ozzy has apologized to me for Moby's production on "Walk On Water". It's too bad, because I'm a fan of Moby's work ... but in this case, I think Moby miscalculated stylistically and took the song in a direction it should not have gone!

Sorry Mobe!

However ... I was thrilled when I learned that, instead of the Moby version, Ozzy planned on including our home-demo of "Walk On Water" on his 2005 CD box set, "Prince of Darkness". 

Here are Ozzy's comments from the box set liner notes: "This is another great song where I actually preferred the demo.  I hated the version that I recorded with Moby.  So did the Beavis and Butthead people.  Although the Moby-produced track is on the the "Beavis and Butthead Do America" soundtrack album, this version (the demo) is the one heard in the movie".

Ozzy's 2005 box set was originally going to be titled "Bible Of Ozz", but it was changed to "Prince Of Darkness" just prior to release.
 
Click on image above
to view lyrics
Lyrics:
 
I met a magic man who had a daughter
She learned her lessons well, but still I taught her
She followed willingly as lambs to slaughter
We share forbidden fruit and things I brought her

You may say I’m a miracle mannequin
Here I come with my mystical plan again

Although you think I can, I’m just a man
And I don’t walk on water - oh no
I don’t walk on water - oh no

I followed willingly her sweet temptation
She had me hypnotized and still I’m waiting
My dromedary dreams as wet as oceans
With sand dunes bearing seeds she set in motion

You may say I’m a cynical charlatan
There I go with my whimsical ways again

Although you think I can, I’m just a man
And I don’t walk on water - oh no
I don’t walk on water - oh no
I don’t walk on water - oh no
I don’t walk on water - oh no

Kaleidoscopical eyes as you look in the mirror
And the long is getting shorter as the far is now nearer

(solo)

Are you just a mirror standing in front of me?
Am I blind ... can my eyes really see?

You may say I’m a miracle mannequin
Here I come with my mystical plan again

Although you think I can, I’m just a man
And I don’t walk on water - oh no
I don’t walk on water - oh no
I don’t walk on water - oh no
I don’t walk on water - oh no