Introduction
At 81, Tom Jones defied convention by breathing new life into This Is the Sea—a haunting anthem of renewal originally penned by Mike Scott of The Waterboys. Recorded for his 2021 album Surrounded by Time, Jones delivered the track with a single-take performance that captured a rare blend of vulnerability and vigorous expression. The collaboration with producer Ethan Johns brought a rich, textured soundscape in which Jones’s weathered baritone soared with understated power.
The live rendition of This Is the Sea at Shepherd’s Bush Empire in London that July became a standout moment in his 2021 performances. Captured on video, Jones’s emotional depth and formidable stage presence reaffirmed his status as a masterful interpreter of song, even decades into his storied career .
Thematically, the song is layered with poetic resonance—it speaks to transitions, the passage from one life chapter to another, urging acceptance of change as life’s only constant. In Jones’s seasoned voice, the message acquires added poignancy, as though he himself embodies both the river of experience and the open sea of what comes next.
Placed amid a career makeover that includes intimate covers of Dylan, Cat Stevens, and Malvina Reynolds, This Is the Sea exemplifies Jones’s late-life renaissance. It aligns with a body of work that respects his past while confronting time head-on, using his formidable voice not just to sing—but to testify.
This rendition stands as a testament to Jones’s enduring artistry: a song of reflection, revival, and the fearless acceptance that some of life’s deepest truths are best felt through song.