AllMusic instead suggests that its subject is a number of people who inspired Scott, including writer C. S. Lewis and the musician Prince.

[5] The official Waterboys website's Frequently Asked Questions clarifies that Scott has said that the song's subject is "a composite of many people", including C. S. Lewis, but explicitly states that it is not about Prince.

[7] He explained: The Whole of the Moon is about someone like CS Lewis, who seemed to see so much and explore issues much more deeply than most people, or it could be about a Jimi Hendrix-type person who comes "like a comet, blazing your trail" and is gone too soon, but it's not specifically about anyone.

[7]Incidentally, Scott wrote all of his lyrics in a big black book that he had bought at a magic shop, says one of his backing singers, Max Edie.

Drummer Kevin Wilkinson had left the band by the time "The Whole of the Moon" was recorded and drums were played by session player, Chris Whitten.

Scott has said that he wanted the trumpets to have a similar impact to the flugelhorns on the Beatles' "Penny Lane": "like sunlight bursting through clouds".

[7] Percussion was added by Martin Ditcham, who played what Scott described as "a bag of weird stuff that he rubbed together or shook".

The song was re-released as a single (7-inch, 12-inch, cassette and CD) on 25 March 1991,[14] and it was included on the band's compilation album The Best of the Waterboys 81–90, issued on 29 April 1991.

Chrysalis chose to focus the single's promotion through retailers rather than radio as the label felt stations would be "wary of a reissue".

Deals were made with music retailers and the marketing strategy included the use of press adverts, posters and counter cards.

The song first appeared in a wedding rehearsal scene also in the final season of the daughter of the main character before reappearing again as the credits rolled ending the series.

Scott sings live over an amended version of the record, on which fiddle and acoustic guitar were added at Wessex Studios, London.

[21][22] Upon its release in 1985, Jane Simon of Sounds noted how "The Whole of the Moon" "sweeps you up in its vast, visionary embrace and swings you at the sky, as soprano saxes scream like shooting stars".

[23] Roger Morton of Record Mirror noted how the four tracks on the 12-inch single "draw out the drama in Scott's barnstorming pop poetry to raging effect" and "should bring water to both your eyes and your mouth".

[24] Jerry Smith of Music Week praised "The Whole of the Moon" as a "memorable number" that "should give them their first big hit".

[26] In a review of the 1991 re-issue, Paul Lester, writing for Melody Maker, praised it as "the greatest single of October 1985".

[8] Prince covered the song at Ronnie Scott's Jazz Club during his 2014 Hit & Run tour,[46] and again at the Paisley Park Studios during a Dance Rally for Peace in May 2015.

[50] Scott said of U2's version "They performed it in a medley with 'Where the Streets Have No Name' on one of their tours, maybe 10 years ago, which was a very cool acknowledgement that the two songs have the same chorus melody.

[52] Fiona Apple recorded a cover of the song in 2019, which appeared in the finale of the Showtime TV series The Affair.