Joanna
Scott Walker Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I can't forget the one they call Joanna
We owned the summer, hand in hand Joanna
And now she's always just a tear away
Goodbye you, you long lost summer
Leaving me behind you
Revealing things for lovers that may find you
I still hang on to every word that day, you passed my way
Joanna
You made the man a child again, so sweetly
He breathed your smile
Lived in your eyes completely
And on his heart there's still a trace of you
I love you but nothing in this world could make you mine
Yet still in time
Joanna
Joanna, you may remember me and change your mind
I love you but nothing in this world could make you mine
Yet still in time
Joanna
Joanna, you may remember me and change your mind
The song "Joanna" by Scott Walker is a nostalgic tribute to a lost love. The singer recalls his time with Joanna during a summer when they were together, holding hands and enjoying each other's companionship. However, now she is just a tear away, and he is left longing for what he had with her. He cannot forget her, as she made him feel like a child again, happy and free. He will always remember the moment he met her and cherishes the memory.
The song has a sad undertone, as the singer realizes that he could never be with Joanna again. He loves her deeply but knows that nothing in this world could make her his. Nevertheless, he hopes that she will remember him and change her mind, and maybe they can be reunited once more. The song is filled with tender moments, beautifully expressed through the lyrics and Walker's talented voice.
Overall, "Joanna" is a haunting and emotive portrayal of lost love and the power of memory. The lyrics and melody combine to create a melancholic atmosphere that reflects on the passing of time and the fleeting nature of love.
Line by Line Meaning
Joanna
The singer is addressing his beloved, Joanna, whom he can't forget.
I can't forget the one they call Joanna
The singer is expressing his inability to forget Joanna, who is well-known among people.
We owned the summer, hand in hand Joanna
During the summer, the singer and Joanna were inseparable, always holding hands.
And now she's always just a tear away
Although they are no longer together, Joanna's memory is always close by for the singer, making him susceptible to tears.
Goodbye you, you long lost summer
The singer bids farewell to the past summer that he shared with Joanna, which now seems like a distant memory.
Leaving me behind you
The summer has passed and Joanna has moved on with her life, leaving the singer behind.
Revealing things for lovers that may find you
The singer speculates that other lovers who come across Joanna may discover things about her personality that he was not privy to.
I still hang on to every word that day, you passed my way
The singer is holding on to the memories of the day when he first met Joanna and cherishes every word they exchanged.
You made the man a child again, so sweetly / He breathed your smile / Lived in your eyes completely
Joanna has a transformative effect on the singer, as she makes him feel like a child again and fills him with love and happiness.
And on his heart there's still a trace of you
While Joanna is no longer with the singer, her memory still lingers in his heart.
Joanna
The singer repeats the chorus to reinforce his yearning for Joanna.
I love you but nothing in this world could make you mine
The singer acknowledges that Joanna is not his to possess despite his love for her.
Yet still in time / Joanna / Joanna, you may remember me and change your mind
Despite the singer's acknowledgement of Joanna's unavailability, he still hopes that she may change her mind about him in the future.
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: TONY HATCH, JACKIE TRENT
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@joannaillescas3024
My mum named me Joanna after this song and when I gave birth to my son I called him Scott after Scott Walker ❤
@darrenandrews6648
Beautiful
@irish9boy
Women of impeccable taste. Super names.
@Belaugh
How utterly wonderful. I would be so proud if I could have been and done that, Loved this man.
@joannapepa7452
Last summer I was working as a waitress at a coffee shop and there was an old British couple that would come over every day for their morning coffee until their vacations would end. Every time they would sing "Joanna" to me as soon as they saw me and I would smile. They really made my day!!
@johnchappell8120
That is a nice story
@mangographics225
Lovely remembrances.
@arklesa1
That's lovely ... and what a song! Been following Scott since 1981 when read about him in NME. He would have hated this in recent years before his passing but it's perfect and moves me very time.
@samandjennysambrook
It's what the world is short of Joanna,The milk of pure human time and kindness to others.👍🎶💕
@janeokeeffe5297
What a lovely story