Reader was born in Glasgow, the daughter of a welder, and the eldest of seven children (her brother, Francis, is vocalist with the band The Trash Can Sinatras). She began playing the guitar at the age of ten, and started her musical career busking, first in Glasgow's Sauchiehall Street, then in the early 1980s around Europe (where she also worked with circus and performance artists).
Back in Scotland, she joined the punk band Gang of Four as a backing singer which led to her first US tour. After leaving the band she started working as a session vocalist in London, singing with such acts as Eurythmics, Alison Moyet and Language.
In 1984, Reader sang for a brief time with disco group Outbar Squeek. Around the same time she teamed up with Mark E. Nevin, a guitarist and songwriter, to record a few of his songs. They subsequently formed Fairground Attraction, together with Simon Edwards and Roy Dodds. In 1988 the band released their first single, Perfect, which became a UK number one, winning best single at the 1989 Brit Awards. Their first album, The First of a Million Kisses, was also a success, reaching number two in the UK album chart, and winning best album at the 1989 Brit Awards.
This success was short-lived, however. In November, 1989, after a break, during which Reader had her first child, Charlie with her French-Algerian partner Milou, Mark Nevin abandoned a recording session for the second album, which would eventually lead to the splitting of the band. A makeshift second album, a collection of B-sides and live tracks, Ay Fond Kiss was rushed out the following year.
Reader returned to Scotland, but before she embarked on her solo career she took a temporary detour into acting. She played Jolene Jowett, a singer and accordionist, in John Byrne's Your Cheatin' Heart, a comedy-drama series for BBC television, set in the country music scene in Scotland.
Returning to London, Reader worked on new material with a backing band calling itself "The Patron Saints of Imperfection" (made up of Roy Dodds, Neill and Calum MacColl, and Phil Steriopoulos). This became her first solo album, recorded for RCA: 1992's Mirmama. It was followed by Eddi Reader (1994), which won her the "Best female singer" Brit Award that year, Candyfloss and Medicine (1996), Angels & Electricity (1998), Simple Soul (2001) and Driftwood (2002) - a "homegrown" release of songs recorded during the Simple Soul sessions.
In 2003, she recorded her album of material by Robert Burns with the Royal Scottish National Orchestra leading to excellent reviews and an international resurgence in interest in Scotland's Bard.
The Song "Bell Book And Candle" was included in the final soundtrack of the TV show by WB "Charmed", The name of the disc is "Charmed: The Final Chapter".
In the 2006 New Years Honours List, Reader was awarded the MBE for services to music.
Her eighth studio album Peacetime was released in the UK on 29 January 2007 on the Rough Trade label. Critically praised and produced by fellow Scottish folk musician John McCusker the album features a few Burns songs alongside brand new material with longtime collaborator Boo Hewerdine and Trashcan Sinatras' John Douglas. Reader promoted the album with a 15 date UK tour in February.
Scarecrow
Eddi Reader Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
you’re only bringing sorrow
oh scarecrow wherever you go
you’re only bringing sorrow
sorrow for the ones you left behind {ah-ah}
sorrow for the ones who go
sorrow for the ones who change their mind
no, they’ll never know
you start out wanting life
but you get hurried
you start out wanting love
but you get worried
oh scarecrow wherever you go
you’re only bringing sorrow
oh scarecrow wherever you go
you’re only bringing sorrow
sorrow for the ones who steal the sun {ah-ah}
sorrow for the ones who go
sorrow for the flowers in the guns
’cause they’ll never know
no, they’ll never know
mmm, at waters edge a drunken horse
how sad and strange to watch him waiting
we’re watching from a high wire
birds watching from a high wire
we’re watching you {watching you}
we’re watching you
you start out wanting life
but you get hurried
you start out wanting love
but you get worried
oh scarecrow wherever you go
you’re only bringing sorrow
oh, yeah, yeah, scarecrow
{bah, bup-ba-ba-bah, bup-ba-ba-bah,etc.}
oh-yeah-oh...
oh scarecrow wherever you go
you’re only bringing sorrow
{bah, bup-ba-ba-bah, bup-ba-ba-bah,etc.}
The song "Scarecrow" by Eddi Reader is a hauntingly beautiful piece about a figure, the scarecrow, who represents the idea that no matter where you go or what you do, you will always cause some form of sorrow to those around you. The repeating chorus serves as a reminder of this, and the song delves deeper into the endless cycle of the human experience. The song suggests that no matter what we start out wanting in life, we end up being hurried and worried, leading to a sense of emptiness and regret. The lyrics also touch on themes of loss and pain, alluding to death and the sense of finality associated with it. The lyrics are cryptic yet relatable, leaving much room for interpretation and introspection.
One interesting fact about the song is that the lyrics were written by Boo Hewerdine, who is known for his work as a singer-songwriter and producer in the UK music industry. Another intriguing fact is that the song was originally recorded by the band The Blue Nile in the late 80s but was later covered by Eddi Reader in 1994 for her album "Candyfloss and Medicine". The song became a hit for Reader, earning her a nomination for Best Female Artist at the BRIT Awards in 1995. "Scarecrow" has also been covered by other artists, such as Scottish singer-songwriter Rachel Sermanni in 2015.
Line by Line Meaning
oh scarecrow wherever you go
The scarecrow represents a wandering soul that brings sadness wherever it goes
you’re only bringing sorrow
The presence of the scarecrow instills a feeling of sorrow in people
sorrow for the ones you left behind {ah-ah}
The scarecrow leaves a trail of sadness for those it has left behind
sorrow for the ones who go
Those who follow the scarecrow will also be subjected to sorrow
sorrow for the ones who change their mind
Even those who have second thoughts about following the scarecrow will still suffer
’cause they’ll never know
They will never truly know the extent of the sorrow the scarecrow brings
you start out wanting life
The desire for life is universal
but you get hurried
The pressures of life can cause one to feel rushed and anxious
you start out wanting love
The desire for love is also universal
but you get worried
The fear of not finding love or losing love can cause one to worry excessively
sorrow for the ones who steal the sun {ah-ah}
The scarecrow brings sorrow to those who are always searching for something they cannot have
sorrow for the flowers in the guns
The scarecrow brings sorrow to those who are caught in the crossfires of conflict
mmm, at waters edge a drunken horse
A melancholy and pitiful scene of a horse that has lost its way
how sad and strange to watch him waiting
It is saddening and unusual to see the horse so lost and without purpose
we’re watching from a high wire
The watchers are aloof, detached from the events unfolding below
birds watching from a high wire
The birds too are observing from a distance without intervening
we’re watching you {watching you}
The watchers are observing the scarecrow with detachment and nonchalance
oh, yeah, yeah, scarecrow
The scarecrow is a symbol of melancholy and sorrow
{bah, bup-ba-ba-bah, bup-ba-ba-bah,etc.}
Musical interlude
Contributed by Ellie E. Suggest a correction in the comments below.