Both Gilmore and Roberts are multi instrumentalists, Gilmore sings and plays fiddle, mandolin, viola and guitar; Roberts sings and plays guitar, mandolin, banjo, cajon and adds trombone, drums and programming on their albums.
Their fourth album, Conflict Tourism (released 18.09.15), followed a year of touring in mainland Europe, Canada and their native Britain.
Scarecrow
Gilmore & Roberts Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
the world went flat,
the sky grew dark and my heart went black
I stood there silent like a stone
All my happiness and joy
stood there like broken toys
across my messy room
three am,
dogs are barking at the window pane
wife said “baby better look outside.”
Then I slipped into outer space
stood there fighting with a pillow case
wife said “baby wake up it’s all right.”
But I thought I saw a scarecrow in the backyard
it didn’t say a word but it gave me quite a shock
I thought for awhile
that I could make it smile
but I guess were not that far apart
I went to the Doctor,
I said something’s wrong
She said “boy there is something here I can’t put my finger on.”
She sold me placebo
and as she walked me to the door
she said “boy don’t watch those Woody Allen films no more.”
The song "Scarecrow" by Gilmore & Roberts speaks to a feeling of disorientation and confusion, as well as the search for meaning and understanding in life. The opening lines set the scene of a sudden and jarring experience, where the world seems to have turned upside down. The image of the sky turning dark and the heart going black suggest a deep sense of despair or hopelessness. The singer then goes on to describe feeling numb and disconnected from the world, with all the things that used to bring joy and happiness now seeming broken and meaningless.
The second verse introduces a sense of fear and anxiety, with the barking dogs outside adding to the sense of unease. The singer then slips into "outer space", which could represent a kind of dissociative state, where reality becomes distorted and difficult to grasp. The reference to fighting with a pillow case suggests a struggle to find comfort or security in a world that feels unfamiliar and threatening. The wife's reassuring words offer some comfort, but there is still a sense of unease.
The final verse introduces the idea of seeking medical help, but finding that the answer is not straightforward or easy to understand. The doctor's advice to stop watching Woody Allen films suggests that the singer's perception of reality may have been influenced by external factors such as media and culture. Overall, "Scarecrow" speaks to the human experience of feeling lost and confused, and the search for meaning and understanding in a world that can often feel chaotic and overwhelming.
Line by Line Meaning
Boom crash
the world went flat,
the sky grew dark and my heart went black
The sudden noise and disturbance made the world appear flat and dark while my heart sank with a feeling of sadness and despair.
I stood there silent like a stone
All my happiness and joy
stood there like broken toys
across my messy room
I was left speechless and motionless like a statue; all the things that brought happiness and joy to my life lay shattered like broken toys across my messy room.
Bang clank,
three am,
dogs are barking at the window pane
wife said “baby better look outside.”
There were loud noises, dogs barking at an odd hour, and my wife urged me to check outside.
Then I slipped into outer space
stood there fighting with a pillow case
wife said “baby wake up it’s all right.”
I momentarily lost touch with reality and found myself in a dreamlike state, trying to fight off a pillowcase. My wife woke me up, assuring me that everything was fine.
But I thought I saw a scarecrow in the backyard
it didn’t say a word but it gave me quite a shock
I thought for a while
that I could make it smile
but I guess we're not that far apart
Even though I thought I saw a scarecrow in my backyard, it didn't move or speak. It startled me, and I attempted to interact with it and cheer it up, only to realize that we weren't too different after all.
I went to the Doctor,
I said something’s wrong
She said “boy there is something here I can’t put my finger on.”
I sought help from a doctor and conveyed that something was amiss, to which the doctor responded that there was an intangible issue that she couldn’t identify.
She sold me placebo
and as she walked me to the door
she said “boy don’t watch those Woody Allen films no more.”
The doctor provided me with a placebo, which has no real effect, and jokingly advised me to refrain from watching Woody Allen films because they can be anxiety-inducing.
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
Written by: ROBERT DEEBLE
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Lady Loria
LYRICS:
The arms of a frozen figure out wide(?)
With a wooden cross making up his inside
A human form his rags provide
Out in the weather
A coat and cap that sits askew
The holes and hay let the wind pass through
But as long as he can scare a crow or two
Out in the weather
With foes in black feather
Through yellow it shows in the rapeseed glow
He does the one thing that he loves and knows
Scaring crows
If his mouth could shout, then swear he would
And a fist he’d wave had he limbs that could
But his presence is enough to do some good
Out in the weather
But the day is sure, it’s a matter of fact
When the birds get wise to the menacing act
That his image hides the movement lacked
Out in the weather
With foes in black feather
Through yellow it shows in the rapeseed glow
He does the one thing that he loves and knows
Scaring crows
Fearing for his pride, as he stands out there alone
If his arms were just untied
He’d kill two birds with a single stone
The right wing, left wing, sitting on the fence
Leading a vote of confidence
The rogue(?) crow plans his offense, out in the weather
And taking heed of the casting vote
Swoops and lands with a scornful gloat
Sitting proud on the scarecrow’s coat, out in the weather
And I’m sure there’d be tears had he eyes that cried
For the mockery this scene implies
When the murder follows his purpose dies
With foes in black feather
Through yellow it shows in the rapeseed glow
He fails at the only thing he knows
Scaring crows
Wendy Campbell
Happy to have just discovered these guys. Very, very cool! Thank you for posting.
carol penny
Looking forward to seeing them live at the Southdowns Folk Festival 2021
Dylan Brierley
Great song all the best with your new album :-)
UKReviewGuy
This is Awesome
Laurence Brown
Brilliant
john wallis
even my dog likes this song.