A much-loved musical spectacle in his native Newcastle for many years now, Dawson is a skewed troubadour who sings and plays guitar with a rare intensity and a very singular style. Dawson’s music is a collision of opposites, his hoarsely cracking voice suddenly rising to a magical soar that’s been compared to Tim Buckley, John Martyn and Richard Youngs, while his battered acoustic guitar veers from stumble to sublime in a way that can recall Sir Richard Bishop or Captain Beefheart, add this to his snaring way with words and Dawson’s got you pinned.
Scientist
Richard Dawson Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Through the toadsong to your step
At the behest of the king
With a gift for your temple
I have lugged this strange contraption
Over many a hoary dale
Unbar the batw! Take me to the house
Of your so-called priest blasphemer!
"We do not require the use of your abandon
We have our own seeing-device, powered by waste
It no longer recognises words or numbers"
As a fellow citizen of reason
I strongly suggest you reconsider your position
Otherwise you may face truly dire consequences
The instalment of this modern wonder
Is for your own benefit
Down will rain boiling tar on your rooves, if you refuse
"We have long-since in a vision fleed into the nameless foothills
Somewhere fire cannot live a secret dome
Enclosing a whole word made anew"
The song "Scientist" by Richard Dawson has a complex and layered meaning. The lyrics tell the story of a scientist who has brought a strange contraption to the temple of a priest blasphemer. The scientist claims he has come with a gift from the king, and urges the priest to install the modern wonder for his own benefit. However, the priest refuses, asserting that they have their own seeing-device powered by waste, and they have fled into the nameless foothills where fire cannot live. The song touches on themes of progress, technology, and the tension between tradition and change.
The scientist's arrival at the temple presents a metaphor for scientific and technological progress. He brings something new and strange, but the temple and its inhabitants reject it, preferring to stick to their own ways. This encounter highlights the tension between tradition and change, a theme that is particularly relevant in today's society. The priest's resistance to the scientist's innovation reflects the fear of the unknown and the reluctance to embrace new ideas.
The final lines of the song suggest that the priest's rejection of the modern wonder will result in dire consequences. This can be interpreted as a warning against refusing progress and innovation, but also as a commentary on the consequences of climate change and the need for urgent action. The nameless foothills and the secret dome enclosing a whole word made anew imply a new world order, born out of necessity and adaptation.
Line by Line Meaning
I am come straight from the palace
I come directly from the king's residence
Through the toadsong to your step
Despite the obstacles and challenges, I have come to your doorstep
At the behest of the king
I am here because the king has requested me to be here
With a gift for your temple
I have brought a present for your place of worship
I have lugged this strange contraption over many a hoary dale
I have carried this unusual device over long distances
Unbar the batw! Take me to the house of your so-called priest blasphemer!
Open the gate and lead me to the residence of your alleged heretical priest
"We do not require the use of your abandon
"We do not need your disused technology
We have our own seeing-device, powered by waste
Our own machinery, which is fuelled by refuse, fulfils our needs
It no longer recognises words or numbers"
"It no longer identifies words or figures"
As a fellow citizen of reason
As another rational individual
I strongly suggest you reconsider your position
I urge you to rethink your stance
Otherwise you may face truly dire consequences
Otherwise you may suffer very severe repercussions
The instalment of this modern wonder is for your own benefit
The implementation of this contemporary marvel is for your own advantage
Down will rain boiling tar on your rooves, if you refuse
If you decline, boiling tar will cascade onto your rooftops
"We have long-since in a vision fleed into the nameless foothills
"We have long since fled into the nameless hills in our imagination
Somewhere fire cannot live, a secret dome enclosing a whole word made anew"
In a place where flame cannot dwell, there is a mysterious structure that contains a whole new world
Lyrics © DOMINO PUBLISHING COMPANY
Written by: RICHARD MICHAEL DAWSON
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
J Foxhead
I am come straight from the palace
Through the toadsong to your step
At the behest of the king
With a gift for your temple
I have lugged this strange contraption
Over many a hoary dale
Unbar the batw! Take me to the house
Of your so-called priest blasphemer!
"We do not require the use of your abandon
We have our own seeing-device, powered by waste
It no longer recognises words or numbers"
As a fellow citizen of reason
I strongly suggest you reconsider your position
Otherwise you may face truly dire consequences
The instalment of this modern wonder
Is for your own benefit
Down will rain boiling tar on your rooves, if you refuse
"We have long-since in a vision fleed into the nameless foothills
Somewhere fire cannot live a secret dome
Enclosing a whole word made anew"
Sight to Behold
I am come straight from the palace
Through the toadsong to your step
At the behest of the king
With a gift for your temple
I have lugged this strange contraption
Over many a hoary dale
Unbar the batw! Take me to the house
Of your so-called priest blasphemer!
"We do not require the use of your abandon
We have our own seeing-device, powered by waste
It no longer recognises words or numbers"
As a fellow citizen of reason
I strongly suggest you reconsider your position
Otherwise you may face truly dire consequences
The instalment of this modern wonder
Is for your own benefit
Down will rain boiling tar on your rooves, if you refuse
"We have long-since in a vision fleed into the nameless foothills
Somewhere fire cannot live a secret dome
Enclosing a whole word made anew"
Héctor Tamayo Diez
I am come straight from the palace
Through the toadsong to your step
At the behest of the king
With a gift for your temple
I have lugged this strange contraption
Over many a hoary dale
Unbar the batw! Take me to the house
Of your so-called priest blasphemer!
"We do not require the use of your abandon
We have our own seeing-device, powered by waste
It no longer recognises words or numbers"
As a fellow citizen of reason
I strongly suggest you reconsider your position
Otherwise you may face truly dire consequences
The instalment of this modern wonder
Is for your own benefit
Down will rain boiling tar on your rooves, if you refuse
"We have long-since in a vision fleed into the nameless foothills
Somewhere fire cannot live a secret dome
Enclosing a whole word made anew"
Steve Allder
Just heard a live version of this on 6 music, thought System of a Down had gone a bit folky, quality stuff!
exonerative
Got into this album a few days ago, there is no other word but glorious, this record is just distilled glory.
J Foxhead
I am come straight from the palace
Through the toadsong to your step
At the behest of the king
With a gift for your temple
I have lugged this strange contraption
Over many a hoary dale
Unbar the batw! Take me to the house
Of your so-called priest blasphemer!
"We do not require the use of your abandon
We have our own seeing-device, powered by waste
It no longer recognises words or numbers"
As a fellow citizen of reason
I strongly suggest you reconsider your position
Otherwise you may face truly dire consequences
The instalment of this modern wonder
Is for your own benefit
Down will rain boiling tar on your rooves, if you refuse
"We have long-since in a vision fleed into the nameless foothills
Somewhere fire cannot live a secret dome
Enclosing a whole word made anew"
Brendan Tannam
i think the poet William Blake would have got a kick out of this!
awisecar
This is absolutely fantastic
Thales Daniel
Essa música tem uma pegada nostálgica muito foda
WETRIX
it's really hard to make music that sounds unique nowadays but richard dawson totally pulled it off. NOTHING sounds like this album.
Becca Hamm
I am not knocking this album which is great, but have a listen to either the band Comus or the album 'Bright Phoebus' by Lal and Mike Waterson. You may well enjoy them
Peter Shields
Top songwriter - top fella - love Richard to bits
totallyrandomman
This is just glorious