Originally coming to fame in the mid-1960s singing orchestral pop ballads as the frontman of The Walker Brothers, Walker went on to a solo career balancing a light entertainment/MOR ballad approach with increasing artistic innovations in arrangement and writing. Despite a series of acclaimed albums, a disastrous drop in sales forced him back into straight Middle of the road recordings with little of his own artistic input. This in turn eventually led to a Walker Brothers reunion in the mid-1970s (although the latter eventually moved, by mutual consent, into more avant-garde areas).
From the mid-1980s, Walker revived his solo career while drastically reinventing his artistic and compositional methods, via a series of acclaimed and vividly avant-garde albums. These combined his iconic voice with an unsettling avant-garde approach which owed more to modernist and post-modernist classical composition than to his pop singer past. This change in approach has been compared to "Andy Williams reinventing himself as Stockhausen".
Walker has been a continuing influence on other artists, in particular The Last Shadow Puppets, Marc Almond, Goldfrapp, Douglas Pearce of the band Death in June, Billy MacKenzie of The Associates, David Sylvian, Julian Cope, Antony Hegarty, Thom Yorke, Steven Wilson, David Bowie, Leonard Cohen, Trey Spruance, Perry Blake, Radiohead, Noah Lennox, Mikael Åkerfeldt, and the Divine Comedy/Neil Hannon.
Walker continued to release solo material until his death, and was signed to 4AD Records. As a record producer or guest performer he worked with a number of artists including Pulp, Ute Lemper, Bat For Lashes and Sunn O))).
A Face in the Crowd
Scott Walker Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
A leaf in the wind
A bend in the road
We're travelling
Tomorrow is a sky filled with dreams
A gift from the moon
A sea we have yet to sail
Will we be there together?
We should be there together
I've done moving alone
Through the miles of miles of yesterday
We're each of us a face in the crowd
Now you and I can share all there is between 'hello' and
'goodbye'
Together we can try
Together
We can
Try...
The lyrics to Scott Walker's song "A Face in the Crowd" paint a picture of uncertainty and hope in the face of the unknown future. The opening lines set the tone for the rest of the song, with "tomorrow" being described as a "face in the crowd," a "leaf in the wind," and "a bend in the road" that we are all traveling on. The use of these metaphors suggests that the future is unpredictable and constantly changing, and that we are all just small parts of a larger, uncertain world.
As the song progresses, the tone shifts from uncertainty to hope. The idea that "tomorrow is a sky filled with dreams" and "a sea we have yet to sail" implies that the future is full of potential and opportunity. This is further reinforced by the line "we can try," which suggests that even though the future is unknown, we can still make an effort to create the best possible outcome for ourselves.
The closing lines of the song bring the focus back to the present, emphasizing the importance of human connection in navigating an uncertain world. By acknowledging that "we're each of us a face in the crowd," the song suggests that we are all in this together and that we can find comfort and support in each other. The idea that "you and I can share all there is between 'hello' and 'goodbye'" highlights the fleeting nature of life and the importance of making meaningful connections while we can.
Overall, "A Face in the Crowd" is a powerful reflection on the human experience of navigating uncertainty and change. Through its powerful use of metaphor and evocative imagery, the song urges listeners to embrace the potential of the unknown future, while also emphasizing the importance of human connection and support.
Line by Line Meaning
Tomorrow is a face in the crowd
Tomorrow is uncertain and unpredictable, like a stranger in a large group of people
A leaf in the wind
Our fate and direction are easily influenced by external factors beyond our control
A bend in the road
Life takes unexpected turns and we must adapt to new circumstances as they arise
We're travelling
We are all on a journey through life, experiencing its ups and downs together
Tomorrow is a sky filled with dreams
The future is full of infinite possibilities, and we can imagine a better world waiting for us ahead
A gift from the moon
The future is a mysterious and intangible gift, much like the light of the moon
A sea we have yet to sail
The future is uncharted territory, and we must navigate it with courage and determination
But must very soon
The future is imminent, and we must prepare ourselves for what lies ahead
Will we be there together?
Are we willing to face the future as a united force and rely on each other for support?
We should be there together
We are stronger when we work together, and it is in our best interest to support each other
I've done moving alone
I have experienced the loneliness and hardship of facing the future alone
Through the miles of miles of yesterday
I have traveled through the hardships of the past to reach this point in time
We're each of us a face in the crowd
We are all unique individuals, but we share a common journey and destination
Now you and I can share all there is between 'hello' and 'goodbye'
Let us connect and build meaningful relationships with each other, as we experience the joys and struggles of life together
Together we can try
We can make progress and achieve great things, if we work together towards a common goal
Together
Unity and community are the keys to success and happiness in life
We can
We have the power and ability to succeed and make a positive impact
Try...
Even if things are difficult or uncertain, we should still try our best to make the most of every moment and opportunity
Contributed by Nathaniel T. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
Tina L. Davidson
What an excellent cover.; love it. I think Tom Petty would have been proud....can't believe he's been gone 4 years already, RIP. 🙏🏻
Bobby Good
Couldn’t agree more. So much love for the original tune here
AvalonDreaming
I know... So sad. 😔 But this cover is fantastic.
Rob Field
I've been lucky enough to see Spoon twice and can't figure out why they're not bigger than they are. Their albums are great, but they're even better live. They have a chill energy that works on stage.
Stefan van der Spuy
Always a sign of a good band; if they sound better live than recorded!
Bobby Good
People don’t want something good. The industry especially doesn’t. We get black eyed peas until we ask for more.
m h
Spoon never disappoints, plain and simple. Every album may sound different, but each one is special.
Same can be said for Tom Petty, he never wrote a bad song.
jess tessen
I can’t believe I’ve only discovered this band now! Been missing out.
Silky Wellman
Spoon can do no wrong. Musically
Robert Lawton
Saw them at the New American Music Union in Pittsburgh 2008. I didn't know who they were at the time but they definitely made me a fan that day!