Boy Child
Scott Walker Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
A boy child rides upon your back
Take him away
Through mirrors dark and blessed with cracks
Through forgotten courtyards
Where you used to search for youth
Old gets a new life
Reach out you can touch it's true
Like you, you see
Hearts hold on holding
If you stay one, you'll stay free
Go seek the lady
Who will give, not take away
Naked with stillness
On the edge of dawn she stays
Night starts to empty
That's when her song begins
She'll make you happy
She'll take you deep within her
Window lights for wanderers
Hide hard in your swollen eyes
Echoes of laughter
Hide in the cities thighs
Love catch these fragments
Swirling through the winds of night
What can it cost
To give a boy child back his sight
Extensions through dimensions
Leave you feeling cold and lame
Boy child mustn't tremble
Cause he came without a name
In Scott Walker's song "Boy Child," the lyrics speak to the idea of being lost in life and searching for meaning. The use of the boy child symbolizes innocence and purity, something the singer has lost, but can maybe regain through the journey. The line "Take him away, through mirrors dark and blessed with cracks" suggests that the singer needs to take the boy child, representative of his own purity, away from the darkness or negativity of his current environment. The use of "mirrors" suggests self-reflection and introspection, while the "cracks" in the mirrors may represent the imperfections and flaws one must confront in order to grow and find meaning.
The next part of the song speaks to the journey itself, through forgotten courtyards and places that used to hold meaning for the singer. The line "Old gets a new life, reach out you can touch it's true" can be interpreted as the idea that the past can be revitalized or given new meaning if the singer is willing to reach for it. The image of the lady who will "give, not take away" can be seen as a beacon of hope or salvation, someone who can bring joy back into the singer's life. The line "Love catch these fragments, swirling through the winds of night" encapsulates the idea that love and positivity can be found even in the darkest of times.
Overall, "Boy Child" is a song about finding oneself amidst the chaos and confusion of life. The use of the boy child symbolizes innocence and purity, something that the singer may have lost but can regain through self-reflection and the help of others.
Line by Line Meaning
You'll lose your way
You will get lost in life
A boy child rides upon your back
The responsibility of a child will weigh you down
Take him away
Get rid of the responsibility
Through mirrors dark and blessed with cracks
Through difficult times and circumstances
Through forgotten courtyards
Through places of the past that have been forgotten
Where you used to search for youth
Where you used to try and relive your youth
Old gets a new life
You can renew your old self
Reach out you can touch it's true
It's possible to achieve this
He's not a shadow of shadows
He's not insignificant
Like you, you see
Unlike you
Hearts hold on holding
Keep holding on to what's important
If you stay one, you'll stay free
If you remain true to yourself, you'll remain free
Go seek the lady
Find the person who can help you
Who will give, not take away
Who will be helpful, not oppressive
Naked with stillness
Motionless and unadorned
On the edge of dawn she stays
She's there at the beginning of something new
Night starts to empty
The darkness dissipates
That's when her song begins
That's when she comes into play
She'll make you happy
She'll bring joy to your life
She'll take you deep within her
She'll allow you to experience her fully
Window lights for wanderers
Lights that guide those who wander
Hide hard in your swollen eyes
Are hidden by your puffy eyes
Echoes of laughter
Remnants of happy times
Hide in the cities thighs
Are obscured within the city
Love catch these fragments
Love should gather these memories
Swirling through the winds of night
Gone with the night breeze
What can it cost
What's the price
To give a boy child back his sight
To help someone see the world more clearly
Extensions through dimensions
Traveling through different realms
Leave you feeling cold and lame
Can make you feel empty and helpless
Boy child mustn't tremble
The child shouldn't be afraid
Cause he came without a name
Because he's innocent and has no title
Lyrics © Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: SCOTT ENGEL
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@sararichmond8476
I played this to my young students one lesson. They were knocked sideways and said they'd never heard anything like it before. The looks on their faces! They also couldn't believe I was actually there when this was first released.! Unreal piece of music.💟
@xiropigado
Excellent comment Sara, all of us who lived in those years were so privileged to have experienced his magic.
@regdwight235
BEAUTIFUL .
I am going to miss the mystery ,the mastery and the complexity of this musical genius .
Walker for me epitomises everything an artist should be.
What a journey it was and luckily his music lives on
Thank you so much .
RIP Scott
@davidskeeterskeeter1835
Beautifully put my friend,,Respect,👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻🇬🇧
@davidjazay9248
I feel the same. He opened doors we yet have to step through.
@dparker7014
RIP Scott Walker. Thank you for such beautiful music.
@ivdk1
D Parker never, ever heard such a beautiful song for the first time in my life. What a hidden treasure. RIP Noël, RIP Scott
@Twyfall
Am I the only one completely and utterly haunted by whatever it is making that backing melody? The intro, truly spectral
@gryphonrue
I too would really like some insight into the backing melody. I can here some chords held by a string ensemble...
@jonathanbohman5069
Cimbalom