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))).
Cowbells Shakin'
Scott Walker Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
And why must you always be kneelin' and prayin'?
Though hard as I run I can't overcome
The things that this city has taken
Cowbells shakin'
Go back to our village a-wailin' and weepin'
And tell your fat momma the life we've been keeping
Your head waiter brother won't give me a job
Andrea speak up can't you hear what I'm sayin'
And why must you always be kneelin' and prayin'?
The lyrics of Scott Walker's "Cowbells Shakin'" are open to interpretation, but the overall tone of the song seems to be one of frustration and resentment towards the city, and possibly towards a romantic partner as well. The opening line, "Andrea turn to me and hear what I'm saying," suggests a desire for the listener's attention and understanding. The following line, "And why must you always be kneelin' and prayin'?", might be interpreted in a few different ways. It could be a literal reference to a religious practice, or it could be a metaphor for a more submissive or passive nature. This line, combined with the later line "Andrea speak up can't you hear what I'm saying", implies a frustration with Andrea's perceived unwillingness to engage in more active communication or participation.
The next couple of lines suggest that the singer has struggled to find success or stability in the city, and feels that they have been taken advantage of or overlooked. They express a desire to return to their village and share their pain with loved ones, and also mention that Andrea's family has not been supportive. The repeated phrase "Cowbells shakin'" may add to the sense of chaos and frustration, but it's unclear exactly what it means in the context of the song.
Overall, "Cowbells Shakin'" seems to be a somewhat ambiguous and emotionally charged reflection on life in the city, and the struggles of trying to make a living and connect with others in that environment.
Line by Line Meaning
Andrea turn to me and hear what I'm sayin'
I want Andrea to listen to me carefully and understand my words.
And why must you always be kneelin' and prayin'?
Why do you need to pray every time? Shouldn't we try something else?
Though hard as I run I can't overcome
I'm trying hard to make things better, but it seems impossible.
The things that this city has taken
This city has taken a heavy toll on us.
Cowbells shakin'
The cowbells are ringing and it's time to leave.
Go back to our village a-wailin' and weepin'
Let's go back to our village and cry our hearts out.
And tell your fat momma the life we've been keeping
Let's tell your mother about our struggles.
Your head waiter brother won't give me a job
Your brother, who is a head waiter, wouldn't offer me a job.
And I've walked these streets 'til I'm breakin' A Cowbells shakin'
I've been walking in these streets without any luck and now it's time to leave.
Andrea speak up can't you hear what I'm sayin'
Andrea, please listen to me and respond.
Lyrics © Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: ANDY SEMEL, SCOTT WALKER
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind