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))).
I Don't Want to Know
Scott Walker Lyrics
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The rooms are small, most of building's made of wood
I hear the neighbours talking about you and me
Yes, I've heard most every word
'Cause the talking's loud, and the walls are much too thin
"She don't really love him"
Oh, that's what I heard them say
"I saw her in the courtyard", said that girl in room 1-49
"Talking to a boy I've never seen before
And standing there together, don't you know they looked so fine"
No, I don't want to hear it anymore
I don't want to hear it anymore
'Cause the talk just never ends
And the heartache soon begins
The talk is so loud and the walls- they're much too thin
"Lord, ain't it sad", said the woman across the hall
"That a nice boy like that falls in love
Hey, it's just too bad that he had to go and fall
For a girl who doesn't care for him at all"
No, I don't want to hear it anymore
I don't want to hear it anymore
'Cause the talk just never ends
And the heartache soon begins
Oh, they talk so loud
And the walls are much too thin
Oh, I wish they wouldn't talk so loud
And expose my heartache to the crowd
These walls around me are so thin
Sometimes I think they're moving in
Yeah...
The lyrics to Scott Walker's song "I Don't Want to Know" shed light on a situation in a troubled neighborhood where the singer is confronted with gossip and rumors about their relationship. The first verse describes the living conditions in the neighborhood, highlighting the small rooms and thin walls that make it difficult to escape the noise of conversation. The singer overhears their neighbors discussing the details of their relationship and the judgments they make. The repetition of the phrase "I don't want to hear it anymore" reflects their desire to shut out the gossip and protect themselves from the pain it brings. The singer becomes aware that others are talking about a girl they were seen with, painting a picture of infidelity or betrayal. The chorus emphasizes the never-ending nature of the talk, how it leads to heartache, and the suffocating effect of the thin walls. The woman across the hall adds to the conversation, expressing her sadness and pity for the singer, indicating that their love interest does not reciprocate their feelings. The song ends with a plea for the neighbors to lower their voices, as the thin walls magnify the heartache the singer experiences.
Overall, "I Don't Want to Know" explores the theme of gossip and its destructive impact on personal relationships. It captures the frustration and vulnerability that come with being subjected to the judgment and speculation of others. The consistent reference to thin walls serves as a metaphor for the invasion of privacy and the emotional toll of the gossip.
Line by Line Meaning
In my neighbourhood, where folks don't live so good now
In the area that I live, the residents are not well-off and struggle to live comfortably
The rooms are small, most of building's made of wood
The living spaces are cramped and the buildings are predominantly constructed from wood
I hear the neighbours talking about you and me
I am aware of the conversations my neighbors have about both of us
Yes, I've heard most every word
I have overheard nearly every single thing they say
'Cause the talking's loud, and the walls are much too thin
The conversations are loud due to the thin walls, making it difficult to ignore
"She don't really love him"
According to what I heard, it is claimed that she does not truly love him
Oh, that's what I heard them say
That is specifically what I heard them express
"She sure wasn't thinking of him today"
It was mentioned that she did not give him any consideration on this particular day
"I saw her in the courtyard", said that girl in room 1-49
A girl residing in room 1-49 stated that she witnessed her in the courtyard
"Talking to a boy I've never seen before
Engaging in conversation with a boy who I have never encountered previously
And standing there together, don't you know they looked so fine"
While being in each other's presence, they appeared incredibly attractive
No, I don't want to hear it anymore
I strongly prefer not to listen to it any longer
I don't want to hear it anymore
I have grown weary of hearing these discussions
'Cause the talk just never ends
The constant gossiping seems to have no conclusion
And the heartache soon begins
This excessive talking only leads to heartache and emotional pain
The talk is so loud and the walls- they're much too thin
The gossiping is incredibly audible due to the inadequate thickness of the walls
"Lord, ain't it sad", said the woman across the hall
Expressing sadness, the woman residing across the hall spoke
"That a nice boy like that falls in love
She mentions how unfortunate it is that a good-hearted boy like him has fallen in love
Hey, it's just too bad that he had to go and fall
It is regrettable that he allowed himself to be emotionally invested
For a girl who doesn't care for him at all"
Choosing a girl who has no feelings for him whatsoever
Oh, I wish they wouldn't talk so loud
It would be preferable if they did not speak so loudly
And expose my heartache to the crowd
They are unintentionally revealing my deep emotional pain to everyone around
These walls around me are so thin
The walls surrounding me are incredibly thin
Sometimes I think they're moving in
At times, it feels as though the walls are closing in on me
Yeah...
This exclamation indicates a sense of resignation or weariness
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: Randy Newman
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@arleneculshaw8462
To all the people who have just found Scott play his music every day and his voice will sink into you till you can’t stop listening to him. I’m 70. In a few months and first fell in love with him at 13 and Scott has stayed with me. Make the most of his voice. Love Arlene xxxxxxxxxxxx ❤
@sandrahanagankindon8630
Oh just look at that beautiful handsome face, and just listen to that wonderful voice! You can hear every single word! Mmmmmmmmm
@arleneculshaw8462
I go to bed with this song going round in my head every night. Scott did anyone ever tell you that you were perfect how I would have loved to have married you, I think that I would have stared at you 24/7. Rip my wonderful man I miss you so much it hurts with love Arlene xxxxx
@TheJazsinger
He was only 22 when he sang this??? My Lord, he sounds so much more mature. Gorgeous voice!!
@shanewright2772
Bear in mind the song was written by someone 10 months younger than Walker...
@maryfields5882
Yes, well only a fool would think heart ache is the sole domain of older souls. But Scott handled delivering the song in a way I'm sure made the writer proud.
@shanewright2772
Oh I'm sure, seeing the writer took that pride and went on to write his most famous songs for Woody the Cowboy and Buzz Lightyear! :-)
@Michelle-nr1bm
Can't believe he's gone his voice was so moving
@rachelar
Amazing vocal range
@BahamaSue
Shocked to learn of your passing this morning, Scott. You are immortal. To think you were only 22 when you sang this.