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))).
Little Things
Scott Walker Lyrics
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When your brother falls
You can read it all in the Times
How a moving car
Stole a movie star
Little Things that keep us together
While the war's going on
It's on days like these
And you see it all on the news
Little children starve
Growing tired of born
Little things that keep us all close and warm
While the war's going on
Find a place you can hide
And take what you can
The time will arrive
When you need a friend
Stop looking at us
We're waving good-bye
There's a man
Shouting he's with me
When that morning comes
I can't wait to see
Just how high his eagle
On color screens
Is gonna fly
Going to fly
It's on nights like these
That your neighbor dies
'Cos he put a gun to his head
He was so alone
He had nothing left
Little things that call for a drink
That bury a soldier's death
It's on days like these
When your sister cries
And your brother falls from your hands
Jumbo jets can die
Killing 81
Little things that help us get by the why
Why the war's going on
Why the war's going on
Why the war is going on
why the war is going on
why the war's going on
why the war's going on
The lyrics of Scott Walker's song "Little Things (That Keep Us Together)" encompasses the complexities of life and the struggles that come with it. The first verse narrates the news of a car accident that killed a famous person, and how such incidents affect us all. The second verse talks about the heart-wrenching reality of children starving, and how it brings us together despite the ongoing war. The third verse talks about the harsh realities of life, where people commit suicide or die, and how the little things in life provide comfort in such challenging times. The fourth verse emphasizes the repetition of war, the reasons behind it, and the necessity to find a way out of it.
The chorus, "Little things that keep us together while the war's going on," is a reminder that despite the atrocities of war and the realities of life, humanity's little joys and comforts can help bridge the gap and provide solace in trying times. The line "Find a place you can hide and take what you can," indicates the importance of self-care and the need to protect one's own mental health.
Overall, the song portrays the need to appreciate little things in life, even in the face of adversity, and the importance of human connection. The chorus is a gentle reminder that amidst all the chaos, little things are what keep us together.
Line by Line Meaning
It's on days like these
Days of sadness and tragedy
When your brother falls
When someone you love is suffering
You can read it all in the Times
News of tragic events is everywhere
How a moving car
Unexpected, sudden events
Stole a movie star
Even celebrities aren't immune to tragedy
Little Things that keep us together
The small things that bring us comfort and strength
While the war's going on
During times of conflict and strife
When your childhood cries
Memories of past pain and suffering
And you see it all on the news
The constant reminder of the world's problems
Little children starve
Innocent victims of poverty and hunger
Growing tired of born
The weariness and despair of those who suffer
Little things that keep us all close and warm
The small comforts that make us feel connected
Find a place you can hide
The need to escape from the pain and chaos
And take what you can
The urgency to hold onto what is most important
The time will arrive
The promise that things will get better
When you need a friend
The importance of human connection and support
Stop looking at us
The feeling of being ignored or overlooked
We're waving good-bye
The sense of loss and separation
There's a man, shouting he's with me
The search for allies and supporters
When that morning comes
The hope for a new beginning
I can't wait to see
The excitement and anticipation of positive change
Just how high his eagle
The symbol of power and freedom
On color screens
The modern world's preoccupation with technology
Is gonna fly
The hope for progress and improvement
Going to fly
The promise of a better future
It's on nights like these
Moments of darkness and despair
That your neighbor dies
The pain of losing a member of your community
'Cos he put a gun to his head
The tragedy of suicide
He was so alone
The isolation and loneliness that can lead to despair
Little things that call for a drink
The coping mechanisms people turn to in times of despair
That bury a soldier's death
The rituals and ceremonies that help us grieve and honor the dead
When your sister cries
The pain and suffering of loved ones
And your brother falls from your hands
The feeling of helplessness when someone you love is suffering
Jumbo jets can die
The fragility of technology and human life
Killing 81
The loss of life and the pain it brings
Little things that help us get by the why
The small things that allow us to keep going in the face of tragedy
Why the war's going on
The search for understanding in times of conflict and violence
Why the war is going on
The attempt to make sense of the causes of war
why the war's going on
The persistent question of why war continues to exist
why the war's going on
The search for answers in the midst of conflict and suffering
why the war is going on
The need to understand the roots and reasons behind war
why the war's going on
The attempt to find meaning in the chaos and destruction of war
Lyrics © CARLIN AMERICA INC, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: ANDY SEMEL, SCOTT ENGEL, SCOTT ENGEL NOEL
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Vincent Oei
Ok I am stealing this first comment to say Scott Walker is an absolute visionary and this song is still up to date.
Robbie Arroyo
100% and additionally the prologue that leads into it is so good and so are all the originals on the album.