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))).
Rhymes Of Goodbye
Scott Walker Lyrics
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From makeshift designs, And seeking a star
To grab for the truth, To keep myself warm
I turn and it's gone gone, You smile and it's born
The rhymes of our women's, A river that never ends
The Rhymes of Dimension, Surrounds us with fire and friends
The Night children fly
I still hear them singing the rhymes of goodbye
There's nothing within, but within says a voice
That's still my Empire, And I've got a choice
It's healers of death,It still got a fire
And I keep it burning, with hands of desire
The bells of our senses can cost us our pride
Can toll out the boundaries that level our lives
Can slash like the sunlight through shadows and cracks
Our nakedness calling, Our nakedness back
The rhyme of our passions, Find beauty in loving love
The rhyme of our madness, Burn cities and push'n'shoves
And roaring through darkness
The Night children fly
I still hear them singing the rhymes of goodbye
The lyrics of Scott Walker’s “Rhymes Of Goodbye” convey a sense of liberation from chains, and an inner transformation resulting in the discovery of the truth. At the outset, the singer claims to have come from “far from chains” and “makeshift designs,” connoting a sense of being bound, trapped or restricted in life. The use of the metaphors “metal and stone” implies a sense of hardness, rigidity or inhumanity, which the singer has overcome. Similarly, “seeking a star” underscores the idea of searching for something beyond the mundane, an ambition or a higher purpose.
The singer finds the truth, which fills the void within, with the assistance of someone else who is symbolized by the smile. The “rhymes of our women’s” refer to the eternal narratives passed down by mothers and grandmothers, containing stories of love, pain, and loss. This river of the feminine realm flows endlessly from generation to generation. The rhymes of dimension that surround us, are like flames that offer warmth and comfort. The night children mentioned in the lyrics signify the darkness of life and the unknown, but it becomes familiar to us as we become more enlightened. We still hear them singing the rhymes of goodbye, indicating that mortality, the end of everything, is the destiny we all have to face.
Line by Line Meaning
I've come from far from chains, From metal and stone
I have escaped imprisonment, both physically and emotionally, leaving behind hard, lifeless structures.
From makeshift designs, And seeking a star
I wandered aimlessly, looking for a sense of direction and purpose.
To grab for the truth, To keep myself warm
I searched for knowledge and clarity to give me comfort and guidance.
I turn and it's gone gone, You smile and it's born
Things can disappear suddenly, but hope can also emerge unexpectedly through the kindness of others.
The rhymes of our women's, A river that never ends
The stories and experiences of women are abundant and everlasting.
The Rhymes of Dimension, Surrounds us with fire and friends
The vastness of the universe can provide us with warmth and companionship.
And roaring through darkness, The Night children fly
Despite the unknown and frightening circumstances of life, we persevere and are capable of soaring with freedom.
I still hear them singing the rhymes of goodbye
Even in the face of endings, we can hold on to the memories and emotions that have shaped us.
There's nothing within, but within says a voice
Although it may seem empty, there is an inner voice guiding us in our decisions and existence.
That's still my Empire, And I've got a choice
I am still in control of my own life and choices, despite external influences.
It's healers of death,It still got a fire
Even things that can cause destruction can still have a passion and drive behind them.
And I keep it burning, with hands of desire
I fuel my own passions and ambitions, using them to drive me forward.
The bells of our senses can cost us our pride
Our own perceptions and ego can prevent us from fully experiencing the world.
Can toll out the boundaries that level our lives
Our own limitations can restrict us, preventing us from reaching our full potential.
Can slash like the sunlight through shadows and cracks
The truth can be harsh and blinding, but necessary to break through our own illusions and delusions.
Our nakedness calling, Our nakedness back
The truth can also lay us bare, forcing us to confront our own vulnerabilities and humanity.
The rhyme of our passions, Find beauty in loving love
Our own desires and loves can bring us joy and fulfillment.
The rhyme of our madness, Burn cities and push'n'shoves
Our own obsessions and impulses can cause destruction and chaos.
Lyrics © CARLIN AMERICA INC
Written by: NOEL SCOTT ENGEL P.K.A: SCOTT WALKER
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind