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 Ă kerfeldt, 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))).
THE WORLD
Scott Walker Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
See birds flying through this hazy face
And I came back here to replace your place in my life
And didn't you know that I'm not the world's strongest man
When it comes to you and your world I'm lost
Can't you see the towers of mine they could shine like a dime
Take me back again to your warm desire
And again again again
Longing for belongings here again
And I need your love you know I can't pretend anymore
And didn't you know that I'm not the world's strongest man
When it comes to you and your world I'm lost
Can't you see the towers of mine they could shine like a dime
Take me back again to your warm desire
In "The World's Strongest Man" by Scott Walker, the singer sings about his love for someone who has left him. He observes the beauty of the morning and sees birds flying through the hazy skies. Yet despite this beauty, he still longs for the person who has left him and wants to replace their place in his life. He admits that he is not the world's strongest man when it comes to this person and their world. He is lost in their absence, and his own accomplishments and "towers" are dim in comparison to the warmth of their love. He longs to be taken back to their warm desire and can't pretend anymore that he doesn't need their love.
This song captures the heartache and desperation of losing someone you love deeply. The singer is trying to hold onto the memory of the person they once loved, even though they are no longer present in their life. The idea of not being the world's strongest man is a metaphor for being vulnerable and unable to cope without this person. The Towers he mentions could be interpreted as his achievements or status, but in the face of love, they pale in comparison to the depth of his emotions.
Line by Line Meaning
As the morning turned my way
As the morning arrived, I felt hopeful and optimistic about the day ahead.
See birds flying through this hazy face
I saw birds flying through the misty air, which felt surreal and mesmerizing.
And I came back here to replace your place in my life
I returned here to take your place in my life because I need you back.
And didn't you know that I'm not the world's strongest man
I don't have the strength to face the world without you by my side.
When it comes to you and your world I'm lost
I am confused and uncertain when it comes to understanding your world and how to fit into it.
Can't you see the towers of mine they could shine like a dime
I have great potential and talents that could shine if you were here to support and inspire me.
Take me back again to your warm desire
Bring me back into your warm embrace and loving affection.
And again again again
Repeat this process of longing and hoping again and again.
Longing for belongings here again
I yearn to have you and our shared belongings in my life again.
And I need your love you know I can't pretend anymore
I need your love and support, and I can't keep pretending that I am strong enough to face the world alone.
Lyrics © Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: SCOTT ENGEL
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
René
As the morning turned my way
Sea birds flying through this hazy face
And I came back here, to replace your place
In my life
And didn't you know that I'm not the world's strongest man?
When it comes to you, and your world, I'm lost
Can't you see the towers of my naked shine like a dime?
Take me back again to your warm design
And again, again, again
Longing for belongings here again
And I need your laugh, you know I can't pretend it
Anymore
And didn't you know that I'm not the world's strongest man?
When it comes to you, and your world, I'm lost
Can't you see the towers of my naked shine like a dime?
Take me back again to your warm design
Da da da da da na da da
Da da da da da na da da
Da da da da da da da da da ya da
Da da da da da da da ya da da da da ya
Da da da da da dee dee dee
Itallia 3,6,9
I dont think ive been the same person since Scott died, i feel like ive lost a part of me.
Its coming up 2 yrs since he left us, & ive been in hospital twice & felt...well just not the same.
I cried for days, weeks when he died & even now i could weep.
I know i didnt know him but since 1965 when i was almost 13yrs old i fell for him hook line & sinker & my 2 best friends at school, Catherine loved John & Susan loved Gary, & for me it was Scott. We loved the Walker Brothers. He was there all through my life.
Now he isnt.
Oddly just a few years before he died id dream about him alot & actually be with him in these dreams & i kept thinking... My
God! Im actually walking & talking to Scott
It was wonderful & he hadnt aged in my dreams, he was the Scott aged 25 !
I miss him so very badly, may be if there's a place i can go to when i die & i will have a Scott of my very own because it will be the heaven i want with a huge library & id be able to read every book in any language, be able to wear medieval clothes, live in a castle with trees everywhere & my companion for all time would be Scott. Yes i think that would be pretty brilliant.
Itallia 3,6,9
Tiny song but it's a giant for showing vulnerability, honesty, laying opening th soul
I could listen to this on repeat for hours. The physical man may have cast off from Earth but what he's left for us is just Bloody well Fantastic. He's now a star of th very highest Magnitude âââââ
John Anthony
Scott Walker had the finest male voice in popular music and wrote exraordinary good songs and interpreted Jacques Brel so well. Loved his work since the sixties. Meet you on the ledge Scott.
rebecca whitney
Scott's voice is so incomparable, so much emotion, it's on an endless loop for me. Thank you Scott for giving so much. Miss you so much.
Roy Smiles
An angel fell to earth....and he was called Scott Walker! This man has soul...! Thanks for posting. XXX
michael downes
Have got all his albums. Been listening to this guy since 1965. Being a part-time writer, I was moved to write a short story after listening to Plastic Palace People. His songs throws up so many images. Thank you, guidofski!!
star traveller
I love this song. I listened over and over and cried.
Me Me
Best song about pining for someoneâs love ever written period. Itâs probably the most overused topic in popular music and Walker killed all that really needs to be said in just over 2 minutes, He had a knack for knowing when to not be too excessive imo.
jules
I can't help but be moved listening to this track. It's beautiful, as is the rest of Scott 4.
Steven Gray
Scott 4 is a masterpiece, and the album that killed him commercially. After this his albums were more or less recird company demands on what he should play. His voice fills our hearts, incredible, beautiful voice.
René
As the morning turned my way
Sea birds flying through this hazy face
And I came back here, to replace your place
In my life
And didn't you know that I'm not the world's strongest man?
When it comes to you, and your world, I'm lost
Can't you see the towers of my naked shine like a dime?
Take me back again to your warm design
And again, again, again
Longing for belongings here again
And I need your laugh, you know I can't pretend it
Anymore
And didn't you know that I'm not the world's strongest man?
When it comes to you, and your world, I'm lost
Can't you see the towers of my naked shine like a dime?
Take me back again to your warm design
Da da da da da na da da
Da da da da da na da da
Da da da da da da da da da ya da
Da da da da da da da ya da da da da ya
Da da da da da dee dee dee