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))).
The Escape
Scott Walker Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Prey moves
Predator moves
Foreshortened angels hunting me down
Halle -- halle -- halle
Underkill
Sticks in gutters
Overkill
Too many bullets
Rabbi crater
Keyed for action
Hits the marks
I wish I was in Dixie
Sleet switches silence
To the shredding of larks
Serifot
Combs of honey
Kellipot
Saliva's coating
Balls of money
You and me against the world
You and me against the world
You and me against the world
World about to end
World about to end
World about to end
Windblown hair in a windowless room
A lifeline of knuckles
Waddles into the afternoon
Look into its eyes
It will look into your eyes
The lyrics of Scott Walker's song The Escape are cryptic and difficult to decipher. The song speaks of being hunted down by foreshortened angels and being in a situation where the world is about to end. The first few verses speak of movement - "prey moves, predator moves" - and the futility of trying to escape, even if you take the long way around. This is a metaphor for the inevitability of death and the sense of being pursued by an unseen force that cannot be escaped.
The next few lines mention "sticks in gutters" and "too many bullets," which may suggest a violent confrontation that is difficult to escape from. The mention of the phrase "I wish I was in Dixie" is a reference to the American Civil War and may symbolize a desire to escape from the current conflict. The reference to "serifot" and "kellipot" may suggest an allusion to Jewish mysticism, while "combs of honey" and "saliva's coating" are images that evoke sweetness and comfort.
As the song progresses, the imagery shifts to a windblown room, where a person waddles into the afternoon. The last lines of the song speak of looking into someone's eyes and them looking into yours, suggesting the possibility of connection and human interaction, even in the midst of turmoil and chaos. The overall theme of the song is about the struggle to find meaning and connection in the face of death and destruction.
Line by Line Meaning
The car in front follows the long way around
I am being followed by someone who is taking a roundabout route.
Prey moves
I am the prey in this situation and I am moving to avoid being caught.
Predator moves
My predator is also moving in an attempt to catch me.
Foreshortened angels hunting me down
I feel like I am being chased by dark beings who are determined to catch me.
Halle -- halle -- halle
This refrain is likely a reference to religious hymns or chants.
Underkill
My attacker is using a level of force that is less than what they are truly capable of.
Sticks in gutters
Weapons or tools used by my attacker have been discarded or hidden in this outdoor setting.
Overkill
The level of force my attacker is using is excessive and likely personal.
Is personal
The attacker's motives are focused on me personally.
Too many bullets
My attacker is using a weapon with a high-capacity magazine or they have multiple weapons.
Rabbi crater
This is likely a reference to a religious site or figure that has been destroyed in some way.
Keyed for action
A vehicle or other machine has been prepared for immediate use.
Hits the marks
My attacker is precise and methodical in their actions.
I wish I was in Dixie
I am feeling homesick or wishing for a simpler time and place.
Sleet switches silence
The peacefulness of a snowy day has been disrupted by this chase.
To the shredding of larks
The birds in the area are likely disturbed or frightened by what is happening.
Serifot
This is likely a reference to an angelic hierarchy in Jewish mysticism.
Combs of honey
Something sweet is being offered as a lure into a trap.
Kellipot
This is likely a reference to the mystic concept of shells or coverings that separate people from the divine.
Saliva's coating
I am experiencing emotional or psychological manipulation that is making me feel trapped.
Balls of money
Money is being used as a motivator or reward for someone involved in the pursuit.
You and me against the world
In this desperate situation, I feel like it is only me and one other person against everyone else.
World about to end
The situation feels so dire that it seems like the world is coming to an end.
Windblown hair in a windowless room
I am feeling the effects of the chase even though I am not currently outside.
A lifeline of knuckles
I am gripping onto something tightly to keep myself grounded and focused.
Waddles into the afternoon
A small, awkward or clumsy character is making an appearance, potentially as a part of this chase.
Look into its eyes
There is something important or revealing about this small character, potentially related to the larger situation.
It will look into your eyes
This small character is aware of me and the larger situation around them.
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind