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 Hills of Yesterday
Scott Walker Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
We are young in those hills far away
Through the good times and bad
My heart is very glad
That you and I once shared a dream so long ago
Autumn ends, a willow bends with snow
But wherever you are I must go
Where you first stole my heart away
Through the good times and bad
My heart is very glad
That you and I once shared a dream so long ago
Autumn ends, a willow bends with snow
But wherever you are I must go
Take me back once again to the hills of yesterday
Where you first stole my heart away
The Hills of Yesterday is a beautiful and nostalgic song that speaks about a couple reminiscing about their past and the time they spent together in the hills of yesterday. The song takes listeners on a journey from the past to the present, as the couple reflects on the moments they cherished while walking the hills together. The song highlights the fact that time cannot erase memories, and although the seasons change, the love and memories they shared will always remain. The song is a heartfelt tribute to a love that has stood the test of time.
The first verse expresses the couple's memories of the past, as they recall walking the hills when they were young. It talks about the good and bad times they shared and how they hold on to the dream they once shared. The second verse talks about the current situation and how the couple has moved on with their lives. Although they have moved on, they still long for the past, and want to relive the memories they made on those hills again.
The chorus of the song talks about the couple's love and how it has stood the test of time. It highlights the fact that memories can never fade away and that they will always hold a special place in the couple's heart. The song ends on a note of hope that the couple will be reunited again in the hills of yesterday where they first fell in love.
Line by Line Meaning
Once we strolled the hills of yesterday
In the past, we walked through the hills of our childhood.
We are young in those hills far away
In the distant hills of our youth, we were free and full of life.
Through the good times and bad
Despite life's ups and downs,
My heart is very glad
I will always cherish the memories of our time together.
That you and I once shared a dream so long ago
We had a vision for our future that we shared, long ago.
Autumn ends, a willow bends with snow
As the seasons change and time passes,
But wherever you are I must go
I will follow you to the ends of the earth.
Take me back once again to the hills of yesterday
Return me to the place where our love first blossomed.
Where you first stole my heart away
And I found myself head over heels for you.
Writer(s): HENRY NICOLA MANCINI, PAUL FRANCIS WEBSTER
Contributed by Katherine F. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
wellandtruly joshed
You were the first person to steal my heart - RIP Beautiful man with the golden voice ❤️💔 Scott Engel has gone but Scott Walker will live forever 😢👏
shuroom57
Shamelessly in shock. You changed my life, musically. Which is to say, you changed my life. Thank you, Noel Scott Engel Walker; rest finally in peace.
Kev J
I would rate Scott walkers voice along side Elvis, Arron Neville, Frank Sinatra , a very unique voice which is very rare.
Philip asa9bobnote
Forget them, but Harry Nilsson came very close.
Randall Sundeen
If we're lucky we will be blessed with a truly wonderful singer who can awaken stillness in our collective souls society needs this Mr. Walker is such a singer although God called him home we have his imprint in our hearts
Chris McDonald
True romance and emotional depth. A serious artist even in pop
k hudson
ive never really given til the band comes in much of a proper listen, kinda thought was too middle of the road after its predecessors. scott going through the motions covering moderate songs, but this isnt bad. no matter what he sings the voice is still staggering!
Christina Huie
Even at his"worst" he was still one of the best.
SUGAYARON111
"Til The Band Comes In". I like this album. Even though Scott didn't want use this track in the album, I like it. Very beautiful.
PunkDandy
What a beautiful and sad song! Why isn't Scott Walker more famous ?