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))).
Till You Return
Scott Walker Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
but I'll still hold you in my heart.
I love you, I love you,
I'll miss you, till you return.
I hope you write me every day,
I'll suffer so when you're away.
I love you, I love you,
Oh my darling how I miss you,
I pray you won't find someone new.
I miss you and your loving charms,
I'll be so glad when you're back in my arms.
So now you're gone and I'm still here,
but still you'll know that I'm sincere.
I love you, I love you
I'll miss you till you return.
Till you return...
The lyrics to Scott Walker's "Till You Return" are a poignant and heartfelt reflection on the pain of saying goodbye to a loved one. The opening lines express the inevitability of parting, but also the deep connection between the two lovers that will endure despite the distance. The repetition of "I love you, I love you" emphasizes the strength of the bond and the intensity of the singer's feelings.
The second verse expresses the singer's fear and loneliness in the absence of their partner, and their plea for communication. The vulnerability and pain of separation are palpable in lines like "I'll suffer so when you're away." The third verse is perhaps the most emotional, with the singer admitting their fear of being replaced and their longing for the physical presence and affection of their beloved. However, even as they express their vulnerability and insecurity, the singer remains steadfast in their commitment, promising to wait patiently for the return of their lover.
The final verse ties the song together, with the repetition of phrases like "I love you, I'll miss you" emphasizing the emotion behind the words. The final repetition of "till you return" brings the song full circle, emphasizing the enduring hope and love that will carry the singer through the pain of separation.
Line by Line Meaning
We said goodbye and so will part,
Although we have decided to part ways, I will always have a special place for you in my heart.
but I'll still hold you in my heart.
Despite the distance between us, my love for you will remain strong.
I love you, I love you,
My feelings for you are genuine and true.
I'll miss you, till you return.
I will experience a sense of loss and longing until the day you come back to me.
I hope you write me every day,
I desire that you stay in touch with me and keep me informed about your well-being.
I'll suffer so when you're away.
The time we spend apart will be difficult for me and I will endure emotional pain.
Oh my darling how I miss you,
My dearest, you hold a special place in my heart and the distance between us is unbearable.
I pray you won't find someone new.
I hope that you remain faithful to me and that your heart does not belong to another.
I miss you and your loving charms,
I yearn for your affection and the endearing qualities that make you so special to me.
I'll be so glad when you're back in my arms.
The moment we are reunited will bring me great joy and relief from the pain of our separation.
So now you're gone and I'm still here,
The reality of our separation has set in, and I am left behind to patiently wait for your return.
but still you'll know that I'm sincere.
In spite of our distance, you can trust that my love for you is unwavering and true.
Till you return...
Until the day we are reunited, I will eagerly await your return and cherish the memories we have shared together.
Contributed by Lillian I. Suggest a correction in the comments below.