The trio of Scott Walker (Noel Scott Engel), Gary Walker (Gary Leeds, formerly of The Standells), and John Walker (John Maus, November 12, 1943 - May 7, 2011) moved from the U.S. to Britain in 1965. Like The Ramones, they were not related, and adopted the same last name as a show business touch. They had only minor success in the U.S., but topped the UK singles charts with Make It Easy On Yourself in 1965 and The Sun Ain't Gonna Shine (Anymore) in 1966.
After a UK tour in late 1967, which also featured Jimi Hendrix, Cat Stevens, and Engelbert Humperdinck, followed by a tour of Japan in 1968, the group officially disbanded. After the group disbanded, all three members scored U.S. and UK chart hits, under their Walker names.
Reforming in 1974, The Walker Brothers recorded a version of Tom Rush's No Regrets which soared into the British Top Ten after an absence of over a decade. However, the three albums that followed sold poorly: No Regrets (1975), Lines (1976), and Nite Flights (1978). Scott Walker's tracks on the final album, Nite Flights, laid the stylistic groundwork for his later solo career.
John Walker died at his Los Angeles home on May 7, 2011
Genevieve
The Walker Brothers Lyrics
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You'll wake and find I've gone away
But life goes on
You'll get along
How easy we can whisper lies
I've lied until I want to cry
The truth I fear
Won't disappear
Genevieve, love hangs on a string
Pretty thing
Love shines in the sky for you
I've tried to make your dreams come true
I've tried for you
Genevieve
Remember walks in summer rain
They've flown, but they'll return again
And someone new will walk with you
I guess I'll always be the same
A drifting man without a name
Once I loved too
But that's all through
Genevieve, love hangs on a string
Pretty thing
Love shines in the sky for you
I've tried to make your dreams come true
I've tried for you
Genevieve
Genevieve
Genevieve
The Walker Brothers' song "Genevieve" tells the story of a man who is about to leave his lover, Genevieve. He assures her that life will go on without him and that she will get along just fine. However, he also admits to whispering lies and being afraid of the truth not disappearing. He reminisces about their past, including walks in summer rain, but acknowledges that those times have come and gone. He also mentions that someone new will eventually walk with her while he will remain a drifting man without a name. He ends the song by repeating Genevieve's name.
The lyrics of "Genevieve" convey conflicting emotions of love, regret, and uncertainty. The singer is torn between wanting to be with Genevieve and knowing that he cannot stay with her. He tries to reassure her that she will be okay, but he also acknowledges that he has lied to her and that the truth will continue to haunt him. The song's melancholic melody and the lead singer's emotive delivery contribute to its emotional depth and poignancy.
Line by Line Meaning
Tomorrow will be Saturday
I am leaving tomorrow and won't be here when you wake up.
You'll wake and find I've gone away
You will discover that I have departed when you wake up.
But life goes on
Life does not halt because I am gone - it will keep moving forward.
You'll get along
You will figure out how to move forward without me.
How easy we can whisper lies
It's effortless to deceive others, and I have done so frequently.
I've lied until I want to cry
I have been dishonest so often that I am now experiencing emotional distress.
The truth I fear
I am afraid of telling the truth.
Won't disappear
The truth will not go away on its own.
Genevieve, love hangs on a string
Our relationship is tenuous and could break at any moment, Genevieve.
Pretty thing
You are lovely, Genevieve.
Love shines in the sky for you
Love is apparent and apparent to everybody, particularly to you.
I've tried to make your dreams come true
I have made an effort to grant your desires, Genevieve.
I've tried for you
I have made great efforts on your behalf, Genevieve.
Remember walks in summer rain
Remember our romantic times together, Genevieve.
They've flown, but they'll return again
Our joyous moments may have passed, but we will have more in the future, Genevieve.
And someone new will walk with you
You will find someone else who will accompany you in your life, Genevieve.
I guess I'll always be the same
I suppose I will be consistent in my inadequacy, Genevieve.
A drifting man without a name
I am a man without a true identity, continually drifting from place to place.
Once I loved too
I have also experienced love in the past.
But that's all through
Those feelings have faded and are no longer present, Genevieve.
Genevieve
Addressing Genevieve.
Lyrics © Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: SCOTT ENGEL
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind