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
Lazy Afternoon
The Walker Brothers Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
So I walked on down the road a mile,
Went to the house that brings a smile
Sat upon my grandpa's knee
And what do you think he said to me?
When you awake you will remember ev'rything
You will be hangin' on a string from your
You will relieve the only soul
That you were born with to grow old and never know
Ollie showed me the fork in the road
You can take to the left or go straight to the right
Use your days and save your nights,
Be careful where you step, and watch wha-cha eat
Sleep with the light on and you got it beat
When you awake you will remember ev'rything
You will be hangin' on a string from your
When you believe
You will relieve the only soul
That you were born with to grow old and never know
Ollie warned me it's a mean old world
The street don't greet ya, yes, it's true
But what am I supposed to do
Read the writing on the wall
I heard it when I was very small
When you awake you will remember ev'rything
You will be hangin' on a string from your
When you believe
You will relieve the only soul
That you were born with to grow old and never know
Wash my hand in lye water
I got a date with the captains daughter
You can go and tell your brother
We sure gonna love one another, oh!
You may be right and ya might be wrong
I ain't gonna worry all day long
Snow's gonna come and the frost gonna bite
My old car froze up last night
Ain't no reason to hang your head
I could wake up in the mornin' dead
Oh! And if I thought it would do any good
I'd stand on the rock where Moses stood
The Walker Brothers' song "Lazy Afternoon" is a relaxing and reflective tune with a deep message embedded within its lyrics. The singer of the song is seeking guidance from two individuals called Ollie and his Grandpa, who both provide him with advice on how to navigate through life. In the first verse, Ollie warns him that he is foolish, but the singer seeks comfort in visiting his Grandpa, who imparts some words of wisdom. He advises the singer that when he wakes up, he will "remember everything" and that "he will be hanging on a string" from his soul. This line alludes to the idea of having a sense of purpose or destiny that is linked to one's soul, and that the singer will remember everything once he awakens to this idea.
The second verse continues with Ollie warning the singer that the world is a mean place, and that he should be careful about what he does and watches what he eats. Again, the singer seeks guidance from his Grandpa, who urges him to read the writing on the wall, a phrase that means to observe what is happening around him and to use these observations to make wise decisions. The chorus repeats the idea that the singer will "remember everything" and will be "hanging on a string" from his soul when he believes. This reinforces the idea that the singer needs to awaken to a sense of purpose and destiny to navigate through life successfully. The song concludes with a seemingly nonsensical section, which talks about washing hands with lye water, having a date with the captain's daughter, and potentially waking up dead.
Line by Line Meaning
Ollie told me I'm a fool.
Ollie criticized me for my actions.
So I walked on down the road a mile,
I left that place and walked for some distance.
Went to the house that brings a smile
I visited my grandfather's house, the place that makes me happy.
Sat upon my grandpa's knee
I sat down on my grandfather's lap.
And what do you think he said to me?
I was curious about what he had to tell me.
When you awake you will remember ev'rything
You will recollect and regain your memory.
You will be hangin' on a string from your
You will be suspended and dependent on your past experiences.
When you believe
When you have faith and trust.
You will relieve the only soul
You will alleviate the only spirit.
That you were born with to grow old and never know
That you were born with to age and remain unaware of your ultimate purpose.
Ollie showed me the fork in the road
Ollie presented me with two options or directions.
You can take to the left or go straight to the right
You can make a turn or proceed straight towards your goal.
Use your days and save your nights,
Use your time wisely and rest at night.
Be careful where you step, and watch wha-cha eat
Be mindful of your actions and your diet.
Sleep with the light on and you got it beat
Sleep with the lights on to avoid fears and worries.
Ollie warned me it's a mean old world
Ollie cautioned me that the world can be harsh.
The street don't greet ya, yes, it's true
The street is not welcoming or friendly.
But what am I supposed to do
But I didn't know what to do or where to go.
Read the writing on the wall
Interpret the signs of what's going on.
I heard it when I was very small
I learned this lesson from a young age.
Wash my hand in lye water
Clean my hands with a strong soap.
I got a date with the captains daughter
I have a romantic appointment with the daughter of a captain.
You can go and tell your brother
You may inform your brother about something.
We sure gonna love one another, oh!
We will definitely love each other.
You may be right and ya might be wrong
It's possible that either of us may be right or wrong.
I ain't gonna worry all day long
I won't be anxious or concerned for prolonged periods.
Snow's gonna come and the frost gonna bite
It's going to snow and be cold outside.
My old car froze up last night
My car stopped working due to the cold weather.
Ain't no reason to hang your head
There is no reason to be sad or unhappy.
I could wake up in the mornin' dead
I acknowledge the fact that it's possible to die in one's sleep.
Oh! And if I thought it would do any good
Oh! And I would only do this if I believed it would be beneficial.
I'd stand on the rock where Moses stood
I'd go to the place where Moses stood on a rock according to the Bible.
Lyrics © Warner/Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: JOHN LATOUCHE, JEROME MOROSS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@karenreardon5398
Oh my God! I haven't heard this glorious song in over 20 years!. And to hear it right now by the fabulous Scott Walker is amazing. Chills abound. Miss him terribly.
@arleneculshaw8462
Unbelievable his voice takes your breath away lov Arlene xxxxx
@chriswills8738
I have loved this wonderful man forever have loads of his albums and they have been played and played. I still am amazed when I find a song of his I haven’t heard before. This is beautiful thank you!
@irvingspengler748
Me too, I thought I had all the Scott Pokémon, turns out there are more to find, which is kind of reassuring and exciting.
@bertrandcoutens7880
Always perfect Scott!!!!
@helenastokes3694
I love this version of this song💓 lovely Scott
R I p 💔💔
@gracielaumpierres4892
Qué Belleza! Está en el Cielo deleitando con su voz de Ángel
@wellandtrulyjoshed
RIP Beautiful man beautiful voice💔
@stefaniapartini5825
This song is a dream!
@christinahuie7063
He looks like Prince Valiant on this one photo.