Arrangements by The Walker Brothers
Produced by … Read Full Bio ↴Written by John Maus
Arrangements by The Walker Brothers
Produced by Scott Walker and Dave MacRae
Orchestrations and Conducting by Dave MacRae
Vocals: John Walker
Guitar: Jim Sullivan
Keyboards: Dave MacRae
Bass: Mo Foster
Drums: Frank Gibson
Percussion: Morris Pert
Vocal Backing: Joy Yates and Katie Kissoon
First released on Nite Flights LP (1978)
Rhythms Of Vision
The Walker Brothers Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Is the fire
And lust
Is the life
No stopping it
Now
Your love
For the knife
The
Hard well
And making
It
Twitch
Just waiting
To open
Her sacred stitch
On the night
Of the moon
The rites
Of the witch
Odyssey's near
You've lost
To the bitch
Rhythms of vision
Tear
At your mind
The evil
You feel
Feels
So more
Than kind
The lyrics to The Walker Brothers' song "Rhythms of Vision" depict a dark and ominous scene. The earth is described as a fire, while lust is the life that drives humans forward. The singer warns that there is no stopping this force, and the object of his desire is someone who is familiar with the "hard well" of life and knows how to make it "twitch." The imagery is suggestive of sexual desire and perhaps even danger, as the mention of a knife and a "sacred stitch" implies a certain kind of violence or cutting.
The second verse intensifies the darkness, invoking the image of a witch performing her rites on the night of a full moon. The word "odyssey" suggests a journey or quest that the singer is undertaking, but it's unclear what he is searching for or why he feels like he has already lost to the "bitch." The final lines of the song introduce the idea of "rhythms of vision" tearing at the singer's mind and an "evil" that feels more than kind. This could suggest that the pursuit of this mysterious goal has taken a toll on his mental health and that the object of his desire is not what he expected.
Line by Line Meaning
The earth
Refers to the natural environment on which we live
Is the fire
Suggests that the earth is full of energy and passion
And lust
Represents the human desire for sensual pleasure
Is the life
Highlights the importance of lust or passion in life
No stopping it
Indicates that passion or lust cannot be contained or controlled
Now
Implies that something important or critical is happening at this moment
Your love
Relates to an individual's strong affection or attraction towards something or someone
For the knife
Refers to one's infatuation with dangerous or deadly weapons
She knows
Implies intuitive knowledge or awareness
The
Stresses the importance of the following phrase
Hard well
Relates to having experience with difficult and challenging situations
And making
Suggests the concept of creation, cultivation or development
It
Refers to a yet unspecified object or idea
Twitch
Indicates a sudden spasm or movement of a muscle or body part
Just waiting
Indicates anticipation or expectation
To open
Refers to the idea of revealing or uncovering something hidden
Her sacred stitch
Refers to possibly a mystical, spiritual or some secret knowledge or expertise possessed by a woman
On the night
Refers to a specific time where something important or significant happened
Of the moon
Refers to the lunar cycle, the recurring phase of which appears visible in the sky
The rites
Refers to the ceremonies or rituals performed for spiritual or religious purposes
Of the witch
Refers to a female practitioner of magic or a supernatural being
Odyssey's near
Refers to a long and adventurous journey or experience ahead
You've lost
Refers to a failure or defeat experienced by an individual
To the bitch
Refers to a woman who is perceived as rude, controlling or manipulative
Rhythms of vision
Refers to the patterns or sequences that can be seen or imagined in one's visual perception
Tear
Indicates the intense emotional impact that the rhythms of vision have on the individual
At your mind
Suggests the psychological or cognitive effects of the rhythms of vision
The evil
Relates to the idea of malevolence, harm or suffering
You feel
Indicates the personal and subjective experience of the individual
Feels
Suggests the intensity or severity of the evil felt by the individual
So more
Refers to the degree of difference or contrast between the extent of feeling and the expectations of the individual
Than kind
Indicates that what is being felt is not gentle or benign but rather rough or discomforting
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA/AMCOS
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Jose Roberto RV
Gran composición, me la guardo.
Neurodisco77
This too isn't bad at all