Song Details
- Album Release Date: 2012
- Genre: psych-rock
Song Meaning of “Phrasing” by Scott Walker
The song “Phrasing” by Scott Walker is an exploration into the complexities of relationships, and how we choose to communicate our feelings towards one another. The song begins with a speaker calling out their significant other, asking them, “What did you say?” With this callout, the speaker is expressing their difficulty in interpreting the phrasing of their partner, which speaks to a lack of communication in the relationship. Through sorrowful sounds of sax and electric guitar, the speaker expresses how they often find themselves in these situations with their partner, as the two are unable to connect due to a barrier between them.
The speaker recognizes that they are not to blame for this disconnection, but that it is a part of the relationship that must be overcome. Even as it is clear that they are unable to reach one another, the speaker continues to try and find a way to bridge the gap. By calling out their partner, the speaker is reaching out for a moment of clarity, hoping to work past their awkward phrasing and figure out how to speak to one another with honesty and understanding.
Though the speaker is filled with uncertainty and fear, they do not give up. The song ends with a brighter outlook, as the speaker regains hope that they can overcome this difficulty and relations between them and their partner might eventually be repaired.