The lyrics of "Rawhide" depict a scene of disappearance and transformation. The speaker describes someone or something disappearing into the night, grazing with cro-magnon herders, and eventually losing shape and identity to the heat and hands carving away muscle. The imagery is vivid and surreal, evoking a sense of isolation and transformation.

Meaning of "Rawhide" by Scott Walker

The lyrics of "Rawhide" by Scott Walker seem to symbolize a journey of loss and transformation. The disappearance of the subject and their merging with the cro-magnon herders suggest a blending of identities or a loss of individuality. The imagery of losing shape and being carved away by heat and hands could represent a shedding of the physical self or the erosion of one's identity. The overall tone of the lyrics is one of eerie isolation and an unsettling sense of change and decay. Through its vivid and surreal imagery, the song portrays a narrative of transformation, loss, and perhaps even rebirth.