Scott Walker offered partial explanation in a 2014 interview with The Quietus, saying that he found a high amount of scenes in films with Marlon Brando where the actor was assaulted. As such, the song is a tribute to sado-masochistic desires, complete with whipping sounds.
[Chorus]
Ah, the wide Missouri
Dwellers on the bluff
Across the wide Missouri
Never enough
No, never enough
[Verse 1]
Whip-poor-will
Whip-poor-will
Scissoring high
In the trees
[Refrain]
A beating would do me a world of good
[Verse 2]
Sneakin' by
Sneakin' by
I am down
On my knees
[Refrain]
A beating would do me a world of good
[Verse 3]
I took it from Saxon
I took it from dad
From Fat Johnny Friendly
From 3 vigilantes
I took it for Wild One
And then for my sin
I took it from Lizbeth
Again and again
[Chorus]
Ah, the wide Missouri
Dwellers on the bluff
Across the wide Missouri
Never enough
No, never enough
[Verse 1]
Whip-poor-will
Whip-poor-will
Scissoring high
In the trees
[Refrain]
A beating would do me a world of good
[Verse 2]
Sneakin by
Sneakin by
I am down
On my knees
[Refrain]
A beating would do me
A beating would do me
Brando was written by Scott Walker.
Brando was produced by Scott Walker & Peter Walsh.
Scott Walker + Sunn O))) released Brando on Tue Oct 21 2014.