Gilmour was born in Cambridge, England. His father, Douglas Gilmour, was a senior lecturer in zoology at the University of Cambridge and his mother, Sylvia (née Wilson), was a teacher and film editor who raised her family at Grantchester Meadows, later immortalised by a Roger Waters song on Pink Floyd's Ummagumma. Gilmour and his siblings were encouraged by their parents in their musical abilities. Gilmour has a younger brother, Peter, who has been a guitarist for a slightly longer time than Gilmour. Gilmour attended The Perse School on Hills Road, Cambridge, which he "didn't enjoy" but where he met future Pink Floyd guitarist and vocalist Syd Barrett, along with bassist and vocalist Roger Waters who attended Cambridgeshire High School for Boys, also situated on Hills Road. In 1954, Gilmour bought his first single, Bill Haley's "Rock Around the Clock". At age 13, Gilmour was given his first guitar, a Tatay, by his neighbour, Gilmour started learning how to play using a book and record set by Pete Seeger.
In September 1962, he studied modern languages to A-Level and, along with Syd Barrett, went to Cambridge Technical College. Despite not finishing the languages course, Gilmour would eventually become a fluent French speaker. Gilmour and Barrett spent their lunchtime practising guitar together, Barrett would often refer to Gilmour as "Fred". They were not yet bandmates, however, and Gilmour started playing in the band Jokers Wild in 1962, which Gilmour left in 1967.
Gilmour joined Pink Floyd in 1968, when he was asked to replace former front man and guitarist Syd Barrett. Barrett was becoming increasingly difficult to work with (due to his deteriorating mental state), so Gilmour stepped in to fill the void. Gilmour's contributions helped to define what would become known as the "Pink Floyd" sound. With Roger Waters, Gilmour co-wrote many of Pink Floyd's classic songs, including "Shine On You Crazy Diamond"(Itself about Syd), "Wish You Were Here" (about Roger's father) , "Time", "Dogs", "Echoes", "Comfortably Numb", and "Run Like Hell". When Waters left the band in 1984 to pursue a solo career, Gilmour took over Pink Floyd as leader, and they released two more albums, A Momentary Lapse of Reason (1987), and The Division Bell (1994). Both albums performed very well, proving that the Pink Floyd name was stronger than any individual member. On July 2, 2005, David Gilmour and Roger Waters briefly set aside their differences and performed as Pink Floyd for one final performance at Live 8. The reunion was the most talked about event of the day, and sales of Pink Floyd's back catalogue shot through the roof. Rumours of a full scale tour began to surface shortly after the show, with both Gilmour and Waters being offered millions of dollars, but it wasn't meant to be. Neither Waters nor Gilmour showed much enthusiasm to work together again, with Gilmour being quoted as saying that he would rather spend his time pursuing his solo career.
Much to everyone's surprise, Gilmour and Waters reunited once again on July 11, 2010 for a charity performance for "The Hoping Foundation," an organization that supports Palestinian refugee kids. At Ronnie Scott's club in London, the duo performed four songs together: "To Know Him is to Love Him" (a cover of the old Teddy Bear's song), "Wish You Were Here," "Comfortably Numb," and finally (after a special request) "Another Brick in the Wall Part 2." Once again, just like after the Live 8 Reunion, speculation began regarding future reunions. No official Pink Floyd reunion has yet been set, but Gilmour did promise that he would join Roger Waters for one show on his 2010-11 "The Wall" tour, performing "Comfortably Numb." The show that Gilmour is set to play is being kept a secret to surprise fans and (most likely) to prevent scalpers from selling tickets at outrageous prices.
The door now seems slightly ajar that David Gilmour and Roger Waters may possibly work with each other again, either as a duo, or as Pink Floyd once again. On Roger Waters's facebook page, he wrote: "We (played together), and it was fucking great! End of story. Or possibly beginning."
As a solo artist, David Gilmour has released 3 studio albums; David Gilmour (1978), About Face (1984), and On an Island (2006). In September 2008, he released his first live album Live In Gdansk , a recording of a concert he and his band performed in Gdansk Shipyard during his 2006 On An Island tour. In addition, he has two live DVDs - 2002's mostly acoustic "In Concert" and 2007's Remember That Night.
In 2015 he released his forth studio album: Rattle That Lock followed by a live album Live at Pompeii in 2017 which was recored on 7th and 8th July 2016 at his two gigs in Pompeii.
So far away
David Gilmour Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Should I kid myself that I have no fear?
I get no choice, I just have to wait
It may already be too late
I don't know what's going on
She is here, but I am gone, I am gone
She's far away though she looks so near
'Time will tell," she says to me
When a warm ?...? is all I need
Her peace of mind, her strength of will
It will come, she's sure it will
But how can I put my mind at rest?
I feel I'm coming off second best
And I'm cut with my own life
Is this a dream or is it real life?
Oh, sleep, come on me soon
I can't bear this lonely room
Look at that hair lying there
The room is dark, she shows no fear
I'm lying still, my eyes are wide
My heart is pumping, I'm still alive
I'm still awake against my will
What will it ever take to still this burning in me?
In "So Far Away," David Gilmour sings about feeling suspended and unsure, waiting for something that might be too late. He questions his own fear and tries to make peace with the fact that he has no control over his current situation. The first verse is a questioning of his own anxiety - he is unsure of what he is doing, and whether or not he should be scared. His lack of choice in what is happening to him means that he must wait for something to happen, but already he's anxious that it might be too late for him. The second verse talks about his lover and his own feelings of not knowing what's going on. His love might be right beside him, but he is emotionally disconnected from her. She tells him to wait and to trust that everything will work out, but he's unsure how to heed that advice. While she is strong, he is not, and he feels like he'll never be at ease with the situation. In the final verse, he contemplates his life - wondering if he's really awake, or if everything is just a dream. The room is dark and the only thing he can hear is his own heartbeat. He is still alive, but not fully present. He wishes for some way to still the burning inside of him, but for now, he is trapped in his own emotional turmoil.
Line by Line Meaning
What am I suspended here?
David Gilmour wonders about his purpose in life.
Should I kid myself that I have no fear?
He ponders whether he is in denial about his fears and anxieties.
I get no choice, I just have to wait, It may already be too late.
David Gilmour feels powerless and regrets not taking action sooner.
I don't know what's going on, She is here, but I am gone, I am gone.
He feels disconnected and distant from his lover despite her physical presence.
My love is lying here, She's far away though she looks so near.
David Gilmour's lover is physically present but emotionally distant.
'Time will tell,' she says to me, When a warm ?...? is all I need.
His lover believes that time will heal all wounds and comfort David Gilmour.
Her peace of mind, her strength of will, It will come, she's sure it will.
David Gilmour's lover is confident that she will find peace and strength eventually.
But how can I put my mind at rest? I feel I'm coming off second best.
David Gilmour is struggling with negative thoughts and feelings of inadequacy in his relationship.
And I'm cut with my own life, Is this a dream or is it real life?
He questions the reality of his own life and the pain he feels.
Oh, sleep, come on me soon, I can't bear this lonely room.
David Gilmour longs for sleep to escape his feelings of loneliness and despair.
Look at that hair lying there, The room is dark, she shows no fear.
He observes his lover sleeping and notices the eerie silence and darkness in the room.
I'm lying still, my eyes are wide, My heart is pumping, I'm still alive.
David Gilmour is still awake and alive, but his heart is racing with anxiety and fear.
I'm still awake against my will, What will it ever take to still this burning in me?
He is unable to fall asleep despite his exhaustion and is plagued by a burning feeling inside him.
Lyrics © IMAGEM U.S. LLC, Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: DAVID JON GILMOUR
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@SpaceOdditiesLive
Looking at these comments, I am thrilled to see I'm not the only person who absolutely adores this song! The whole album is amazing and has meant so much to me since I bought it in 1978. Definitely my favourite Gilmour solo album.
@airbagradiohead
Today is my first time listening to it as I bought the album today and I am loving it.
@FadeToBlack509
"Her peace of mind her strength of will, it will come she sure it will" bars
@michaelhayward9532
I think this is the most beautiful song of all your original work. Thanks David for all the hours of music that took me somewhere far away :)
@alandoane9168
So happy all these old DG songs are being given a pristine second life. Keep 'em coming!
@tomjenner2432
I couldnt agree more Alan. This was real music. Not the shit that's out there today. I survived the 70s thanks to this type of music. I wouldn't take back my memories for anything. God Bless to all
@HenryWinehard
This album, a true work of art, never gets old.
@user-kn9eq7vm2o
It’s my youth...One of my favorite albums of David.Thank you so much!
@simonedgbaston
Mine to ❤
@caterinarossi9526
Bellissimo.. David magico come sempre