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.
Today
David Gilmour Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Keep safe this night and dwell upon
Such murmurations, sun sunk deep
Now close your eyes and go to sleep
What a day it's been
A day of shoot the breezes
What a day it's been this time of year
Just a day when the weight of the world slides away
Feel that sun on your back
See the shadows falling
See me ? and choose it with a song
Oh yeah
If this should be my last day on earth I'll sing along
New day, always
Lets forget all the skies cast over the rain
and the sqouring tempest of doubt
Holding on clinging tight in the wreckage of love
But today
What a time to dream
What a day of easy
What a day it's been this time of year
Oh yeah
Just a day when the weight of the world slides away
New day, always
Evening starts a guitar in the smoke of the fire
Light of gold in the garden of old
I will take it all again if it came my way
But today
In David Gilmour's song "Today," the lyrics speak to a sense of peace and contentment that can be found in a moment of respite amidst the chaos of everyday life. The first stanza seems to allude to the uncertainty and impermanence of life itself, as the singer urges someone to keep safe if they wake and find him gone. He tells them to dwell on the beauty of the natural world as they drift off to sleep, with "murmurations" and the sun "sunk deep" providing a peaceful backdrop.
The rest of the song continues along this vein, with the singer reveling in the joy of simply existing in the present moment. He references the passing of time, acknowledging that it can be easy to get caught up in the difficulties and pain of life, but today is a new day and a chance to start fresh. The lyrics evoke a sense of contentment with the simple pleasures of life - feeling the sun on your back, seeing shadows fall, and choosing joy with a song.
Overall, "Today" by David Gilmour seems to be an ode to the beauty of living in the present moment and finding joy in simplicity. The lyrics encourage listeners to let go of their worries and live in the moment, finding peace and contentment amidst the chaos of life.
Line by Line Meaning
If you should wake and find me gone
In the event that you awaken and I am no longer present
Keep safe this night and dwell upon
Please stay safe and reflect upon
Such murmurations, sun sunk deep
Reflect upon the murmurations, with the sun set deeply
Now close your eyes and go to sleep
Now, close your eyes and rest
What a day it's been
What an amazing day it has been
A day of shoot the breezes
A day filled with easygoing conversation
What a day it's been this time of year
What an amazing day it has been during this time of year
oh yes it is
Indeed it is
Just a day when the weight of the world slides away
Just one day where the burdens of life disappear
Feel that sun on your back
Experience the warmth of the sun on your skin
See the shadows falling
Observe the shadows as they are cast
See me ? and choose it with a song
See me, and choose to enjoy the moment with music
Oh yeah
An expression of enthusiasm
If this should be my last day on earth I'll sing along
If this were to be the last day of my life, I would sing along
New day, always
Every day is a new beginning
Lets forget all the skies cast over the rain and the sqouring tempest of doubt
Let us forget all the negative emotions and experiences that have come before
Holding on clinging tight in the wreckage of love
Holding on tight to the remnants of a relationship that has ended
But today
But for today
What a time to dream
What a perfect time to dream
What a day of easy
What a relaxing day
What a day it's been this time of year
What an amazing day it has been during this time of year
Oh yeah
An expression of enthusiasm
Just a day when the weight of the world slides away
Just one day where the burdens of life disappear
New day, always
Every day is a new beginning
Evening starts a guitar in the smoke of the fire
The evening begins with the sound of a guitar, amidst the smoke of a fire
Light of gold in the garden of old
The golden light illuminates the garden of the past
I will take it all again if it came my way
I would gladly accept it all again, if given the chance
But today
But for today
Lyrics © CONCORD MUSIC PUBLISHING LLC
Written by: DAVID JON GILMOUR, POLLY ANNE SAMSON
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@bluecaterpillar8363
"Today"
If you should wake and find me gone
Keep safe this night and dwell upon
Such murmurations, sun sunk deep
Now close your eyes and go to sleep
What a day it's been
A day of shoot the breezes
What a day it's been this time of year
Oh yes it is
Just a day when the weight of the world slides away
Feel that sun on your back
See the shadows falling
Sea meets shore and soothes it with a song
Oh yeah
If this should be my last day on Earth, I'll sing along
New day, always
Let's forget all the skies cast over the rain
And the sqouring tempest of doubt
Holding on clinging tight in the wreckage of love
But today
What a time to dream
What a day of easy
What a day it's been this time of year
Oh yeah
Just a day when the weight of the world slides away
New day, always
Evening Star, a guitar in the smoke of the fire
Light of gold in the garden of old
I will take it all again if it came my way
But today
@PitchSkullBlack
I love the fact that we still have the best (probably) guitarist in the world (who is nearly 70) still making awesome music today.
@eyeOOsee
+PitchSkullBlack Music is ageless! :-)
@tonyamor.312
+eyeOOsee se canti scivoli nel banale ma tu ricordati che sei Pink Floyd di Uma gamma
@chris3521
easily the best guitarist
@leajiaure
+PitchSkullBlack It's not even that the songs are great (which they absolutely are) it's that other musicians from his time are still playing their old stuff, year after year. He is putting out completely original and fresh sounding music, and we're blessed to have him! That being said, I need no blessings but I'm counting mine.
@sundarmann6167
+PitchSkullBlack ...well...always the best guitarist!!
@thedudewhocomments2372
This man is a pure genius, one of my greatest musical inspirations!
@edsnow8644
+The Dude Who Comments Truth, he is genial
@TheCrystalyne
+The Dude Who Comments ....rubbish....if you think that is pure genius, you are utterly deluded....
@seifshem
+TheCrystalyne yepp utterly genius living legend