Nicholas Berkeley ('Nick') Mason (born January 27, 1944 in Birmingham, Engl… Read Full Bio ↴Nicholas Berkeley ('Nick') Mason (born January 27, 1944 in Birmingham, England) is a musician and the drummer for Pink Floyd.. He is the only member of Pink Floyd with the distinction of having played on all their albums. He is well-known as an automobile collector and has also competed in racing, e.g. the 24 Hours of Le Mans.

He was brought up in Hampstead, London (many online biographies mistakenly cite the street address, Downshire Hill - sometimes as "the Downshire Hills" - as a district of Birmingham) and attended Frensham Heights boarding school, Surrey. He later studied at the Regent Street Polytechnic, where he teamed up with Roger Waters, Bob Klose and Richard Wright in 1964 to form Sigma 6.

Israel
Nick Mason Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

Were you here five thousand years ago
Promising the promised land
Corinthians, Corinthians
Dancing on unbroken burning sand

Where no trees or living things would grow
Selling the romantic dream
Phoenicians, Phoenicians

Real estate is hard to find, ideas undermined
Wrong place and wrong time

Goodbye, good thing
Africa's a lonely place
Goodbye, good thing
Missionaries in position pray
Oh Israel

Have you lost what other never find
Blame the unforgiving sun
Arabians, Arabians
Neighbours are so hard to tame
When you don't look the same
Give them a smile say

Goodbye, good thing
Africa's a lonely place
Goodbye, good thing

Missionaries in position pray
Oh Israel

Overall Meaning

The song "Israel" by Nick Mason is a commentary on the complex and troubled history of the region, from the biblical era to modern-day conflict. The opening lines reference the promise of the "promised land" and the myth of the ancient Corinthians and Phoenicians, juxtaposing their hopeful visions of the future with the bleak reality of desertification and political conflict. The chorus, with its refrain of "Goodbye, good thing / Africa's a lonely place", suggests a sense of disillusionment and isolation, as if the dream of a prosperous and peaceful Israel has been lost to the harsh realities of the present.

In the second stanza, Mason references the difficulty of coexistence between different cultures and ethnicities, using the example of the Arabians and Israelis who share the same land. The line "Neighbors are so hard to tame / When you don't look the same" highlights the racial and cultural tensions that have been at the root of so many of the region's conflicts. Mason concludes with the plea "Give them a smile say / Oh Israel", implying that perhaps a simple act of kindness and understanding could help to resolve these deep-seated problems.

Overall, "Israel" is a poignant reflection on the hopes and challenges facing one of the most complex and controversial regions of the world.

Line by Line Meaning

Were you here five thousand years ago
Asking if you existed when ancient civilizations thrived

Promising the promised land
Claiming that a certain land belongs to you

Corinthians, Corinthians
Referring to a biblical letter emphasizing unity

Dancing on unbroken burning sand
Celebrating in the desert despite harsh conditions

Where no trees or living things would grow
Talking about an inhospitable environment

Selling the romantic dream
Trying to convince others of an appealing idea

Phoenicians, Phoenicians
Referring to an ancient civilization known for trade

Real estate is hard to find, ideas undermined
Struggling to secure a location and being hindered by criticism

Wrong place and wrong time
Being in an unfavorable situation

Goodbye, good thing
Bidding farewell to something that was once worthwhile