Pink Floyd were founded in 1965 by Syd Barrett (guitar, lead vocals), Nick Mason (drums), Roger Waters (bass guitar, vocals), and Richard Wright (keyboards, vocals). Under Barrett's leadership, they released two charting singles and the successful debut album The Piper at the Gates of Dawn (1967). Guitarist and vocalist David Gilmour joined in December 1967; Barrett left in April 1968 due to deteriorating mental health. Waters became the primary lyricist and thematic leader, devising the concepts behind the band's peak success with the albums The Dark Side of the Moon (1973), Wish You Were Here (1975), Animals (1977) and The Wall (1979). The musical film based on The Wall, Pink Floyd – The Wall (1982), won two BAFTA Awards. Pink Floyd also composed several film scores.
Following personal tensions, Wright left Pink Floyd in 1979, followed by Waters in 1985. Gilmour and Mason continued as Pink Floyd, rejoined later by Wright. They produced two more albums—A Momentary Lapse of Reason (1987) and The Division Bell (1994)—and toured in support of both before entering a long hiatus. In 2005, all but Barrett reunited for a one-off performance at the global awareness event Live 8. Barrett died in 2006, and Wright in 2008. The last Pink Floyd studio album, The Endless River (2014), was based on unreleased material from the Division Bell recording sessions. In 2022, Gilmour and Mason reformed Pink Floyd to release the song "Hey, Hey, Rise Up!" in protest of the Russo-Ukrainian War.
By 2013, Pink Floyd had sold more than 250 million records worldwide, making them one of the best-selling music artists of all time. The Dark Side of the Moon and The Wall were inducted into the Grammy Hall of Fame, and these albums and Wish You Were Here are among the best-selling albums of all time. Four Pink Floyd albums topped the US Billboard 200, and five topped the UK Album Chart. Pink Floyd's hit singles include "See Emily Play" (1967), "Money" (1973), "Another Brick in the Wall, Part 2" (1979), "Not Now John" (1983), "On the Turning Away" (1987) and "High Hopes" (1994). They were inducted into the US Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1996 and the UK Music Hall of Fame in 2005. In 2008, Pink Floyd were awarded the Polar Music Prize in Sweden for their contribution to modern music.
Full Wikipedia article: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pink_Floyd
Studio albums
The Piper at the Gates of Dawn (1967)
A Saucerful of Secrets (1968)
More (1969)
Ummagumma (1969)
Atom Heart Mother (1970)
Meddle (1971)
Obscured by Clouds (1972)
The Dark Side of the Moon (1973)
Wish You Were Here (1975)
Animals (1977)
The Wall (1979)
The Final Cut (1983)
A Momentary Lapse of Reason (1987)
The Division Bell (1994)
The Endless River (2014)
Get Your Filthy Hand Off My Desert
Pink Floyd Lyrics
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"What 'e say?"
Brezhnev took Afghanistan.
Begin took Beirut.
Galtieri took the Union Jack.
And Maggie, over lunch one day,
Took a cruiser with all hands.
The song "Get Your Filthy Hands Off My Desert" by the iconic British rock band Pink Floyd is a political protest song. The song begins with a voice yelling "Oi, get your filthy hands off my desert!" which is a call to protect the natural resources of the desert from exploitation. This can be seen as a metaphor for the idea that governments and powerful leaders should not be allowed to take what belongs to others for their own gain.
The lyrics go on to mention real-life political events such as the Soviet Union invading Afghanistan under the leadership of Leonid Brezhnev, the Israeli Prime Minister Menachem Begin taking control of Beirut, and Argentine General Leopoldo Galtieri taking the British territory of the Falkland Islands. The mention of the British Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher taking a cruiser with all hands apparently to make someone give it back is also referencing the Falklands War, which took place in 1982.
The song uses dark sarcasm to criticize the actions of political leaders and the way they use their power to take over other countries or territories. Pink Floyd’s commentary on these events highlights the hypocrisy and aggression that can come from the powerful leaders of countries, as well as the lack of respect for others and disregard for the consequences of their actions.
Line by Line Meaning
Oi, get your filthy hands off my desert!
This line serves as a warning to whoever is attempting to invade or take control of the desert territory that the singer claims as their own.
Brezhnev took Afghanistan.
The line refers to the Soviet Union's invasion and occupation of Afghanistan in 1979, which lasted until 1989.
Begin took Beirut.
This line refers to Israel's invasion and occupation of Beirut during the Lebanese Civil War in 1982.
Galtieri took the Union Jack.
The line refers to the Falklands War between Argentina and the United Kingdom in 1982, during which Argentina briefly occupied the Falkland Islands, a British overseas territory.
And Maggie, over lunch one day,
This line refers to Margaret Thatcher, who was the Prime Minister of the United Kingdom from 1979 to 1990, and suggests that she made a decision to take military action while casually having lunch.
Took a cruiser with all hands.
This line refers to the sinking of the Argentine cruiser General Belgrano by a British submarine during the Falklands War, resulting in the deaths of over 320 sailors.
Apparently, to make him give it back
This line suggests that the singer believes the military actions taken by these world leaders were motivated by a desire to regain control of some territory that was perceived to have been taken from them unfairly.
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management
Written by: ROGER WATERS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
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