Out of the blue
Pink Floyd / David Gilmour Lyrics
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A messenger comes, with the beating of drums
It's not a message of love
Our children are born, and we keep them warm
They must have the right, to live in the light
To be safe from the storm
A messenger comes, bearing regrets
For the time that he steals
But steal it he will, my children's and mine
Against our desires, against all our needs
Our blood spilled like wine
Over and over we call, no one hears
And further and further and further we fall
And though we pray that we soon will awake
It is clear, that it's no dream at all
Our lives are at stake
I cannot believe, nor even pretend
That the thunder I hear, will just disappear
And the nightmare will end
So hold back the fire, because this music is true
When all's said and done, the ending will come
From out of the blue
The lyrics of “Out of the Blue” by Pink Floyd’s David Gilmour are cryptic yet evocative as they describe a messenger arriving unexpectedly, bearing news that does not bring joy or peace, but reminds the singer of the fragility of human existence. The use of the metaphor of a dove with wings taking flight conveys a sense of wonder, as the messenger appears to have come out of nowhere, and yet also suggests that the message itself may be symbolic of something ominous. The introduction of drums also imbues the messenger’s arrival with a sense of urgency and importance.
The second verse of “Out of the Blue” then shifts from a focus on the messenger to the singer’s concerns for their children. The idea that children have a right to “live in the light” and to be protected from the “storm” is poignant and suggests a world that is harsh and unpredictable. The third verse then returns to the messenger’s arrival, describing his arrival as having “wings on his heels”, indicating that he has come to deliver his message with great haste. Although this verse is more obtuse in nature, it suggests that the message itself is difficult to hear and may be disturbing, perhaps relating to the idea of time being finite and the inevitability of death.
The final verse of “Out of the Blue” brings these themes together as the singer recognizes that they cannot simply ignore the message conveyed by the dove/messenger. The metaphor of “blood spilled like wine” is particularly powerful, conveying the sense that human life is precious and yet undermined by forces beyond our control. Despite the ominous message, however, the singer implores others to “hold back the fire”, perhaps suggesting that there is hope, even amidst such dark times.
Line by Line Meaning
Out of the blue on the wings of a dove
Unexpectedly, a message arrives telling us to be prepared to act.
A messenger comes, with the beating of drums
The message is urgent and momentous. We must listen and heed it.
It's not a message of love
The message is not tender or gentle. It is grim and sobering.
Our children are born, and we keep them warm
Parents nurture and protect their children, seeking to provide them with a safe and stable life.
They must have the right, to live in the light
Children deserve to grow up in an atmosphere of freedom and equality, where nothing is hidden or secret.
To be safe from the storm
Youngsters must be shielded from danger, whether physical or emotional.
Out of the blue, with wings on his heels
Another messenger appears suddenly, as if summoned by divine intervention.
A messenger comes, bearing regrets
This being brings apologies and a sense of remorse for causing pain and upheaval.
For the time that he steals
Regret is sparked by the idea that we lose precious time and opportunities because of ill-considered actions or indecision.
But steal it he will, my children's and mine
Despite our attempts to hold onto the ticking moments that comprise life, they slip away and vanish, leaving us feeling diminished and powerless.
Against our desires, against all our needs
Time marches on relentlessly, heedless of our needs or wants.
Our blood spilled like wine
We encounter hardships and misfortunes along the path, shedding blood like the endless flow of wine at a bacchanal.
Over and over we call, no one hears
We cry out for help, yet receive no answer. Our isolation deepens and despair sets in.
And further and further and further we fall
The fall is depicted as a bottomless chasm that never reaches its end.
And though we pray that we soon will awake
We yearn for relief and a fresh start, but feel stuck in the present condition.
It is clear, that it's no dream at all
We realize that our problem is not imaginary or fleeting; it is real and painful.
Our lives are at stake
We are teetering on the brink of catastrophe, with everything we love and care for hanging in the balance.
I cannot believe, nor even pretend
The situation is such that we can't deny or ignore it, no matter how much we may wish to.
That the thunder I hear, will just disappear
The ominous rumble in the distance cannot be dismissed or explained away. It signifies something dire and unavoidable.
And the nightmare will end
We dream of a time when the darkness recedes and we are once again able to see the light.
So hold back the fire, because this music is true
The emotions and ideas expressed in the song are so powerful that they might burn or consume anything in their path.
When all's said and done, the ending will come
All things - good and bad, happy and sad - must come to an end, no matter how much we may wish otherwise.
From out of the blue
The end will come without warning or notice - suddenly, shockingly, and overwhelmingly.
Lyrics © IMAGEM U.S. LLC, Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: DAVID JON GILMOUR
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@iDONTdoFacebook
In response to those blaming Roger and David both for the recent negative statements put out by Roger... It takes two sides participating in the negativism, whining, complaining, and accusing to be an “argument”. This isn’t an argument. Roger is the ONLY ONE participating in the negativism, whining, complaining, and accusing. David just soldiers on being his honest, humble, family-and-fan appreciative self, refusing to let Roger draw him into “ROGER’S WORLD” which is a LIFETIME full of negativism, pessimism, complaining, whining, accusing, bullying and belittling (misery loves company eh, Roger?).
My hat’s off to David. Much respect to you Mr. Gilmour. You handle things with much dignity and a generally genial nature! And you make MUCH better music than Roger does. Roger is a great poet who is a wannabe musician. David on the other hand is a worldclass gifted composer/musician who humbly and honestly admits that he can’t hold a candle to Roger in the prose/poet/lyrics writing department (Polly has done a wonderful job filling Roger’s shoes as the band’s primary lyricist though). If I want to immerse myself in prose and poetry, I’d go looking for a book of such by Roger Waters, or Polly Samson Gilmour. If I want to be moved by music washing over and through me, I’m going to buy record albums by David Gilmour and buy concert tickets to any group of folks he’s performing with.
Witness the contrast in personalities here...
Roger has in the past disparaged David and David’s OBVIOUS musical gift. Roger has actually insinuated that David lacks talent and isn’t really all that great in the music department. While David on the other hand, after all the BULLSCHIFF Roger has in vileness hurled at Dave and put him through, David has NEVER disparaged Roger’s OBVIOUS talent for words and has ALWAYS recognized and verbally acknowledged Roger’s great poetic gift. I’ve watched MANY interviews David has participated in and WITHOUT VARIATION he has CONSISTENTLY talked honestly and positively of Roger.
DAVID is Humble and Honest, and a WONDERFULLY GIFTED musician.
ROGER, on the other hand, is Arrogant and not so honest sometimes -and a truly gifted poet/writer of prose who is also a wannabe musician but isn’t.
With all due respect to Roger as one of the 4 (then 3 by his choice) who together created some of the most special timeless classic pieces of music the world has ever ‘experienced’, it was Roger who dragged the others to court for years to try and shut them down as Pink Floyd when Roger decided he was done with it. The others didn’t want that but were FORCED to SUFFER it under ROGER’S decision to drag them through it. It was traumatic for them (especially to David) and as is obvious even to this day after all the years, that long ago decision of ROGER’S to put the others through that had created wounds that have unfortunately never fully healed. Dave is no unfeeling cold robot that isn’t impacted by emotional pain and trauma. He is a deeply feeling human being who was once wounded by Roger’s past cold arrogance. He hasn’t wanted to have to deal with the negative emotions that stem from that experience and he has tried to turn his back on them in forgiveness, and to a great degree he has been successful at that and has good feelings for Roger and has always admitted a respect for Roger’s talent, but, as David is human, there is to some degree vestiges of the old wound that remain as a scar. I honestly believe he would like the scar gone and to be fully free of it, but to some degree he is still haunted by the pain that he experienced through all of that.
Again, with due respect to Roger and myself wishing none of this would have ever come between the two of them, I feel to point out that the decision that ultimately put this thing between Roger and David and caused a wound in David that is felt to THIS DAY, was a decision made by ROGER and ROGER ALONE. I believe the only thing that could possibly finally erase the scar (and I’m not truly sure it could) would be for Roger to FULLY accept and OWN IT, not blaming Dave in the least. Regarding the subject we are addressing here, ROGER IS IN THE BED HE HIMSELF HAS MADE. From the outside looking in I think Dave has done remarkably well with it. But alas, he is still human and not an unfeeling robot who can simply have a switch flipped to turn off the final residue of emotional scarring that remains. And Roger’s vestiges of defensiveness for a past action that he cannot defend probably has something to do with that.
Love and respect to Roger. We are all human beings, with flaws and some unpolished edges. None of us are perfect, but we are all valuable and worthwhile. Roger has some gifts David isn’t as strong in. David has gifts Roger doesn’t. David admits all this and always has. The same unfortunately can’t be said of Roger. And as we see in Roger’s recent whining vids, some things - and some people - never change.
@marloncastillo7450
Out of the blue on the wings of a dove
A messenger comes, with the beating of drums
It's not a message of love
Our children are born, and we keep them warm
They must have the right, to live in the light
To be safe from the storm
Out of the blue, with wings on his heels
A messenger comes, bearing regrets
For the time that he steals
But steal it he will, my children's and mine
Against our desires, against all our needs
Our blood spilled like wine
Over and over we call, no one hears
And further and further and further we fall
And though we pray that we soon will awake
It is clear, that it's no dream at all
Our lives are at stake
I cannot believe, nor even pretend
That the thunder I hear, will just disappear
And the nightmare will end
So hold back the fire, because this music is true
When all's said and done, the ending will come
From out of the blue
@iDONTdoFacebook
Roger Frederic Zimmermann
It takes TWO participating in an egotistical shoving match to qualify for TWO to be accused of it as you just did here. In the case of Roger vs David, ONLY ONE was playing the egotistical card, shoving and accusing and disparaging the other. And it wasn’t David. David takes Roger’s compulsive abuse quietly like a man and just soldiers on being his honest, humble, family-and-fan appreciative self refusing to let Roger draw him into “ROGER’S WORLD” which is a LIFETIME full of negativism, pessimism, complaining, whining, accusing, bullying and belittling (misery loves company eh, Roger?).
My hat’s off to David. Much respect to you Mr. Gilmour. You handle things with much dignity and a generally genial nature! And you make MUCH better music than Roger does. Roger is a great poet who is a wannabe musician. David on the other hand is a worldclass gifted composer/musician who humbly and honestly admits that he can’t hold a candle to Roger in the prose/poet/lyrics writing department (Polly has done a wonderful job filling Roger’s shoes as the band’s lyricist though). If I want to immerse myself in prose and poetry, I’d go looking for a book of such by Roger Waters, or Polly Samson Gilmour. If I want to be moved by music washing over and through me, I’m going to buy record albums by David Gilmour and buy concert tickets to any group of folks he’s performing with.
Witness the contrast in personalities here...
Roger has in the past disparaged David and David’s OBVIOUS musical gift. Roger has actually insinuated that David lacks talent and isn’t really all that great in the music department. While David on the other hand, after all the BULLSCHIFF Roger has in vileness hurled at Dave and put him through, David has NEVER disparaged Roger’s OBVIOUS talent for words and has ALWAYS recognized and verbally acknowledged Roger’s great poetic gift. I’ve watched MANY interviews David has participated in and WITHOUT VARIATION he has CONSISTENTLY talked honestly and positively of Roger.
DAVID is Humble and Honest (and a WONDERFULLY GIFTED musician)
ROGER is Arrogant and not so honest (and a truly gifted poet/writer of prose who is also a wannabe musician but isn’t).
With all due respect to you Roger as one of the 5 (then 4) (then 3 by your choice) who together created some of the most special timeless classic pieces of music the world has ever ‘experienced’, it was YOU Roger who dragged the others to court for years to try and shut them down as Pink Floyd when you decided you were done with it. They didn’t want that but were FORCED to SUFFER it under YOUR decision to drag them through it. It was traumatic for them (especially to David) and as is obvious even to this day after all the years, that long ago decision of YOURS to put them through that had created wounds that have unfortunately never fully healed. Dave is no unfeeling cold robot that isn’t impacted by emotional pain and trauma. He is a deeply feeling human being who was once very deeply wounded by your past cold arrogance. He hasn’t wanted to have to deal with the negative emotions that stem from that trauma, he has tried to turn his back on them in forgiveness, and to a great degree he has been successful at that and has good feelings for you and a respect for your talent, but, as he is human, there is to some degree vestiges of the old wound that remain as a scar. I honestly believe he would like the scar gone and to be fully free of it, but to some degree he is still haunted by the pain that he experienced through all of that.
Again, with respect to you Roger and myself wishing none of this would have ever come between you, I feel to point out that the decision that ultimately put this thing between you and David and caused a wound in him that is felt to THIS DAY, was a decision made by YOU and you alone. It is YOUR doing Roger. I believe the only thing that could possibly finally erase the scar (and I’m not truly sure it could) would be for you to FULLY accept and OWN IT, not blaming Dave in the least. Regarding the subject we are addressing here, YOU ARE IN THE BED THAT YOU YOURSELF HAVE MADE. From the outside looking in I think Dave has done remarkably well with it. But alas, he is still human and not an unfeeling robot who can simply have a switch flipped to turn off the final residue of emotional scarring that remains. Your vestiges of defensiveness for a past action that you cannot defend probably has something to do with that Roger.
Love and respect to you Roger. We are all human beings, with flaws and some unpolished edges. None of us are perfect, but we are all valuable and worthwhile.
@markbailey8252
Probably Gilmour's greatest ever vocal performance. What a wonderful song.
@flops0317
I think it's a real shame David doesn't play anything off this record live these days. This song to me is monumental.
@samuelluria4744
I feel this way about both his first two solo albums, as well as a few cuts from AMLOR and DB.....I've spent a lot of time in the last 40 years of being a fan, fantasizing about cool playlists...🤣
@kevingardner8
I agree 👍
@jefferywhidby2407
It was 1983. And at that time I was 18 and in the Navy. He was my guitar hero then and still is now. Now I make a living singing and playing guitar. And I play his songs.
@geraldoxavier5581
In the navy, come on, protect the motherland/ In the navy....
@andrewkift6746
Never changing, ever fresh.
David Gilmour is a man of presence.
Simple sophistication.
Class act
@niltonjunior6534
It's incredible that with so many artists in the world and you are still very relevant...Great David Gilmour!!!!
@faith5940
My Alpha Englishman... lol!! Just still so in love with David and his music - even today he's talking to you and me through his sound and lyrics. I'm his American girlfriend who goes back to 73' when I was in 9th grade at one of the Top 10 Universities in the U.S, The very first song I ever heard from the Floyd was Money and it just went on and on from there. This is one of those bands that saved my life - mentally = growing up. While our gov'ts and parents were trying to indoctrinate us, David and Roger were undoing throughout the Floyd days. David understands all this. Thank God he's still part of the solution. Thank you David and we just love you so much - from the U.S.A.
@Vaniwta
Could not agree more... he and I are the same age.