Roger Waters was the main lyricist for the classic British rock band Pink Floyd. He, along with Syd Barrett, Nick Mason, and Richard Wright, formed the band in 1965 and released their first album, The Piper at the Gates of Dawn in 1967. In 1968, Syd Barrett was replaced by guitarist/singer David Gilmour. He and Gilmour were the main creative forces behind the albums Meddle, Dark Side of the Moon, and Wish You Were Here; Waters eventually became the primary songwriter, being the driving force behind Animals, and The Wall as well as the sole songwriter of The Final Cut. Waters became well-known for being an intense perfectionist and his controlling nature alienated the rest of the band. The Final Cut, released in 1983, was essentially a Roger Waters solo album "performed by Pink Floyd" as the credits stated. This would be the group's last album with Waters. David Gilmour decided to carry on with Pink Floyd and Waters, believing that Pink Floyd was a "non-entity" without him, sued the rest of the band to retire the Pink Floyd name. His lawsuit ultimately failed, and Pink Floyd released three more studio albums and two double live albums, without him.
The feud between David Gilmour and Roger Waters lasted for decades, and it wasn't until Live 8 in 2005 that they finally decided to set their differences aside and perform a brief set for the charity gig. This would be the last time that Pink Floyd would ever perform together in their "classic" lineup. Shortly after the show, there was much speculation that Pink Floyd would get back together for a full reunion tour, but Gilmour ultimately nixed the idea, stating that although the Live 8 gig was fun, the rehearsals were not.
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.” Gilmour fulfilled his promise on May 14, 2011 in London.
Waters has so far released the following solo albums:
* Music from The Body soundtrack with Ron Geesin(1970)
* The Pros and Cons of Hitch Hiking (1984)
* When the Wind Blows soundtrack with contributions from other artists as well (1986)
* Radio K.A.O.S. (1987)
* The Wall: Live in Berlin (1990)
* Amused to Death (1992)
* In the Flesh live (2000)
* Flickering Flame: The Solo Years, Vol. 1 (2003)
* Ça Ira (Opera) (2005)
*Is This the Life We Really Want? (2017)
*Igor Stravinsky's The Soldier's Tale (2018)
*The Lockdown Sessions (2022)
4
Roger Waters Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
O.K.
They pressed the button, Jim.
They pressed the button Billy, what button?
The big red one.
You mean THE button?
Goodbye, Jim.
Goodbye! Oh yes. This ain't aurevoir, it's goodbye! Ha! Ha!
Everybody got someone they call home.
Out at Dodger Stadium. It's the bottom of the seventh, the Dodgers are leading three to nothing over the Giants, and for those of you who are looking to go surfing tomorrow, too bad.
(Telephone rings)
I'm kinda lost in here to tell you the truth ... O.K. good. Ladies and gentlemen, if the reports that we are getting are correct, this could be it. Billy, if you're listening to me, please call now.
After a near miss on the plane
You swear you'll never fly again
After the first kiss when you make up
You swear you'll never break up again
And when you've just run a red light
Sit shaking under the street light
You swear to yourself you'll never drink and drive again
Sometimes I feel like going home
You swear you'll never let things go by again.
Sometimes I miss the rain and snow
And you'll never toe the party line again
And when the east wind blows
Sometimes I feel like going home
Billy, if you are listening, please call.
Sole has no eyes.
Goodbye little spy in the sky. They say that cameras don't lie. Am I happy, am I sad, am I good, am I bad?
Billy, if you're listening, please call.
Sole has no eyes, sole has no eyes
Ten, nine, eight, seven
Our own independent nuclear deterrent has helped to keep the peace.
Six, five four, three,
You've go a job
Two, one,
For nearly forty years
Goodbye Billy.
The lyrics of Roger Waters's song "4" are associated with the Cold War era of the 20th century. The song starts with a countdown that signals the beginning of a nuclear war. Jim, who is in charge of Radio KAOS, announces that he has only four minutes left, and he encourages his listeners to use it effectively. While describing the situation outside, he receives a call from someone who he calls little spy in the sky, who speaks about a camera that can only record, but not see anything. Jim's repeated call for Billy reveals that he is trying to locate someone and that he is somewhat desperate to get hold of him before the four minutes elapse.
The second part of the song communicates a sense of regretful nostalgia. It represents how people swear or make promises after a near-miss or a significant event in their lives. The singer emphasizes how he will never repeat the mistake again, but eventually, he still does. There are a few things that he misses or desires, but he cannot attain them either. The message conveyed in this song is both political and personal. The political aspect reminds the listeners of the real danger of nuclear wars, while the personal aspect provokes a sense of regret in people's lives. People cannot do anything to change what happened in the past, including lost opportunities, broken relationships, or self-destructive behavior.
Line by Line Meaning
Four minutes and counting.
The countdown for a massive destructive event has begun.
They pressed the button, Jim.
The event has been triggered by someone named Jim.
They pressed the button Billy, what button?
Someone named Billy is unaware of the situation and is asking about it.
The big red one.
The button that was pressed is a big, red one.
Goodbye, Jim.
Jim is likely the person who initiated the event and is now saying goodbye.
Goodbye! Oh yes. This ain't aurevoir, it's goodbye! Ha! Ha!
The goodbye is permanent and irreparable; it can't be fixed. The laughter sounds sinister.
This is KAOS. It's a beautiful, balmy, Southern California summer day. It's 80 degrees ... I said balmy ... I could say bomby ... Ha! Ha! ...O.K. I'm Jim and this is Radio KAOS and with only four minutes left to us, let's use this as wisely as possible.
The event was started by Jim and is related to a radio station named KAOS. Jim gives a commentary and encourages mindful use of the time left before the impending event.
Everybody got someone they call home.
Everyone has someone or someplace they consider home and that they care about.
Out at Dodger Stadium. It's the bottom of the seventh, the Dodgers are leading three to nothing over the Giants, and for those of you who are looking to go surfing tomorrow, too bad. (Telephone rings) I'm kinda lost in here to tell you the truth ... O.K. good. Ladies and gentlemen, if the reports that we are getting are correct, this could be it. Billy, if you're listening to me, please call now.
The announcer reports about a baseball game and takes a phone call with concern. He urges Billy, who is listening, to call in.
After a near miss on the plane You swear you'll never fly again After the first kiss when you make up You swear you'll never break up again And when you've just run a red light Sit shaking under the street light You swear to yourself you'll never drink and drive again Sometimes I feel like going home You swear you'll never let things go by again. Sometimes I miss the rain and snow And you'll never toe the party line again And when the east wind blows Sometimes I feel like going home
The lyrics describe situations that elicit promises to never repeat the consequential actions, feelings of nostalgia and longing, and the desire to break free from conformity.
Sole has no eyes.
Analogous to a sole, cameras don't have eyes, they capture images. These images are impersonal and don't convey emotions.
Goodbye little spy in the sky. They say that cameras don't lie. Am I happy, am I sad, am I good, am I bad?
The lyrics express the limitations and uncertainty of interpreting a situation or a person's feelings solely by what a camera captures. The all-seeing eye is being mocked and bid farewell.
Billy, if you are listening, please call. Sole has no eyes.
The song reiterates the two previous messages; Billy is being asked to call, and cameras are blind.
Ten, nine, eight, seven Our own independent nuclear deterrent has helped to keep the peace. Six, five four, three,
The countdown continues, and a belief shared by some is being stated that possessing nuclear weapons deter aggressors and thus maintain peace.
You've go a job Two, one,
The song implies that one exists as long as they have a job; while they have that job, they can afford to pay for leisure activities and vacations.
For nearly forty years Goodbye Billy.
The song claims that for forty years, people bid farewell to their loved ones sent to war without knowing if they would ever return. This time, Billy is being bid farewell.
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Warner/Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: ROGER WATERS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Watchman5
Roger is not the greatest singer around, but the way he expresses emotions is spot on. He's great at portraying anger, aggression, fear, anguish, and sadness. He's got good breath support, he can sing in tune, and his vocals help tell a story which makes him a good singer.
Laurent Cambon
@LVLouisCyphre I discovered Perfect Sense in 2007 in a RW concert in Quebec city. That song will be in my movie to change the world, a sci fi ufo movie. And... I'm in contact with Harry for that project. Love is coming.
LVLouisCyphre
There's some speculation that RW is tone deaf. He has someone tune his guitar for him. As of late, it was his son, Harry, that tunes it for him if he's touring with his father. I agree that RW knows how to strike the right emotions with his singing evoking empathy in the listener. That's the mark of any good artist; evoking empathy into their audience or observers. Gilmour can't do that. I was very disappointed when I saw Pink Floyd in LA in the early 1990's with a couple of friends. It was disappointing as Hell. It made me want to send DG "back to mother in a cardboard box" and Run Like Hell out of the venue. (Pink Floyd pun and reference intended.)
I've seen RW live twice here in Vegas; An evening with RW (Father's Day weekend 2007) and The Wall (around Thanksgiving 2010) both at the MGM Grand Garden Arena. It was never a disappointing concert where I regretted spending the money.
Modern_Mat23
TF DO YOU MEAN?! ROGER CAN SING!!!
Laurent Cambon
His voice in "Crazy" and other Walls songs is really impressive.
Kolodets1
For me he is greatest
stevexxl777
I never took this album off the turntable in 1984!! And since I got the CD it's been played every year since. Absolutely unbelievable - who writes music like this.....
ron price
Same here, I listen to this album every couple of months, he's the governor, love amused to death as well, the man's a genius
ALK
Nobody
M Cruse
Clapton's solo in this song still makes my spine shiver every time I hear it.