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)
5:11AM
Roger Waters Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Faded like charity does
Sometimes
I open one eye
And I put out my hand just to touch your soft hair
To make sure in the darkness that you were still there
And I have to admit
I was just a little afraid
But then...
I had a little bit of luck
You were awake
I couldn't take another moment alone
In "5.11 Am," Roger Waters talks about the fleeting nature of clarity and how it can quickly recede like charity. He likens clarity to a momentary burst of inspiration or insight that can come to us in a sudden flash but just as quickly disappear. He then describes a scene where he opens his eyes in the middle of the night, reaching out to touch his lover's hair, reassuring himself that they are still there in the darkness. Despite his initial fear and vulnerability, he feels lucky that his lover is still awake and with him. The song captures the precariousness of human relationships and our constant need for reassurance and connection with others.
The song is from Roger Waters' third solo album, "Amused to Death," released in 1992. The album is a concept album that explores themes of media manipulation, propaganda, and the alienation of modern society. "5.11 Am" stands out in the album as a more personal and introspective song, focusing on the vulnerability and fear that come with human relationships.
Line by Line Meaning
And the moment of clarity
The brief understanding or realization
Faded like charity does
Disappeared slowly, like how generosity eventually fades away
Sometimes
Not always, but occasionally
I open one eye
I partially awake or stir from sleep
And I put out my hand just to touch your soft hair
I reach out my hand to feel the comforting presence of someone else
To make sure in the darkness that you were still there
To reassure myself that I'm not alone and that someone is by my side
And I have to admit
Confessing or acknowledging something true
I was just a little afraid
I was scared or anxious to be on my own
But then...
However, something changed or happened
I had a little bit of luck
Something fortuitous happened to me
You were awake
The person I cared about was not sleeping and was present with me
I couldn't take another moment alone
I was unable to bear being by myself any longer
Lyrics © OBO APRA/AMCOS
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