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)
Act 1: Scene 1: A Garden in Vienna 1765
Roger Waters Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
The players are arraigned
The powerful and puny
The saintly and deranged
The honest bird, a future queen
All innocent and green
Sparring all the livelong day
So gentles all, who will hold sway
To a garden in vienna, let us make our way...
The opening scene of Roger Waters's opera, Act 1: Scene 1: A Garden in Vienna 1765, portrays a group of performers on a sawdust ring, putting on a play that features diverse characters. The different actors include the mighty and weak, the holy and frantic, and all sorts of people that one can imagine. A bright, naïve bird that will eventually become a reigning queen is also a part of the cast. The performers spar with one another throughout the day, sharpening their skills for the play that awaits them.
The lyricist presents a vivid depiction of a group of people coming together for a performance. The sawdust ring is a representation of the makeshift stage where the actors and their audience gather. The composition's opening lines are intended to create a sense of anticipation and excitement, as the stage is being set for what promises to be an impressive show. The words "powerful and puny" and "saintly and deranged" create a picture of an eclectic mix of cast members. The bird's character represents a symbol of hope and future possibilities. The lyrical phrase "make ready for our play" suggests that the performers are preparing for a significant event, and the final line, "To a garden in Vienna, let us make our way," signals the start of the opera.
Line by Line Meaning
Within our humble sawdust ring
In this small and unassuming stage we have created
The players are arraigned
All the actors are gathered together
The powerful and puny
Both the strong and the weak
The saintly and deranged
The righteous and the insane
The honest bird, a future queen
A truthful and innocent young lady who will someday be royalty
All innocent and green
She is pure and new to the world
Sparring all the livelong day
She is constantly practicing and playing, never resting
Make ready for our play
Prepare for the show we are about to put on
So gentles all, who will hold sway
Dear audience, who will be in control
To a garden in vienna, let us make our way...
Let us go on this journey to a beautiful garden in Vienna
Contributed by Chase R. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
Fabiano Grotto
[ACT ONE]
[Scene 1 "A Garden in Vienna, 1765"]
[RINGMASTER]
Within our humble sawdust ring
The players are arraigned
The powerful and puny
The saintly and deranged
The Honest Bird, a future queen
All innocent and green
Sparring all the livelong day
Make ready for our play
So gentles all, who will hold sway
To a garden in Vienna, let us make our way...