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 3: Scene 2: The Commune de Paris
Roger Waters Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
The crown sits tilted and uneasy now
The Girondins, one eye cocked nervous in the East,
Are loath to bring it down
But at the gates
Beyond the palsied grip of limp and timid politics
The Marseillais are girded for the fray
They′ll plant the laurel tree
And their song will be a fanfare for the Commune de Paris...
The song "Act 3: Scene 2: The Commune de Paris" by Roger Waters is a political commentary on the Commune de Paris, a revolutionary socialist government that briefly governed Paris from March to May 1871. The first two lines "The Monarchy restored, The crown sits tilted and uneasy now" communicates the political climate that existed during the restoration of the Monarchy. The uneasy crown is a metaphorical symbol of how unsure the rulers were about their power and legitimacy.
The next few lines, "The Girondins, one eye cocked nervous in the East, Are loath to bring it down," refers to the Girondins, a moderate conservative political faction that was skeptical about the Commune de Paris. The Girondins were reluctant to take any steps to bring down the Monarchy because of the fear of the radical left-wing movement. They were afraid of the Marseillais, who are described in the song as "girded for the fray/ With pike and pick and bloodied stick."
The Marseillais were a group of socialist revolutionaries who led the Commune de Paris movement. They were determined to plant the laurel tree, the symbol of the Commune de Paris, and create a new socialist government. The last lines, "They'll plant the laurel tree/ And their song will be a fanfare for the Commune de Paris," suggest that the Marseillais will succeed in their efforts to overthrow the Monarchy and establish their socialist government.
Line by Line Meaning
The Monarchy restored
The monarchy has been put back in power.
The crown sits tilted and uneasy now
The Monarchy is insecure and uncertain.
The Girondins, one eye cocked nervous in the East,
The Girondins are apprehensive and vigilantly keeping watch.
Are loath to bring it down
They are unwilling to take down the Monarchy.
But at the gates
However, just outside the city walls,
Beyond the palsied grip of limp and timid politics
Outside the government's weak and ineffectual control
The Marseillais are girded for the fray
The people of Marseille are prepared for the coming battle.
With pike and pick and bloodied stick
They are armed with weapons and ready to fight.
They′ll plant the laurel tree
They will establish the new symbol of their power and victory.
And their song will be a fanfare for the Commune de Paris...
Their anthem will be raised high in honor of the newly formed government of Paris.
Contributed by Maya K. Suggest a correction in the comments below.