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)
Breathe
Roger Waters Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Don't be afraid to care.
Leave but don't leave me.
Look around and choose your own ground.
Long you live and high you fly
And smiles you'll give and tears you'll cry
And all you touch and all you see
Run, rabbit run.
Dig that hole, forget the sun,
And when at last the work is done
Don't sit down it's time to dig another one.
For long you live and high you fly
But only if you ride the tide
And balanced on the biggest wave
You race towards an early grave.
The opening lyrics of Roger Waters's song "Breathe" from the album "The Dark Side of the Moon" remind us to take a deep breath and live life without fear. The next line has a deeply meaningful message; it encourages us not only to care about ourselves but also to care about others around us. The idea is that we should all choose our own ground and live the life we want to live without worrying about others' judgments. It is only natural that as we live, we will inevitably come across both happy and sad times. The lyrics suggest that we should embrace them all equally since they all represent a natural element of life.
The next verse highlights a rabbit whose only purpose in life is to dig holes and forget about the sun. The rabbit's purpose is a metaphor for people who continuously work without rest or play, caught up in fulfilling demanding tasks without ever taking time to enjoy life. Roger Waters speaks of the importance of keeping a balance in life, chasing the biggest wave while being balanced enough not to fall off. The song finishes with a melancholic note, as Waters warns that life is short, and we should utilise the most of the time we have, and we should be ambitious and live life to the fullest.
Line by Line Meaning
Breathe, breathe in the air.
Inhale the essence of life and take it all in.
Don't be afraid to care.
Do not fear showing affection or concern for others.
Leave but don't leave me.
Go if you must, but the thought of you leaving breaks my heart.
Look around and choose your own ground.
Observe your surroundings and find the place that suits you best.
Long you live and high you fly
You have a long journey ahead of you, and the skies are the limit.
And smiles you'll give and tears you'll cry
You will experience joy and pain in equal measure throughout your life.
And all you touch and all you see
Everything you come in contact with or witness is an integral part of your existence.
Is all your life will ever be.
Every experience and interaction shapes the person you are and will ultimately become.
Run, rabbit run.
Do not rest on your laurels or become stagnant, but continue to push forward.
Dig that hole, forget the sun,
Become so consumed with your work that you forget to appreciate the beauty of life.
And when at last the work is done
When you have accomplished your goals or reached the end of your life, look back without regrets.
Don't sit down it's time to dig another one.
Do not become complacent, but continue to strive for more and set new goals.
But only if you ride the tide
To achieve success, you must be able to navigate the ups and downs of life.
And balanced on the biggest wave
Find a sense of equilibrium and stability amidst the chaos of existence.
You race towards an early grave.
If you do not find balance and purpose in life, it will pass you by and you will die unfulfilled.
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
Written by: DAVID JON GILMOUR, RICHARD WRIGHT, ROGER WATERS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@JulianCavalero
And after 50 years, everyone’s still on the run…
@FroBro98
And after 50 years, the sun is still the same in a relative way. And all of us are shorter of breath, and one day closer to death.
@robertclarkguitar
@@FroBro98No one told us when to run , ..we missed the starting gun..hahah
@vacll77
And after 50 years people get that cash with thyre both hands and make a stash
@ChicoStopMotion
And after 50 years, the sun is still eclipsed by the moon
@vacll77
@@ChicoStopMotion man that too far
@johnbarnes934
Getting old isn't easy. The opening lyrics from Free Four some it up very well. When you are approaching the long cold rest, it sharpens parts of the mind. very atmospheric and the best outtake so far.imo
@riboid
Old age is a privilege which has been denied to plenty of us.
@qqw743
Getting old is utterly easy. All you have to do is not die. It may not be enjoyable sometimes, but it's hardly as grim as Roger thinks it is. But then again, Roger thinks everything is grim.
@thb5614
That's not an outtake, that's the actual recording that'll be on the album.