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)
Comfortably Numb
Roger Waters Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Is there anybody in there?
Just nod if you can hear me
Is there anyone at home?
Come on, now
I hear you're feeling down
Well, I can ease the pain
Relax
I need some information first
Just the basic facts
Can you show me where it hurts?
There is no pain, you are receding
A distant ship's, smoke on the horizon
You are only coming through in waves
Your lips move but I can't hear what you're sayin'
When I was a child, I had a fever
My hands felt just like two balloons
Now I've got that feeling once again
I can't explain you would not understand
This is not how I am
I have become comfortably numb
I have become comfortably numb
Okay
Just a little pinprick
There'll be no more, ahh
But you may feel a little sick
Can you stand up?
I do believe it's working, good
That'll keep you going through the show
Come on it's time to go
There is no pain, you are receding
A distant ship's smoke on the horizon
You are only coming through in waves
Your lips move but I can't hear what you're sayin'
When I was a child, I caught a fleeting glimpse
Out of the corner of my eye
I turned to look but it was gone
I cannot put my finger on it now
The child is grown, the dream is gone
I have become comfortably numb
"Comfortably Numb" by Roger Waters is a song that highlights feelings of alienation and disconnection from the world. The song starts with a person trying to make a connection with someone who seems distant and unresponsive. The lyrics suggest that the person is living in a world of detachment and isolation, where it is hard to communicate with anyone. The singer offers to help the person, to ease their pain and make them feel better. He asks for basic information to understand where it hurts, but the person seems to be disconnected. He keeps repeating that there is no pain, and he is receding.
The song then takes a turn towards the personal experience of the singer. He shares a memory from his childhood when he suffered from a high fever. He remembers the feeling of his hands, which felt like balloons. He then goes on to suggest that he is feeling a similar sensation again, and he can't explain it to anyone. The singer then declares that he has become comfortably numb, which means he is disconnected from his emotions and feelings. The song seems to be about the importance of connecting with others, and warning against succumbing to apathy and detachment.
Line by Line Meaning
Hello
Opening greeting
Is there anybody in there?
Asking if anyone is listening or paying attention
Just nod if you can hear me
Requesting a nonverbal acknowledgment if there is someone listening
Is there anyone at home?
Asking if someone is present and able to engage
Come on, now
Encouragement to engage
I hear you're feeling down
Acknowledging that the other person appears to be having a difficult time
Well, I can ease the pain
Offering to help alleviate the distress
And get you on your feet again
Assuring the other person that they will be able to overcome their difficulty
Relax
Encouragement to calm down and let go of tension
I need some information first
Asking for necessary details to understand the situation
Just the basic facts
Clarifying that only relevant and necessary information is needed
Can you show me where it hurts?
Asking for specific details about the pain or discomfort
There is no pain, you are receding
Stating that the source of pain is gradually diminishing
A distant ship's, smoke on the horizon
Using a visual metaphor to describe the fading pain
You are only coming through in waves
Implying that communication is difficult and inconsistent
Your lips move but I can't hear what you're sayin'
Not understanding what the other person is trying to communicate
When I was a child, I had a fever
Recalling a time in the past when he was unwell
My hands felt just like two balloons
Using a simile to describe the physical sensation he experienced during his illness
Now I've got that feeling once again
Comparing his current state to that past experience
I can't explain you would not understand
Expressing difficulty in conveying what he is feeling
This is not how I am
Implying that the current state is not a true reflection of himself
I have become comfortably numb
Becoming emotionally detached and no longer feeling the pain
Okay
Acknowledgment of a new stage or development in the situation
Just a little pinprick
Promising minor discomfort or pain to come
There'll be no more, ahh
Assuring that the painful experience will quickly be over
But you may feel a little sick
Warning that there may be an unpleasant effect
Can you stand up?
Checking if the other person is feeling better and able to move around
I do believe it's working, good
Expressing confidence that the treatment is having a positive effect
That'll keep you going through the show
Emphasizing the importance of the treatment to maintain function and well-being
Come on it's time to go
Indicating that it is time to move on or leave the situation
When I was a child, I caught a fleeting glimpse
Recalling a brief and transitory experience from childhood
Out of the corner of my eye
Describing how the experience was perceived
I turned to look but it was gone
Being unable to fully grasp or hold onto the desired experience
I cannot put my finger on it now
Expressing difficulty in fully understanding or describing the experience
The child is grown, the dream is gone
Reflecting on how the past experience is no longer accessible or relevant in his current life
I have become comfortably numb
Reiterating the state of emotional detachment and dissociation
Lyrics © ACE Music, BMG Rights Management, CONCORD MUSIC PUBLISHING LLC
Written by: David Jon Gilmour, Roger Waters
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@sambutters2063
OH MY DAYS Roger! I’m a Gilmore fanatic, but adore you all! How just how have you re-written this without the guitar solo??????? One of the most legendary riffs of all time!
You bloody genius! It was ethereal, moving, and the word written and sang were just like the guitar ‘weeping for help’. I adore this version. Got goosebumps watching it ‘at the bar’ in the cinema.
Thank you so very very much! What an experience. Wow how do you keep doing it?!
We would all adore you town to speak, but too much water under the bridge now (pun lol)! Sad as the whole message of this concert was that!
Back to this version, the only comparison I can make is Gary Moore still got the blues, or Prince purple rain without the guitar solo. It shouldn’t work, but it does.
We’ve now got an epic brand new version. One is NOT better than the other. They’re incomparable…… it gave me the feeling of Echoes in Pompeii, and High Hope! God bless you 😘❤🌈🙏
@PhonixTeam
The original Comfortably numb is perhaps one of the best songs ever composed. When you, Gilmour, Wright and Mason cooperated, it was an extraterrestrial force of humanity.
@tingtingshiny2877
🔥
@elliotogr1672
4 geniuses
@jimtrott3110
Bro do you think Roger Waters is reading your comment on his YouTube video?
@J0hnny8ravo
@@jimtrott3110, there might be a chance…
@FNA-Holes
@@jimtrott3110 does that really matter? A lot of people post comments directly towards creators, doesn’t mean that they hope for it to be read. I’m sure they weren’t thinking anything of it.
@blainetrain2299
Holy holy smokes. This isn't even a remake. It's like a whole new absolute masterpiece. I am floored by this.
@othmane8753
Only those who witnessed this live would understand how powerful this version is: the lights, the visual effects, the sound effects, the enthusiasm of more than 20 thousands people around you... this is just beyond any word I can use to describe it!
@raffishahbazian7159
I bought tickets for both nights in Los Angeles. It was amazing. This version is just as good as the old one.
@andrewross6090
First time i heard it was in Amsterdam ziggo dome. As soon as i got home i got tickets to see the show again in Glasgow. Best ever!