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)
Now Hear Ye!
Roger Waters Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Her Majesty invites the regiments
To a Grand Ball
Versailles in October
The Queen is having a fling
She invites all the regiments
Loyal to the King
Smiling in the limelight
The Queen is having a ball
OFFICER
The Queen is smiling
The Queen is laughing
She makes eyes at one and all
CHORUS
She’s having a ball
"Now Hear Ye!" is a satirical song by legendary musician and songwriter Roger Waters, which was released in 1984. The lyrics are about the lavish lifestyle of royalty and how they indulge themselves at the expense of the taxpayers. The title itself is a satirical way of announcing that we, as commoners, should pay attention to the queen and her regiments as they celebrate and indulge in their privileges.
The lyrics describe the Queen having fun and enjoying herself with the regiments. She invites them all to a grand ball at Versailles in October. The song is set in the Regency Era when indulgence and lavish lifestyles among the aristocracy were the norm. The Queen is described as wine and dine with all the regiments and making eyes at them all. The song suggests that the Queen is using her position to flirt and seduce the regiments. The chorus repeatedly mimics the same idea, which is that the Queen is simply having a great time.
In conclusion, "Now Hear Ye!" is a satirical song that criticizes the lifestyle of royalty and the privilege that they enjoy. The song has a catchy tune and showcases Roger Waters' skill at writing satirical lyrics. It is a reminder of how history has been shaped by the indulgence of the rich and powerful.
Line by Line Meaning
Her Majesty invites the regiments
The Queen of the country is inviting all the military units to a big party
To a Grand Ball
A fancy dance party is being hosted
Versailles in October
The location and time of the party is Versailles in the month of October
The Queen is having a fling
The Queen is seemingly having a romantic affair or a brief indulgence
She invites all the regiments
She's inviting all the military groups
Loyal to the King
Only those who have allegiance to the King are invited
Wining and dining and making eyes at them all
The Queen is entertaining the guests and flirting with them all
Smiling in the limelight
The Queen is enjoying being the center of attention
The Queen is having a ball
The Queen is enjoying herself immensely
The Queen is smiling
The Queen is visibly happy
The Queen is laughing
The Queen is enjoying herself and laughing
She makes eyes at one and all
She's flirting with everyone she sees
She's having a ball
The Queen is having a great time
Contributed by Katherine D. Suggest a correction in the comments below.