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)
On The Run
Roger Waters Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Run, run, run, run, run, run, run, run
You better make your face up in
Your favorite disguise
With your button down lips and your
Roller blind eyes
With your empty smile
And your hungry heart
With your nerves in tatters
When the conch shell shatters
And the hammers batter
Down your door
You'd better run
Run, run, run, run, run, run, run, run
Run, run, run, run, run, run, run, run
You better run all day
And run all night
Keep your dirty feelings
Deep inside
And if you're taking your girlfriend
Out tonight
You'd better park the car
Well out of sight
'Cause if they catch you in the back seat
Trying to pick her locks
They're gonna send you back to mother
In a cardboard box
You better run
"Hey, open up!"
"Hammer, hammer"
The song "Run Like Hell" by Roger Waters is a cautionary tale about the consequences of living a life of duplicity, deceit, and being a double-crosser. The first verse warns us that we better make our face up in our favorite disguise, with our button-down lips and roller blind eyes. This indicates that we should always be on guard, aware of what we are saying, and to whom. We should be careful not to reveal too much, giving away our true intentions, which could be used against us later. The singer is urged to put on a false smile and hide his true feelings behind a facade of friendliness, despite the bile rising from his guilty past.
In the second verse, the pace accelerates, and Waters urges us to run, run, run, run, run. The message is clear, you better run all day and run all night and keep your dirty feelings deep inside. If you're taking your girlfriend out tonight, you're urged to park the car well out of sight, as they will send you back to your mother in a cardboard box if they catch you in the backseat trying to pick her locks. There is no escape from the consequences of your actions, and you better run if you don't want to get caught.
Overall, "Run Like Hell" is a warning to all of us to live a life of honesty and transparency, as deceit and duplicity will inevitably lead to our downfall. We must be careful not to reveal too much about ourselves, and we must be aware of our actions and their consequences.
Line by Line Meaning
Run, run, run, run, run, run, run, run
The song encourages running as a form of escape, keeping people on edge.
You better make your face up in
To avoid detection, disguise yourself.
Your favorite disguise
Pick a disguise that you can hide in the best.
With your button down lips and your
Don't reveal your thoughts or emotions.
Roller blind eyes
Stay alert, cautious and distrustful.
With your empty smile
Look happy but don't mean it.
And your hungry heart
Desire things you can't have or would get you in trouble.
Feel the bile rising from your guilty past
Your past is catching up with you, and it's making you feel guilty.
With your nerves in tatters
You are anxious and wound-up.
When the conch shell shatters
A loud noise signals danger.
And the hammers batter
People trying to break through a tough barrier.
Down your door
The place where you should feel safe and secure is being breached.
You'd better run
Run away as fast as you can or face the consequences.
Run, run, run, run, run, run, run, run
The chorus repeats the message to run, but louder and more insistent.
You better run all day
Running is not a temporary solution - it should be an ongoing activity.
And run all night
Not even nighttime will keep you safe.
Keep your dirty feelings
Don't express your less-than-respectable thoughts, desires or secrets.
Deep inside
Keep them hidden from others and even from yourself.
And if you're taking your girlfriend
If you're with someone you care about.
Out tonight
Out in public, where anyone can see you.
You'd better park the car
Make sure you're hidden and discrete.
Well out of sight
Not even remotely visible.
'Cause if they catch you in the back seat
If someone sees you doing something private and perhaps unbecoming.
Trying to pick her locks
If you're trying to exploit her vulnerabilities for your own gain or pleasure.
They're gonna send you back to mother
There will be negative consequences for your actions.
In a cardboard box
You will be punished harshly and unceremoniously.
You better run
The threat is real and you should flee as soon as possible.
"Hey, open up!"
Someone is trying to forcibly enter, maybe to hurt you.
"Hammer, hammer"
They're using physical force and weapons to break through.
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management
Written by: David Jon Gilmour, George Roger Waters
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Jakob Trägårdh
“The Powers that be”
They like a tough game, no rules
Some you win, some you lose
Competition’s good for you
They’re dying to be free
They’re the powers that be
They like a bomb proof cadillac
Air conditioned, gold taps
Back seat gun rack
Platinum hub caps
They pick horses for courses
They’re the market forces
They like order, make-up
Lime light power
Game shows, rodeos
Star wars, TV
They’re the powers that be
If you see them come
You better run
Sisters of mercy better join with your brothers
Put a stop to the soap opera right now
They say the toothless get ruthless
They like treats, tricks
Carrots and sticks
They like fear and loathing
They like sheep’s clothing
And blacked-out vans
Contingency plans
They like death or glory
They love a good story
Sisters of mercy better join with your brothers
Put a stop to the soap opera state
They say the toothless get ruthless
Gary Citro
Women turning on Trump. GO SISTERS OF MERCY!!:
They like order
Make-up
Lime light power
Game shows
Rodeos
Star wars
TV
They're the powers that be
If you see them come
You better run
Run
You better run on home
Sisters of mercy better join your brothers
Put an end to the soap opera state
They say the toothless get ruthless
Run home before it's too late
~ Roger Waters -- The Powers That Be, from Radio KAOS, 1987
rkaos1987
A masterpiece! Loved it since I bought the CD back in 1987! :)
Rick Wright
Same for me.... then I went and seen the concert in Worcester, MA in Nov '87! One of the best concerts ever!
Jakob Trägårdh
“The Powers that be”
They like a tough game, no rules
Some you win, some you lose
Competition’s good for you
They’re dying to be free
They’re the powers that be
They like a bomb proof cadillac
Air conditioned, gold taps
Back seat gun rack
Platinum hub caps
They pick horses for courses
They’re the market forces
They like order, make-up
Lime light power
Game shows, rodeos
Star wars, TV
They’re the powers that be
If you see them come
You better run
Sisters of mercy better join with your brothers
Put a stop to the soap opera right now
They say the toothless get ruthless
They like treats, tricks
Carrots and sticks
They like fear and loathing
They like sheep’s clothing
And blacked-out vans
Contingency plans
They like death or glory
They love a good story
Sisters of mercy better join with your brothers
Put a stop to the soap opera state
They say the toothless get ruthless
Rick Fellerman
What a killer concert!
With a surround sound or quadrophonic sound system the sound was amazing and so was the stage presentation.
Only Waters could have pulled it off!
David Turmaine
They love a good story.
Micah Wright
This one is underrated.
Mason Hayat
Very much so, unfortunately.
Brian Remmerde
No lyrics!
Gary Citro
Women turning on Trump. GO SISTERS OF MERCY!!:
They like order
Make-up
Lime light power
Game shows
Rodeos
Star wars
TV
They're the powers that be
If you see them come
You better run
Run
You better run on home
Sisters of mercy better join your brothers
Put an end to the soap opera state
They say the toothless get ruthless
Run home before it's too late
~ Roger Waters -- The Powers That Be, from Radio KAOS, 1987
Debbie Heggie
Lots of loves Roger Waters💝