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)
Set the Controls for the Heart of the Sun
Roger Waters Lyrics
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Counting the leaves which tremble at dawn
Lotuses lean on each other in yearning
Under the eaves the swallow is resting
Set the controls for the heart of the sun
Over the mountain
Watching the watcher
Breaking the darkness
Knowledge of love is knowledge of shadow
Love is the shadow that ripens the wine
Set the controls for the heart of the sun
The heart of the sun
The heart of the sun (repeating)
Witness the man who waves at the wall
Making the shape of his question to heaven
Whether the sun will fall in the evening
Will he remember the lesson of giving?
Set the controls for the heart of the sun
The heart of the sun
The heart of the sun (repeating)
"Set the Controls for the Heart of the Sun" is a psychedelic and abstract piece of music by Roger Waters, the bassist, and lyricist of Pink Floyd. The song is an expression of the band's early experimentalism and strange blend of styles borrowed from acid rock, space rock, and Eastern music. The lyrics of this song are symbolic and obscure, mainly revolving around themes of nature and the human mind's depth.
The song opens with a description of a tranquil night that gradually changes with the dawn's arrival. The singer counts the leaves which tremble as the light approaches. He feels the yearning of the lotuses, who lean on each other. A swallow is resting under the eaves. The lyrics then move to the chorus line, "Set the controls for the heart of the sun" and describe an observer who is watching the watcher, breaking the darkness and waking the grapevine.
The second verse talks about the nature of love being related to the shadow that ripens the wine. The singer then repeats, "Set the controls for the heart of the sun" in the chorus. The third verse presents a man who waves at the wall, making a question to heaven, questioning if the sun will fall in the evening. The singer wonders if he will remember the lesson of giving. The song ends with an instrumental coda featuring various sounds, including wind and animal noises, showcasing the band's experimental inclinations.
Line by Line Meaning
Little by little the night turns around
Gradually, the darkness of night gives way to the light of day.
Counting the leaves which tremble at dawn
Observing the leaves on the trees as they shake and rustle in the morning breeze.
Lotuses lean on each other in yearning
The flowers yearn for each other as they grow close together.
Under the eaves the swallow is resting
The bird is taking shelter under the roof of the building, resting peacefully.
Set the controls for the heart of the sun
Begin the journey towards the center of the sun.
Over the mountain
Going across the mountain on the journey towards the sun.
Watching the watcher
Being observed by someone else while observing something else, creating a cycle of watching and being watched.
Breaking the darkness
Shining a light on the darkness and revealing what's hidden.
Waking the grapevine
Stirring up and enlivening the grapevine, symbolizing vitality and growth.
Knowledge of love is knowledge of shadow
Understanding and experiencing love involves confronting and accepting the darker aspects of oneself.
Love is the shadow that ripens the wine
Love is the mysterious, intangible force that enhances one's experience of life and makes things more enjoyable.
Witness the man who waves at the wall
Observe the person who's making a futile gesture towards an unresponsive object.
Making the shape of his question to heaven
Mimicking the act of praying, asking a question or seeking guidance from a higher power.
Whether the sun will fall in the evening
Wondering if the sun will set, signifying the passage of time and the eventual end of all things.
Will he remember the lesson of giving?
Will he learn to be generous and selfless, even in the face of uncertainty and impermanence?
The heart of the sun
A metaphorical location or state of being that represents inner truth and enlightenment.
The heart of the sun
Repeated for emphasis and to reinforce the importance of finding and experiencing this inner truth.
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
Written by: George Roger Waters
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Fear Gregor
masterpiece ...like every song written by Roger
Terry Teal
One of my favorite songs on that tour. It puts me in an absolute trance. The Snowie White guitar solo and the sax solo are amazing!
Ford Corsair
One of the greatest concerts ever - it was spellbinding!
Kimberly Caamano
Still one of my favorite live albums of all time <3
Jorge A. Echeandia Canales
There's no doubt that without Roger, there's no Pink Floyd.
João Sampaio
My parents would put this concert on the oldie VHS machine everyday when I was young, brings so many memories, emotions and inspiration. This is a voyage into the realms of light and creation.
Monica Stocco
Roger Waters : inteligencia, talento, cerebro, alma, corazón...💋😍
Víctor Mariano Spinardi
...incredible perfomance. Outsanding.
Brooke Stanley
Love this 💞😍
Deniz Demirtaş
best version