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)
The Letter
Roger Waters Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
"The Letter"
RINGMASTER
Imprisoned in the Tuilaries
The King makes locks
To the sound of the ticking clocks
And the rain falling on his window pane
Safe in his castle in Spain
In Roger Waters's song, The Letter, Scene 2 presents us with a vivid image of King Louis XVI of France, who was imprisoned in the Tuileries during the Reign of Terror in the French Revolution. The Ringmaster is telling us how King Louis is passing his time making locks while listening to the ticking sound of the clock. The ticking clock can be interpreted as a metaphor for King Louis's life dwindling away as he waits for the inevitable fate that awaits him. The sound of rain falling on his window pane brings his thoughts to his cousin, Bourbon, who is safe in his castle in Spain. This comparison highlights the contrast between the lavish, safe, and comfortable lifestyle of the aristocrats compared to the bleak, oppressive life of the commoners.
The scene portrays the frustration and helplessness of the king, who is confined to a dreary existence without any hope of rescue. The mention of Bourbon's castle in Spain can also be interpreted as a metaphor for the luxuries and excesses that the aristocrats were accustomed to while the commoners suffered for their wealth. The lyrics offer a glimpse of the social and political issues that led to the French Revolution, where the people were fed up with the injustice and cruelty meted out by the ruling class.
Line by Line Meaning
Imprisoned in the Tuilaries
The King is locked up in prison at Tuileries Palace
The King makes locks
Despite being a prisoner, the King still works and makes locks for the palace
To the sound of the ticking clocks
The sound of the clocks in the palace serves as background noise to the King's daily routine
And the rain falling on his window pane
The King can hear the sound of the raindrops falling on the windowpane of his prison cell
Makes him think of his cousin Bourbon
The sound of the rain makes the King think of his cousin Bourbon, who is safe and comfortable in his castle in Spain
Safe in his castle in Spain
Bourbon is not in prison like the King and is living comfortably in his castle in Spain
Contributed by Liam R. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
@AhmadElmahdy
"Not the torturer will scare me
Nor the body's final fall
Nor the barrels of death's rifles
Nor the shadows on the wall
Nor the night when to the ground
The last dim star of pain, is held
But the blind indifference
Of a merciless unfeeling world"
---
Each Small Candle - Roger Waters
...
Love you from the bottom of my heart Mr. Waters
@bigbasil1908
@@BrandonPrive1432 What can I say?
The Dream is over
Yesterday
I was the Dreamweaver
But now I'm reborn
I was the walrus
But now I'm John
And so, dear friends
You'll just have to carry on
The dream is over.
A man tormented emotionally by his dear Yoko. Possibly the women who got John whacked? I know he went through huge emotional turmoil with Yoko, and you can hear it in his songs. He loved her dearly, but she was not good for him. But still, he lived and he loved and maybe that is all he needed. John, the real man, and not the celebrity illusion.
@MIB_63
“Whenever you find yourself on the side of the majority, it is time to pause and reflect.”
- Mark Twain
@joeanthony7759
So if the majority wants peace and an end to the madness, that may be a problem?
@mattnewhouse1781
The majority believe the world is round.
@melindaward4780
Great quote.
@ethanabramov6345
But what do you do if the majority agrees with this quote?
@ufoools
Dark Side of the Hamas. Roger is a terrorist anti Jew reptile.
@ChooseCompassion
Thank you! I’ve been banging the drum for Over 50 years and feel exactly the way you do with every word you said. I am grateful you have a platform to use your voice for me and the rest of my brothers and sisters around the world who’s birthright is freedom and compassion. What’s happening now is shredding at the very core of my being and all of your suggestions are 100% accurate and doable.
@juliap172
You touched my heart with what you said.
❤️🕊
@SteelersYall
Is your heart heavy for teenagers that were tortured at a music festival or no?
@mousiebrown1747
Same here. Beautifully put.