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 Most Beautiful Girl
Roger Waters Lyrics
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The most beautiful girl in the world
Her life snuffed out
Like a bulldozer crushing a pearl
The secret committee
Deep in its lair
Conveniently far
Puts a tick in a box
Turns the key in a lock
To loosen the bonds in her hair
Sleep if you can
Wrapped safe in your cloak
The tumbledown twilight
Havana smoke
Caught in your throat
Mistress Liberty's dance
Held you in its trance
Her bosoms were loaded with nectar and lances
"Well, boys," she said
"You have broken the trust
Hold on to that stick if you must"
Take a fresh grip
On the crucible rune
The patchwork of ashes
Sweeps away love like a broom
Madness comes down
Like the crackpot of ages
The raging of angels
Cathedral of stars
Christopher Robin says
"Alice, go home now
They're no longer changing the guard"
"Hold on," she said
"You're breaking my heart"
It's weird how the steel rails
Disappear into the dark
They clung to the ivory tower on her braids
They were never afraid of falling
But the bomb hit the spot where the numbers all stop
And the last thing they heard was her calling...
Home
I'm coming home
I'm the life that you gave
I'm the children you saved
I'm the promise you made
I'm the woman you crave
So hold on
I'm coming home (hold on, I'm coming home)
The song "The Most Beautiful Girl" by Roger Waters speaks of a beautiful girl whose life was cut short, crushed like a pearl under a bulldozer. The lyrics seem to be inspired by the feeling of helplessness in the face of power and control, particularly the power that a few people hold that can bring about destruction in the lives of many.
The song opens with a line that says the girl was possibly the most beautiful girl in the world, but her life was snuffed out in an instant. The image of a bulldozer crushing a pearl is a powerful metaphor for the beauty and fragility of life being ruined by destructive forces. The lyrics then go on to describe a secret committee that is far away from the desert air and has the power to loosen the bonds in her hair, an image of someone being stripped of their dignity and freedom.
The second verse speaks of the dangers of being complacent and simply trying to sleep through the night, as madness can come down like the crackpot of ages. The chorus speaks of the girl coming home, being the life that was given, the children saved, and the promise made. The song seems to be a tribute to a life cut short and a call to action to not be complacent in the face of power and control.
Line by Line Meaning
She may well have been
The most beautiful girl in the world
Her life snuffed out
Like a bulldozer crushing a pearl
The song starts by reflecting on a girl who was possibly the most beautiful girl in the world. Unfortunately, her life was taken from her abruptly, like a bulldozer destroying a pearl.
The secret committee
Deep in its lair
Conveniently far
From the cold desert air
Puts a tick in a box
Turns the key in a lock
To loosen the bonds in her hair
The secret committee, hidden away in a remote location, decides the fate of innocent people, without considering the consequences of their actions. They tick a box, turn a key to loosen the bonds of the girl's hair.
Sleep if you can
Wrapped safe in your cloak
The tumbledown twilight
Havana smoke
Caught in your throat
Mistress Liberty's dance
Held you in its trance
Her bosoms were loaded with nectar and lances
This section feels dream-like as it speaks of sleep, twilight, and smoke. It almost seems to be describing an American Dream-like image of liberty, but behind it lies a sinister reality. The 'nectar and lances' metaphor indicates that there was danger lurking behind the façade of Mistress Liberty's dance.
"Well, boys," she said
"You have broken the trust
Hold on to that stick if you must"
In this stanza, the artist quotes a woman saying that the boys have broken the trust. It seems like the artist is holding onto something, but it's unclear what they're referring to.
Take a fresh grip
On the crucible rune
The patchwork of ashes
Sweeps away love like a broom
Madness comes down
Like the crackpot of ages
The raging of angels
Cathedral of stars
Taking a fresh grip on the crucible rune could mean taking hold of an uncertain future. The patchwork of ashes is a metaphor for things falling apart, and the sweeping away of love. Madness takes over, like the crazy people of the past, and the raging of angels, a divine image, adds to this chaotic situation.
Christopher Robin says
"Alice, go home now
They're no longer changing the guard"
This line seems to reference children's stories, but it could be interpreted to be about escaping reality. Christopher Robin urges Alice to go home, suggesting that the singer or character should leave this chaotic and dangerous world before it's too late.
"Hold on," she said
"You're breaking my heart"
It's weird how the steel rails
Disappear into the dark
They clung to the ivory tower on her braids
They were never afraid of falling
But the bomb hit the spot where the numbers all stop
And the last thing they heard was her calling...
Someone says, 'Hold on,' because they're breaking her heart. The steel rails disappearing into the dark could represent disappearing into an abyss. The ivory tower, possibly a metaphor for the girl's inner self, couldn't save her from the bomb, leaving only her final call echoing in the dark.
Home
I'm coming home
I'm the life that you gave
I'm the children you saved
I'm the promise you made
I'm the woman you crave
So hold on
I'm coming home (hold on, I'm coming home)
The artist is coming home and describes themselves as 'the life that you gave,' 'the children you saved,' 'the promise you made,' and 'the woman you crave.' It's unclear who they are speaking to, but it seems like they are coming back to the people that matter most in their life.
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management
Written by: GEORGE ROGER WATERS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind