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)
Three Wishes
Roger Waters Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
And rubbed against the lamp
Genie came out smiling
Like some Eastern tramp
He said hey boy what's happening
What is going on
You can have three wishes
I said well
I wish they were all happy in the Lebanon
Wish somebody'd help me write this song
I wish when I was young
My old man had not been gone
Genie said consider it done
There's something in the air
And you don't know what it is
You see someone through the window
Who you've just learned to miss
And the road leads on to glory but
You've used up your last wish
Your last wish
And you want her to come home
Genie said I'm sorry
But that's the way it goes
Where the hell's the lamp sucker
It's time for me to go
Bye
There's something in the air
And you don't know what it is
You see someone through the window
Who you've just learned to miss
And the road leads on to glory but
You've used up your last wish
Your last wish
And you want her to come home
In Roger Waters's song Three Wishes, the singer finds a genie in a bottle and is granted three wishes. The song seems to be an exploration of the human condition and the frustrations of life, as the lyrics touch on topics like love, war, and creativity. The first wish expresses a desire for happiness to return to Lebanon, a country that had been ravaged by civil war during the 1980s. This reflects a desire for peace in the world and for the end of senseless violence.
The second wish is for inspiration to write a song. This speaks to the creative struggle that all artists face when trying to produce meaningful work. Even though the genie grants this wish, the lyrics suggest that writing the song still won't be easy. The third wish is the most personal, as the singer wishes that his father had not left when he was young. This speaks to the pain of abandonment and the longing for a connection with a parent. The genie grants this wish as well, but there is a sense of resignation in the final lines of the song that suggests that even when our wishes are granted, life may not turn out as we hoped.
Overall, Three Wishes is a poignant reflection on the human desire for happiness, creativity, and connection. The genie's granting of wishes is not a magic fix, but rather a reminder that we must all find our own path through the world.
Line by Line Meaning
Reached back for the bottle
The singer refers to a bottle, indicating that he may be trying to find comfort in drinking.
And rubbed against the lamp
The singer clumsily rubs against the lamp, and rubs it hard enough for the genie to come out.
Genie came out smiling
The genie appears in a cordial manner with a playful expression on his face.
Like some Eastern tramp
There is an allusion to the stereotypes surrounding Easterners and their nomadic lifestyle.
He said hey boy what's happening
The genie greets the artist in a casual manner while calling him 'boy'.
What is going on
The genie asks the singer what he wants, and what he needs assistance with.
You can have three wishes
The genie tells the singer that he has the power to grant him three wishes, but he must not take too long to decide.
If you don't take too long
The genie implores the artist to make his wishes quick and concise.
I said well
The artist begins to recite his first wish.
I wish they were all happy in the Lebanon
The artist wishes that everyone in Lebanon would be happy and content, with no fear or violence.
Wish somebody'd help me write this song
The singer expresses his desire for help in writing the song he is working on.
I wish when I was young
The artist begins his second wish by wishing for something in the past.
My old man had not been gone
The singer wishes that his father was still alive, and had not passed away.
Genie said consider it done
The genie agrees to grant the singer's second wish.
There's something in the air
The singer feels a sense of foreboding or unease in the atmosphere.
And you don't know what it is
The artist is uncertain of what is causing the feeling of uneasiness.
You see someone through the window
The artist observes someone through a window.
Who you've just learned to miss
The person in the window is someone who the singer has only recently become aware of missing.
And the road leads on to glory but
The path ahead holds promise and potential for the singer.
You've used up your last wish
The genie informs the artist that he has now used up all of his three wishes.
Your last wish
The genie reminds the artist that he has no final wish left.
And you want her to come home
The artist is missing someone he loves and wants them to come back.
Genie said I'm sorry
The genie expresses his condolences to the singer, but cannot help him further.
But that's the way it goes
The genie states that this is the way of the world and there is nothing more to be done.
Where the hell's the lamp sucker
The singer is frustrated and wonders where the genie has gone.
It's time for me to go
The genie indicates that his time is up and he must leave.
Bye
The genie says goodbye to the singer before leaving.
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, BMG RIGHTS MANAGEMENT US, LLC, Warner/Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: ROGER WATERS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Martin 97
Reached back for the bottle
And rubbed against the lamp
Genie came out smiling
Like some Eastern tramp
He said hey boy what's happening
What is going on
You can have three wishes
If you don't take too long
I said well
I wish they were all happy in the Lebanon
Wish somebody'd help me write this song
I wish when I was young
My old man had not been gone
Genie said consider it done
There's something in the air
And you don't know what it is
You see someone through the window
Who you've just learned to miss
And the road leads on to glory but
You've used up your last wish
Your last wish
And you want her to come home
Genie said I'm sorry
But that's the way it goes
Where the hell's the lamp sucker
It's time for me to go
Bye
There's something in the air
And you don't know what it is
You see someone through the window
Who you've just learned to miss
And the road leads on to glory but
You've used up your last wish
Your last wish
And you want her to come home
Tosza Tesze
Tracks:
00:00:00 1. The Ballad of Bill Hubbard
00:04:32 2. What God Wants, Pt. 1
00:10:19 3. Perfect Sense, Pt. 1
00:14:34 4. Perfect Sense, Pt. 2
00:17:25 5. The Bravery of Being Out of Range
00:22:06 6. Late Home Tonight, Pt. 1
00:25:24 7. Late Home Tonight, Pt. 2
00:28:29 8. Too Much Rope
00:34:00 9. What God Wants, Pt. 2
00:37:25 10. What God Wants, Pt. 3
00:41:58 11. Watching TV
00:48:10 12. Three Wishes
00:54:58 13. It's a miracle
01:03:31 14. Amused to Death
Esteban Loayza
Lyrics
Reached back for the bottle
And rubbed against the lamp
Genie came out smiling
Like some Eastern tramp
He said hey boy what's happening
What is going on
You can have three wishes
If you don't take too long
I said well
I wish they were all happy in the Lebanon
Wish somebody'd help me write this song
I wish when I was young
My old man had not been gone
Genie said consider it done
There's something in the air
And you don't know what it is
You see someone through the window
Who you've just learned to miss
And the road leads on to glory but
You've used up your last wish
Your last wish
And you want her to come home
Genie said I'm sorry
But that's the way it goes
Where…
Haroupi
LYRICS:
Reached back for the bottle
And rubbed against the lamp
Genie came out smiling
Like some Eastern tramp
He said hey boy what's happening
What is going on
You can have three wishes
If you don't take too long
I said well
I wish they were all happy in the Lebanon
Wish somebody'd help me write this song
I wish when I was young
My old man had not been gone
Genie said consider it done
There's something in the air
And you don't know what it is
You see someone through the window
Who you've just learned to miss
And the road leads on to glory but
You've used up your last wish
Your last wish
And you want her to come home
Genie said I'm sorry
But that's the way it goes
Where the hell's the lamp sucker
It's time for me to go
Bye
There's something in the air
And you don't know what it is
You see someone through the window
Who you've just learned to miss
And the road leads on to glory but
You've used up your last wish
Your last wish
And you want her to come home
The Supernatural Anaesthetist
Jeff Beck was a godsend. He helped made this album the masterpiece it is.
A perfect collaboration.
Rest In Peace.
Human Video Sponge
It's basically impossible to choose between Roger's work with Pink Floyd and his solo work. They're very different but yet equal in every way. Amused To Death is a masterpiece with many more layers.
BIG AL HOLTY
A.t.d.best by far
Hannah Slee
This album is shit hot .. I love you roger you make my days and my life and your lyrics just open my mind and give me meaning I truly feel you, and have adored your work for years I absolutely loved the final cut in my opinion best work you have done and although i am no expert what I can say is that I really wish I had come across u well b4 I did I understand you
lui bola
i see what you are trying to say, but mostly you dont choose, you enjoy, or reject. i dont like pfloyd without waters and i superlove barret`s floyd, Beck vs Gillmour, thats a hard one. Floyd post waters doesnt moves me at all but ATD fills the void.
Shelly Ahmed
Waters is the finest Rock & Roll star in the world. A true genius, unparalleled in history. We're lucky to witness his musical feat!!!
Stanley Smith
God bless you Shelly, you’ve made my day with your comment.
Shelly Ahmed
@Stanley Smith
Really appreciate your comment. I think Water's words are prophetic. So, let us support him in his efforts to free Juliun Assange!! God bless you too.
Shspurs1
Roger is my favourite personal in the Music industry. He is still never changed. Standing up for our freedoms. He is railing against people that most of the music industry are working for.
Google Fucking Sucks!
💯% accurate!
I Scream at the to of my lungs, "Thank You Roger" after ever single show that I've been lucky enough to have witnessed...