The Dark Side of the Moon by Pink Floyd

The Dark Side of the Moon was Pink Floyd's 8^th album but for me it was the first one I listened to.  I was in High School and my mother had a class party for her form – and they were a sophisticated lot – they brought over this album.

There were many great (and daring) tracks on it – I thought Comfortably Numb was one of them – but on checking find it comes from The Wall.  So much for my memory.

The cover was truly iconic.

The album was recorded between 1972 and 1973. It was a concept album exploring the themes of conflict, greed, time and mental illness.  But it was thrilling rather than grim.

A great album by a great band.

Comfortably Numb by Pink Floyd

 

There is no pain you are receding
A distant ship smoke on the horizon
You are only coming through in waves
Your lips move but I can't hear what you're saying
When I was a child
I caught a fleeting glimpse
Out of the corner of my eye
I turned to look but it was gone
I cannot put my finger on it now
The child is grown
The dream is gone
I have become comfortably numb.

I came to Pink Floyd rather later than most.  But eventually I caught up with the world and used to play The Dark Side of the Moon – an LP, of course – over and over.

Comfortably Numb was from the bands The Wall album.  The words were by the incomparable Roger Waters and the music by Dave Glimore.  The two were on the verge of an irreparable breach at the time and so the birth of the song was fraught.

The song captures the sadness of the times and the fleeting nature of memory.  If you wan't to remind yourself of the song, head on over to this YouTube clip. Warning – if you are feeling melancholy this probably won't improve your mood.

Comfortably Numb – Pink Floyd

Off the album, the Wall.  The group was facing bankruptcy and desperately needed a hit. 

Roger Waters who was going through an unstable time said that there was something macabre about the relationship between the band and its audience.  The band plays so loud it is damaging and the audience fights it out to sit so close so they can be damaged. 

C'mon it's time to go

There is no pain you are receding,

A distant ships smoke on the horizon,

You are only coming through in waves,

Your lips move, but I can't hear what your saying,

When I was a child, I caught a fleeting glimpse,

Out of the corner of my eye,

I turned to look, but it was gone,

I can not put my finger on it now,

The child is grown, the dream is gone,

and I have become comfortably numb.