From the pale and downtrodden
And the words they say which we won't understand
''"Don't accept that what's happening
Is just a case of others' suffering
Or you'll find that you're joining in
The turning away"''
It's a sin that somehow
Light is changing to shadow
And casting its shroud over all we have known
Unaware how the ranks have grown
Driven on by a heart of stone
We could find that we're all alone
In the dream of the proud
On the wings of the night
As the daytime is stirring
Where the speechless unite in a silent accord
Using words you will find are strange
Mesmerised as they light the flame
Feel the new wind of change
On the wings of the night
No more turning away
From the weak and the weary
No more turning away from the coldness inside
Just a world that we all must share
It's not enough just to stand and stare
Is it only a dream that there'll be
No more turning away?
Pink Floyd are an English rock band formed in London in 1965. Gaining an early following as one of the first British psychedelic groups, they were distinguished by their extended compositions, sonic experiments, philosophical lyrics and elaborate live shows. They became a leading band of the progressive rock genre, cited by some as the greatest progressive rock band of all time.
Pink Floyd were founded in 1965 by Syd Barrett (guitar, lead vocals), Nick Mason (drums), Roger Waters (bass guitar, vocals) and Richard Wright (keyboards, vocals). Under Barrett's leadership, they released two hit singles, "Arnold Layne" and "See Emily Play", and the successful debut album The Piper at the Gates of Dawn (1967). David Gilmour (guitar, vocals) joined in December 1967, while Barrett left in April 1968 due to deteriorating mental health. Waters became the primary lyricist and thematic leader, devising the concepts behind Pink Floyd's most successful albums, The Dark Side of the Moon (1973), Wish You Were Here (1975), Animals (1977) and The Wall (1979). The musical film based on The Wall, Pink Floyd – The Wall (1982), won two BAFTA Awards. Pink Floyd also composed several film scores.
Following personal tensions, Wright left Pink Floyd in 1981, followed by Waters in 1985. Gilmour and Mason continued as Pink Floyd, rejoined later by Wright. They produced the albums A Momentary Lapse of Reason (1987) and The Division Bell (1994), backed by major tours, before entering a long hiatus. In 2005, all but Barrett reunited for a performance at the global awareness event Live 8. Barrett died in 2006, and Wright in 2008. The last Pink Floyd studio album, The Endless River (2014), was based on unreleased material from the Division Bell recording sessions. In 2022, Gilmour and Mason reformed Pink Floyd to release the song "Hey, Hey, Rise Up!" in protest at the Russian invasion of Ukraine.
By 2013, Pink Floyd had sold more than 250 million records worldwide, making them one of the best-selling music artists of all time. The Dark Side of the Moon and The Wall were inducted into the Grammy Hall of Fame, and these albums and Wish You Were Here are among the best-selling albums of all time. Four Pink Floyd albums topped the US Billboard 200, and five topped the UK Albums Chart. Pink Floyd's hit singles include "Arnold Layne" (1967), "See Emily Play" (1967), "Money" (1973), "Another Brick in the Wall, Part 2" (1979), "Not Now John" (1983), "On the Turning Away" (1987) and "High Hopes" (1994). They were inducted into the US Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1996 and the UK Music Hall of Fame in 2005. In 2008, Pink Floyd were awarded the Polar Music Prize in Sweden for their contribution to modern music.
Many of us have very strong associations and memories with specific songs that get played on RP.
On The Turning Away.
It's January of 1988 and my father passes away. I fly down to the Florida Panhandle from UMass. In the days preceding and post his funeral, I spend a lot of time in cars, driving from place to place. Everywhere I go, I hear this song. Even at two separate taverns, this song finds me. Must have heard it 8 times in 5 days.
My father was a very flawed man with a huge heart and a wonderful sense of humor. I admittingly don't think that much about him any more, 22 years after his passing. When this song plays however, it feels like I lost him yesterday.
Could not live without music.....
I know many enjoy solo Waters, sadly I am not one of them.
Gilmour is a genius in my book. He doesn't play especially fast or flashy, he is not a shredder, but his ability to communicate emotion through the guitar is unsurpassed, for me only equaled by Knopfler at his best.
Gilmour led a post Waters PF and produced some very decent work, of which this is an example.
I was fortunate enough to see them at Earls Court London on the Division Bell Tour.
Given that won't ever happen again, check out these guys who do a very fine job: https://youtu.be/c3rZbsLIfSQ
This has happened to me with many artists since I've been listening to RP!!!
Many of us have very strong associations and memories with specific songs that get played on RP.
On The Turning Away.
It's January of 1988 and my father passes away. I fly down to the Florida Panhandle from UMass. In the days preceding and post his funeral, I spend a lot of time in cars, driving from place to place. Everywhere I go, I hear this song. Even at two separate taverns, this song finds me. Must have heard it 8 times in 5 days.
My father was a very flawed man with a huge heart and a wonderful sense of humor. I admittingly don't think that much about him any more, 22 years after his passing. When this song plays however, it feels like I lost him yesterday.
Could not live without music.....
This is beautiful, eloquent stuff. You have captured the essence of what music means, and reading this with "On the Turning Away" as its soundtrack makes it that much more meaningful. Thanks for writing this - your father would be proud.
Not really Pink Floyd without Waters or Wright.
Wright returned to the band during the making of this album.
Yes , this happens because the American spirit that is invading Europe right now. Muslims = Terrorists (I don't think that barbarity). So the 99% of refugees are muslims, for Europe is a dangerous invasion. For people with a brain inside the head this is a fucking barbarity, a crime, an uncompassion method. The history is full of refugees with protection. When we are more advanced than never, right now, the behaviour of the goverments are the opposite of the people opinion. Go out, Europe gobernators! Go to hell fucking idiots!
Unfortunately, this sentiment is not unique to America, nor was it the only place that was happening before the Syrian refugee crisis. I agree that it is a horrible trend, but don't blame America alone on this one.
Agreed. Showcases among other things the full glory of that guitar tone.
Yes, "Comfortably Numb" has legs, this one doesn't. MTV trash at its worst.
Oh GOD... the guitar solo... kill me now.
I hope you go to a heaven without Gilmour guitar solo's, and I hope when I do, I will not go there too.
PF lost me after Animals. Saw them live twice. Milwaukee County stadium in 1976 and Soldier Field in 1977. After that, Roger lost interest in songwriting for PF, which was their strong point. Nothing else ever came close to that. The Wall was a total disappointment. 4 sides of vinyl with the same song played over and over. I adore David Gilmour, the ultimate rock god, but without Roger, they became a shell of their former selves.
Roger Waters was an idiot for how he tried to betray his former band mates. I think its great how their music got better without him.
Without doubt PF with Waters was the best combination, except IMHO the Last Cut, which may as well have been called a Waters solo album.
I know many enjoy solo Waters, sadly I am not one of them.
Gilmour is a genius in my book. He doesn't play especially fast or flashy, he is not a shredder, but his ability to communicate emotion through the guitar is unsurpassed, for me only equaled by Knopfler at his best.
Gilmour led a post Waters PF and produced some very decent work, of which this is an example.
I was fortunate enough to see them at Earls Court London on the Division Bell Tour.
Given that won't ever happen again, check out these guys who do a very fine job: https://youtu.be/c3rZbsLIfSQ
The statement about Gilmour and Knopfer: I couldn't agree more. They are by far my two favorite lead gutarists. Followed closely by Mick Taylor's contributions to the Stones between '69 and '74.
My wife just asked if this was Cliff Richard. I think that says a lot about this Pink Floyd era...
It says more about your wife's taste in music (or otherwise :-D )