Comfortably Numb
I
Green over the wall,
an egret white on the green,
blue in the milieu.
What was it I was saying?
II
Nevermind wears
a teal jacket,
matching top hat,
carrot for nose.
Robert holds
a magnifier
near its snowy skin.
Rob! Don't do it, Rob!
And uncle leanness
appears over
the horizon's bend.
Pink Floyd bassist Roger Waters wrote the words and music, and sang the verses, for “Comfortably Numb,” and guitarist David Gilmour wrote and sang the chorus melody; it was only one of three Waters/Gilmour compositions on the 1979 album “The Wall.” (Most of the material was written by Waters alone.) Gilmour had recorded an instrumental demo for his first solo, self-named, album the year before but didn’t develop it further. Waters changed the chord on the verses from E minor to B minor and made other changes. Guitarist Lee Ritenour backed Gilmour’s guitar work. Gilmour performed the song during all of his solo tours. In 2004, it was the last song ever performed by the original band members, Waters, Gilmour, keyboardist Richard Wright, and drummer Nick Mason.
ReplyDeleteHello?
Is there anybody in there?
Just nod if you can hear me.
Is there anyone home?
Come on now
I hear you're feeling down.
Well I can ease your pain
Get you on your feet again.
Relax.
I'll need some information first.
Just the basic facts.
Can you show me where it hurts?
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 had a fever
My hands felt just like two balloons.
Now I've got that feeling once again
I can't explain you would not understand
This is not how I am.
I have become comfortably numb.
O.K.
Just a little pinprick.
There'll be no more, ah!
But you may feel a little sick.
Can you stand up?
I do believe it's working, good.
That'll keep you going through the show
Come on it's time to go.
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.
Nice poem. The first three stanzas particularly delight me. I recognize that conversation loop from other lives.
ReplyDeleteps Thank you, Duane, for the lyrics. Stich a vivid, real depiction of a version of despair. I also appreciate the bit of history. I'm no expert on Pink Floyd, but I do love what I do know of their work, love with a plangent passion.
ReplyDeleteThanks, again. Reading Kushal is a gift.