Roger Waters, the legendary musician and co-founder of the iconic rock band Pink Floyd, is known for his deeply introspective and often politically charged songwriting. With Pink Floyd, Waters became a voice for social commentary, philosophical musings, and psychological exploration, creating albums that have become staples of modern rock music. Among his most notable works is The Wall, a concept album that delves into themes of alienation, war, and personal trauma. However, despite his fame and legacy, Waters has often been outspoken about certain aspects of his musical career that he regrets or dislikes. One such example is his hit song “Sorrow” from the 1987 Pink Floyd album A Momentary Lapse of Reason.
On the surface, “Sorrow” might seem like just another powerful, emotionally charged track in Pink Floyd’s extensive catalog. With its rich, evocative lyrics and hauntingly atmospheric music, it resonates deeply with fans, yet it also represents a dark chapter in both Waters’ personal life and the history of Pink Floyd. This song’s backstory is filled with personal pain, creative conflict, and artistic dissatisfaction, which is why, despite its success, Waters has distanced himself from it. In this article, we will explore the emotional and creative reasons why Roger Waters dislikes “Sorrow,” shedding light on the often complicated relationship between the musician and his own work.
“Sorrow”: The Song and Its Themes
Before diving into Waters’ distaste for the song, it’s important to understand what “Sorrow” represents within the context of A Momentary Lapse of Reason. Released in 1987, A Momentary Lapse of Reason marked a significant departure from the classic Pink Floyd sound that had defined the band in the 1970s. The album was the first Pink Floyd project without founding member Roger Waters, following his departure from the band in 1985 after a bitter internal conflict. Instead, the album was largely driven by guitarist David Gilmour, who had assumed the role of the band’s creative leader.
“Sorrow” is the closing track on A Momentary Lapse of Reason and features some of the most haunting and melancholic guitar work by Gilmour. The song’s lyrics are reflective and emotionally charged, touching on themes of personal anguish, loss, and sorrow. It’s a dark, brooding track that seems to speak to the emotional turmoil of the human condition.
Lyrically, the song presents an introspective look at life’s hardships and the sense of despair that can come with it. The repeated refrain of “Sorrow” resonates with the listener, reinforcing the song’s somber tone. In many ways, it carries echoes of Pink Floyd’s earlier work, especially The Wall, which also explored themes of isolation and emotional desolation. Despite its deeply reflective nature, the song became one of the highlights of the album and remains one of the most memorable tracks in Pink Floyd’s later catalog.
The Fallout After Roger Waters’ Departure from Pink Floyd
To understand why Roger Waters has negative feelings about “Sorrow,” we need to take a step back and examine the events that led to his departure from Pink Floyd and the subsequent creation of A Momentary Lapse of Reason.
Roger Waters had been the creative driving force behind Pink Floyd for much of its most successful period. With his lyrical genius and ambitious conceptual ideas, he helped create albums like The Dark Side of the Moon, Wish You Were Here, and Animals, which became landmarks of progressive rock. However, by the early 1980s, tensions within the band had reached a breaking point. Waters became increasingly frustrated with the direction of Pink Floyd and the band’s interpersonal dynamics, particularly with Gilmour.
The tension between Waters and Gilmour reached a peak during the recording of The Wall, an album that highlighted Waters’ growing disillusionment with fame, his own psychological state, and the world at large. While The Wall remains one of Pink Floyd’s greatest achievements, it also represented the emotional and creative rift between the band members, especially Waters and Gilmour. Waters’ ego and desire for control over the band led to his eventual departure after the release of The Final Cut in 1983, a deeply personal album that dealt with themes of war, loss, and the death of Waters’ father. This album was the last Pink Floyd album to feature all four members of the band.
In the years following Waters’ departure, Gilmour took control of Pink Floyd’s direction and began working on A Momentary Lapse of Reason. It was clear from the outset that this album would be a new era for Pink Floyd, one that would be marked by Gilmour’s distinct musical vision. While Gilmour and the other members of Pink Floyd continued to use the Pink Floyd name, the absence of Waters was palpable. This dynamic created a sense of disconnection, and much of A Momentary Lapse of Reason felt like an attempt to carry on the Pink Floyd legacy without its most defining creative force.
Roger Waters’ Dislike for “Sorrow”: The Creative Disappointment
The reason Roger Waters dislikes “Sorrow” is rooted in his perception that it was a product of a Pink Floyd without his artistic contributions. For Waters, the song is emblematic of what he views as the band’s decline after his departure. Although “Sorrow” was commercially successful and widely praised by fans, Waters has often referred to it as a representation of Pink Floyd without its heart and soul — namely, him.
One of the key reasons Waters disapproves of the song is that it was written and recorded without his involvement. The emotional weight that “Sorrow” carries is undeniably striking, but Waters did not feel it reflected the true essence of Pink Floyd. To him, the band’s identity had been shaped by his vision, and without him at the helm, the music felt somewhat hollow.
Furthermore, Waters has expressed dissatisfaction with the way the album was made. He has gone on record saying that A Momentary Lapse of Reason was more of a product of Gilmour’s direction and less of a collaborative effort. This disconnection from the songwriting process contributed to Waters’ negative view of the album as a whole, and by extension, “Sorrow.”
For Waters, Pink Floyd was always a vehicle for personal expression and exploration of deep philosophical themes. He felt that without his presence, the band lost its deeper, more conceptual qualities, opting for a more commercially oriented sound. In his view, the band had become something that was less about musical innovation and more about maintaining the brand name and making money. “Sorrow” symbolized, for him, a Pink Floyd that had become more of a legacy act rather than a groundbreaking force in music.
The Emotional Toll of “Sorrow”
There’s also an emotional aspect to why Waters dislikes “Sorrow.” The song, while somber and introspective, represents a period in his life when he was in the midst of his own personal struggles and facing a profound sense of loss. The disintegration of his relationship with Gilmour, the breakdown of Pink Floyd as a cohesive band, and his growing sense of alienation were emotionally taxing experiences for Waters.
“Sorrow,” with its melancholy atmosphere, serves as a reminder of this difficult period. It encapsulates a sense of betrayal and emotional pain that Waters endured during the fallout with his former bandmates. Every time he hears the song, it brings him back to a time when the music that had once defined his life was being reinterpreted by others, without his input or consent.
Conclusion: A Complex Legacy
Roger Waters’ dislike for “Sorrow” can be understood as a reflection of his broader frustration with Pink Floyd’s post-Waters period. Although the song was a hit and has been well-received by fans, Waters views it as a symbol of the band’s transformation into something that no longer represented his artistic vision. For him, the song serves as a reminder of a difficult and painful chapter in both his personal life and the history of Pink Floyd.
While “Sorrow” remains a powerful piece of music in its own right, it stands as a testament to the complex and sometimes troubled relationships between band members, creative control, and the emotional toll that comes with the creation of iconic music. For Waters, it’s a song that he would rather forget, despite its popularity and significance in the Pink Floyd legacy. The sad reason why Roger Waters dislikes “Sorrow” is not just because of its separation from his creative input, but because it marks the end of an era — an era that, in his mind, was never truly the same after his departure from Pink Floyd.
Leave a Reply