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Comfortably Numb Lyrics – The Wall – Pink Floyd

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Comfortably Numb Lyrics (Gilmour, Waters) 6:49

Hello?
Is there anybody in there?
Just nod if you can hear me.
Is there anyone at 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 aaaaaaaaah!
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.

The epic rock opera The Wall is one of Pink Floyd’s most popular albums and had great commercial success. View all Pink Floyd Lyrics.

  1. In the Flesh?
  2. The Thin Ice
  3. Another Brick in the Wall Part 1
  4. The Happiest Days of our Lives
  5. Another Brick in the Wall Part 2
  6. Mother
  7. Goodbye Blue Sky
  8. Empty Spaces
  9. Young Lust
  10. One of My Turns
  11. Don’t Leave Me Now
  12. Another Brick in the Wall Part 3
  13. Goodbye Cruel World
  14. Hey You
  15. Is There Anybody Out There?
  16. Nobody Home
  17. Vera
  18. Bring the Boys Back Home
  19. Comfortably Numb
  20. The Show Must Go On
  21. In The Flesh
  22. Run Like Hell
  23. Waiting for the Worms
  24. Stop
  25. The Trial
  26. Outside the Wall

Comfortably Numb Lyrics Meaning

Lot 317 Gerald Scarfe Pink Floyd – The Wall Album Sleeve Design, oil on canvas
Pink Floyd The Wall Album Sleeve Design, oil on canvas

“Comfortably Numb” is one of Pink Floyd’s most famous songs and appears on their 1979 album “The Wall.” The song is known for its haunting lyrics and two iconic guitar solos. It is integral to the narrative of “The Wall,” which is a concept album that tells the story of a rock star named Pink and his descent into isolation and madness.

Narrative Context in “The Wall”: Within the story of “The Wall,” “Comfortably Numb” occurs when Pink is in a drugged stupor, being prepped by a doctor to perform despite his deteriorating mental state. The song serves as an internal dialogue between Pink’s drugged state (the verses) and his memories of a more innocent time (the choruses).

Lyrical Interpretation:

Verses: The verses (sung by Roger Waters) are dark and represent the present time. They describe Pink’s feeling of detachment and numbness: “There is no pain, you are receding. A distant ship’s smoke on the horizon. You are only coming through in waves.” This encapsulates the feeling of disconnection from reality and perhaps the result of drug use or mental breakdown.

Choruses: The choruses (sung by David Gilmour) are more melodic and nostalgic, recounting a childhood memory of being sick: “When I was a child, I had a fever. My hands felt just like two balloons.” This shift to a memory serves to contrast Pink’s current state with a time when he felt sensations more acutely, even if it was the discomfort of illness.

Dual Songwriting Effort: The song is a collaboration between Roger Waters and David Gilmour. Waters wrote the lyrics, while Gilmour contributed the music. This duality in songwriting mirrors the contrasting sentiments of the song.

Metaphorical Interpretation

Outside of the album’s narrative, “Comfortably Numb” can be interpreted more broadly about the struggle between feeling pain and seeking numbness. It can relate to anyone’s experience of trying to disconnect from pain, whether emotional, physical, or psychological. The song captures the duality of human experience: the longing for relief from suffering but also the bittersweet recognition of the cost of that relief.

Cultural Impact: Beyond its storyline implications, “Comfortably Numb” has been interpreted by many to address issues of drug use, mental health, and the broader theme of disconnection in modern society.

Comfortably Numb Lyrics
Comfortably Numb Lyrics

The song remains a classic rock staple and is celebrated not only for its deep and resonant lyrics but also for the musical mastery, particularly David Gilmour’s iconic guitar solos. Whether enjoyed as a piece of the story of “The Wall” or as a standalone exploration of human emotion and experience, “Comfortably Numb” continues to resonate with listeners worldwide.

More information from The Wall Analysis