Signs Of Life

Album: A Momentary Lapse Of Reason (1987)
Play Video

Songfacts®:

  • This song opens with what sounds like oars creaking and a paddle splashing, as in rowing a boat on a river.
  • This is an instrumental with only one line by drummer Nick Mason: "When the childlike view of the world went, nothing replaced it." This is a reference to the bands first guitar player/vocalist Syd Barrett, he had a childlike view of the world as was expressed in his lyrics of songs such as "See Emily Play." Syd Barrett is addressed in other Pink Floyd songs, such as "Shine On You Crazy Diamond."
  • The rhythm guitar chords in the background were taken from a demo recorded by Pink Floyd in 1978.

Comments: 2

  • Madalyn from Greensburg, Palistening to this song right now for the first time and i lik eit very really realxing...i like how it follows dramiclly in learning to fly
  • Ryan from Plano, TxAround many key points in the Floyd's history, they tend to mention Syd quite a bit. It's done in '73, '75, '79, '87, and '94. For a bit of trivia, see if you can guess which songs did it in those years. For some of those years, it was more than one song.
see more comments

Editor's Picks

Corey Hart

Corey HartSongwriter Interviews

The Canadian superstar talks about his sudden rise to fame, and tells the stories behind his hits "Sunglasses At Night," "Boy In The Box" and "Never Surrender."

In The Cards

In The CardsSong Writing

Songwriters have used cards and card games to make sense of heartache, togetherness, and even Gonorrhea.

Grunge Bands Quiz

Grunge Bands QuizMusic Quiz

If the name Citizen Dick means anything to you, there's a chance you'll get some of these right.

Greg Lake of Emerson, Lake & Palmer

Greg Lake of Emerson, Lake & PalmerSongwriter Interviews

Greg talks about writing songs of "universal truth" for King Crimson and ELP, and tells us about his most memorable stage moment (it involves fireworks).

Mike Rutherford (Genesis, Mike + The Mechanics)

Mike Rutherford (Genesis, Mike + The Mechanics)Songwriter Interviews

Mike Rutherford talks about the "Silent Running" storyline and "Land Of Confusion" in the age of Trump.

Rock Revenge Songs

Rock Revenge SongsMusic Quiz

John Lennon, Paul Simon and Lynyrd Skynyrd are some of the artists who have written revenge songs. Do you know who they wrote them about?