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

Billy Gould of Faith No More

Billy Gould of Faith No MoreSongwriter Interviews

Faith No More's bassist, Billy Gould, chats to us about his two new experimental projects, The Talking Book and House of Hayduk, and also shares some stories from the FNM days.

Narada Michael Walden - "Freeway of Love"

Narada Michael Walden - "Freeway of Love"They're Playing My Song

As a songwriter and producer, Narada had hits with Aretha Franklin, Whitney Houston, Mariah Carey and Starship. But what song does he feel had the greatest impact on his career?

Pete Anderson

Pete AndersonSongwriter Interviews

Pete produced Dwight Yoakam, Michelle Shocked, Meat Puppets, and a very memorable track for Roy Orbison.

The Police

The PoliceFact or Fiction

Do their first three albums have French titles? Is "De Do Do Do, De Da Da Da" really meaningless? See if you can tell in this Fact or Fiction.

When Rock Belonged To Michelob

When Rock Belonged To MichelobSong Writing

Michelob commercials generated hits for Eric Clapton, Genesis and Steve Winwood in the '80s, even as some of these rockers were fighting alcoholism.

Edie Brickell

Edie BrickellSongwriter Interviews

Edie Brickell on her collaborations with Paul Simon, Steve Martin and Willie Nelson, and her 2021 album with the New Bohemians.