The Tide Is Turning

Album: Radio KAOS (1987)
Charted: 54
Play Video
  • I used to think the world was flat
    Rarely threw my hat into the crowd
    I felt I had used up my quota of yearning
    Used to look in on the children at night

    In the glow of their Donald Duck light
    And frighten myself with the thought of my little ones burning
    But, oh, oh, oh, the tide is turning
    The tide is turning

    Satellite buzzing through the endless night
    Exclusive to moonshots and world title fights
    Jesus Christ imagine what it must be earning
    Who is the strongest

    Who is the best
    Who holds the aces
    The East
    Or the West

    This is the crap our children are learning
    But oh, oh, oh, the tide is turning
    The tide is turning
    Oh, oh, oh, the tide is turning

    Now the satellite's confused
    'Cause on Saturday night
    The airwaves were full of compassion and light
    And his silicon heart warmed

    To the sight of a billion candles burning
    Oo, oo, oo, the tide is turning
    Oo, oo, oo, the tide is turning
    The tide is turning Billy

    I'm not saying that the battle is won
    But on Saturday night all those kids in the sun
    Wrested technology's sword from the hand of the war lords
    Oh, oh, oh, the tide is turning

    The tide is turning Sylvester
    The tide is turning
    "That's it!
    Now the past is over but you are not alone

    Together we'll fight Sylvester Stallone
    We will not be dragged down in his South China Sea
    Of macho bullshit and mediocrity" Writer/s: Roger Waters
    Publisher: Sentric Music
    Lyrics licensed and provided by LyricFind

Comments: 2

  • Paul from TexasThe missing verse quoted in the second paragraph above is actually there on the album... and it's actually there throughout. You just need to know how to find it! That verse is actually what is being said throughout the album in Morse Code! Fun Fact!
  • Phil from Winnipeg, United StatesThis song was written after Live Aid in 1985. He refers to the event in the song:
    'Satellite buzzing through the endless night
    Exclusive to moonshots and world title fights' (referring to communication satellites normally used to generate revenue)
    'Jesus Christ imagine what it must be earning...Now the satellite's confused
    'Cos on Saturday night
    The airwaves were full of compassion and light
    And his silicon heart warmed
    To the sight of a billion candles burning' (this is the Live Aid reference)
    'I'm not saying that the battle is won
    But on Saturday night all those kids in the sun
    Wrested technology's sword from the hand of the war lords' ('Kids in the sun'-people at Live Aid;'Wrested technology's sword from the hand of the war lords'-for one day, the satellites were used for constructive purposes.)
    A great lyric from a master craftsman.


see more comments

Editor's Picks

Music Video Director David Hogan

Music Video Director David HoganSong Writing

David talks about videos he made for Prince, Alabama, Big & Rich, Sheryl Crow, DMB, Melissa Etheridge and Sisters of Mercy.

Graham Parker

Graham ParkerSongwriter Interviews

When Judd Apatow needed under-appreciated rockers for his Knocked Up sequel, he immediately thought of Parker, who just happened to be getting his band The Rumour back together.

George Harrison

George HarrisonFact or Fiction

Did Eric Clapton really steal George's wife? What's the George Harrison-Monty Python connection? Set the record straight with our Fact or Fiction quiz.

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.

Jack Blades of Night Ranger and Damn Yankees

Jack Blades of Night Ranger and Damn YankeesSongwriter Interviews

Revisit the awesome glory of Night Ranger and Damn Yankees: cheesily-acted videos, catchy guitar licks, long hair, and lyrics that are just plain relatable.

Steve Cropper (Booker T & the MG's, Blues Brothers)

Steve Cropper (Booker T & the MG's, Blues Brothers)Songwriter Interviews

Steve Cropper on the making of "In the Midnight Hour," the chicken-wire scene in The Blues Brothers, and his 2021 album, Fire It Up.