Comfortably Numb is most famous for its two guitar solos.
They are generally considered among the best solos of all time, especially the second one.
But the Comfortably Numb lyrics meaning is also quite interesting.
Most people assume they are talking about drugs.
But they are not. At least not in the way people think.
What does that mean exactly? Keep reading to find out. We’re going to do a deep dive into the lyrics of Comfortably Numb and figure out exactly what Pink Floyd was talking about in this song.
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Comfortably Numb Lyrics And Meaning
Comfortably Numb is a song performed by the group Pink Floyd. The lyrics were written by the band’s bass player, Roger Waters, and the music was written by the band’s guitarist and vocalist, David Gilmour.
Comfortably Numb was released in 1979, appearing on Pink Floyd’s eleventh album, The Wall. Comfortably Numb is arguably one of Pink Floyd’s most popular songs among fans and was often one of the final tracks played by the group when performing live.
The song didn’t initially chart, but as time has passed, it has grown in popularity. It peaked at 18 in the UK charts in July 2007, 28 years after its initial release date.
It has also been ranked number 179 on the Rolling Stones list of the 500 Greatest Songs of All Time. Fans love the song as a whole, but they especially love the two guitar solos David Gilmour performed during the song.
The popularity of Comfortably Numb isn’t just with fans worldwide but also with other artists. There have been many covers completed since the song was released, which has helped the song become well known by the newer generation.
The most notable covers are Scissor Sisters in 2004, American singer Thelma Houston in 1999 and in May 2006, David Bowie and David Gilmour dueted the song at The Royal Albert Hall.
The popularity of the lengthy six minute song also spread to Hollywood, with a version of Comfortably Numb featured in Martin Scorsese’s film The Departed.
Let’s take a look at a video of the song and the lyrics in full. After that, we will get into the meaning of the Comfortably Numb lyrics.
Comfortably Numb Lyrics
Verse 1
Hello? (Hello, hello, hello)
Is there anybody in there?
Just nod if you can hear me
Is there anyone home?
Come on (Come on, come on), now
I hear you’re feeling down
Well, I can ease your pain
And get you on your feet again
Relax (Relax, relax, relax)
I’ll need some information first
Just the basic facts
Can you show me where it hurts?
Pre-Chorus
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
Chorus
I have become comfortably numb
I have become comfortably numb
Verse 2
Okay (Okay, okay, okay)
Just a little pinprick
There’ll be no more
But you may feel a little sick
Can you stand up? (Stand up, stand up)
I do believe it’s working, good
That’ll keep you going through the show
Come on, it’s time to go
Pre-Chorus
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
Chorus
I have become comfortably numb
Comfortably Numb Meaning
Many people believe Comfortably Numb is a song about drugs and the thrill of escaping reality. Take a look at the lyrics: “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.”
We can understand why many felt the line “smoke on the horizon” was in reference to smoking marijuana, and “There is no pain” was highlighting how using drugs can help you escape the pain of your current reality.
But the song is more about the comfort of being numb to the real world, not necessarily in a drug sense. Being a rockstar is a different life to the one the majority of us live day to day and the title of this song was trying to highlight this. But there is a drug connection there, too. Just not in the way you might think.
In 2005, when speaking to Rolling Stones, Waters confirmed it was actually written about a personal circumstance from when he was performing.
At a show in Philadelphia in 1977, Waters was administered a sedative to deal with the severe stomach pains he was experiencing at the time. During the performance, he suffered from numbness in his hands and blurry vision but continued with the performance without the crowd being aware of his circumstances.
Waters is quoted as saying, “That was the longest two hours of my life, trying to do a show when you can hardly lift your arm.” This experience was one impetus for the lyrics to Comfortably Numb.
Waters had to become comfortable with the fact that he lost feeling in his body while still putting on a show. This highlights how good a performer Waters is, but it can also highlight the deeper meaning that we never know what anybody is going through at any given moment in time.
But overall, Comfortably Numb talks about being in a state of detachment and isolation. It describes a feeling of being disconnected from reality.
The lyrics actually compare the experience of being medicated by a doctor during a period of illness to feelings of emotional numbness and detachment in adulthood.
The songs is a part of Pink Floyd’s album concept album The Wall, which tells the story of a character named Pink who builds a metaphorical wall around himself following the death of his father in World War II. The song fits into that overall story arc. It touches on themes of alienation and the loss of feeling, as Pink becomes numb to the world around him.
Comfortably Numb Lyrics Meaning: Final Thoughts
The Comfortably Numb lyrics meaning is not just about the escapism often associated with drug use, but rather it captures the deeper sense of emotional and physical detachment from reality.
Inspired by Roger Waters’ own experience of medicated numbness during a live performance, the song transcends personal struggle to reflect the broader theme of alienation within Pink Floyd’s The Wall.
It expresses the isolation and disconnection that the protagonist, Pink, endures, making it a powerful piece about the human condition and the facades we maintain.
If you enjoyed this breakdown of Comfortably Numb, we have a similar article on the meaning of the Wish You Were Here lyrics.
For a song that actually is completely about drugs, along with a few other themes, check out White Rabbit by Jefferson Airplane. We break down the White Rabbit lyrics meaning in a separate article.
Drugs are not the only means to introspection. Some people are able to control their dreams. The lyrics to Silent Lucidity by Queensrÿche actually teach us how to accomplish lucid dreaming.
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