A Great Day for Freedom

"A Great Day for Freedom" is a song by Pink Floyd from their 1994 album, The Division Bell.

While overtly alluding to the Berlin Wall, the lyrics are often read as a reflection on the bitter and estranged partnership David Gilmour had with former bandmate Roger Waters. However, Gilmour rejects this idea: "I'm quite happy for people to interpret [The Division Bell] any way they like. But maybe a note of caution should be sounded because you can read too much into it. "A Great Day for Freedom", for example, has got nothing to do with Roger or his 'wall'. It just doesn't. What else can I say?" [1]

The song was performed by Gilmour solo at concerts in 2002 and 2006 and features on his live album, Live in Gdańsk.

On the album's bonus DVD documentary, Gdańsk Diary, Gilmour states that the song is about the struggles in Eastern Europe (particularly Poland and Germany) and did their "freedom" really mean "freedom"? Gilmour also mentions that the song was originally titled In Shades of Grey.

Lyrics:

On the day the wall came down
They threw the locks onto the ground
And with glasses high we raised a cry for freedom had arrived
On the day the wall came down
The Ship of Fools had finally ran aground
Promises lit up the night like paper doves in flight

I dreamed you had left my side
No warmth, not even pride remained
And even though you needed me
It was clear that I could not do a thing for you

Now life devalues day by day
As friends and neighbors turn away
And there's a change that, even with regret, cannot be undone
Now frontiers shift like desert sands
While nations wash their bloodied hands
Of loyalty, of history, in shades of grey

I woke to the sound of drums
The music played, the morning sun streamed in
I turned and I looked at you
And all but the bitter residues slipped away...slipped away

Category:

Music

Tags:

• Pink Floyd
• A Great Day for Freedom
• The Division Bell
• 1994
• David Gilmour
• Rick Wright
• Nick Mason

[Velcharoon]

This song is just so damn good, and the solo... oh, the solo.... it's just unnaturally beautiful!

[skatespom]

amazing. the beginning makes me wonder about many things then when the solo somes in, its like every wonder in my mind has been solved. the magic of music.

[revelatorization]

AMAZING.

Thanks, Mr Gilmour !!! 

[Distanceoftheshadow]

@Owliganka true, I kinda felt that too when I heard it, it shows that Waters was a irreplaceable part of Pink Floyd. but still, it's a lot better than most things that come out now. This was made in 1994, but it sounds like it could've been made 3 months ago. that's the power of Floyd. even their worst album can be somewhat of a masterpiece. they made it with soul and commitment, and that's why it's great

[Owliganka]

 Worst floyd album.

[skullgb]

The best album of the world i'm from Brazil and in Brazil He loves pink floyd ' pink flooyd is mitic ,

[Inteceptor]

I dreamed you had left my side

No warmth, not even pride remained

And even though you needed me

It was clear that I could not do a thing for you

[huesitoaleman]

....And all but the bitter residues slipped away...slipped away. =D ♥