Home · Songs · Pink Floyd · Comfortably Numb
From album
The Wall
Pink Floyd · 1979
Details
TonalidadBm
Compás4/4
Tempo83 BPM
Duración6:49
CompositorRoger Waters / David Gilmour
ÁlbumThe Wall
Año1979
ISRCGBDJQ7900022
Credits
Music Roger Waters, David Gilmour
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The story behind
When you find yourself exploring *Comfortably Numb*, you come across a piece that feels like an introspective journey, wrapped in a reflective atmosphere. The song is built on a musical foundation that, while conceived by David Gilmour, received lyrics from Roger Waters, who wrote them based on a personal experience. In 1977, during a tour, Waters had to be medicated with tranquilizers before a concert due to a stomach upset. He himself described that feeling as "the longest two hours of my life," trying to perform without being able to move an arm. This experience transforms into the song's narrative, where a character, Pink, is sedated to be able to go on stage.
The recording of *Comfortably Numb* was not without creative tensions. Waters had a more orchestral arrangement in mind, while Gilmour preferred a more direct and stripped-down sound. They eventually reached a middle ground, combining both visions. For Gilmour, this was a significant moment, marking the last time he and Waters were able to collaborate constructively. The music, which Gilmour had initially sketched in 1978 as a demo for his own solo album, was adapted. The verses, originally in E minor, were requested by Waters to be changed to B minor. Additionally, Gilmour was asked to add extra bars to the chorus to fit the phrase "I have become Comfortably Numb." The chorus section, for its part, has been described with a mix of D major and D mixolydian chords. For the guitar solos, Gilmour recorded several takes, and engineer James Guthrie selected the fragments he considered best for the final version, using effects like the Big Muff and delay. The string parts were recorded in New York, with the participation of composer Michael Kamen.
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