Leaving Beirut

Album: Leaving Beirut (CD Single) (2004)
Play Video

Songfacts®:

  • At a concert on July 12, 2007 in Darien Lake, New York, Waters gave the audience some background on this song before he played it. The spoken word portions of the song he wrote at the age of 19 while hitchhiking in Lebanon. The refrains he wrote more recently, and they directly reflect his own personal views on the war in Iraq, as well as his opinions regarding George Bush, Tony Blair, Lebanon and the Middle East. >>>
    Suggestion credit:
    phil - jamestown, NY

Comments: 2

  • Ricardo Abdahllah from Paris, Francehe used a comic-like karaoke background in most of his 2007 performers so public may sing with him.
  • Johnny from Los Angeles, CaI remember this song from when I saw Roger Waters live at the Hollywood Bowl. He gave some insight to his Lebanese adventures. A comic was displayed on a big screen showing what it was like for him. I don't know if he wrote it, but that would be cool.
see more comments

Editor's Picks

Janis Ian

Janis IanSongwriter Interviews

One of the first successful female singer-songwriters, Janis had her first hit in 1967 at age 15.

Lace the Music: How LSD Changed Popular Music

Lace the Music: How LSD Changed Popular MusicSong Writing

Starting in Virginia City, Nevada and rippling out to the Haight-Ashbury, LSD reshaped popular music.

Jimmy Jam

Jimmy JamSongwriter Interviews

The powerhouse producer behind Janet Jackson's hits talks about his Boyz II Men ballads and regrouping The Time.

Dar Williams

Dar WilliamsSongwriter Interviews

A popular contemporary folk singer, Williams still remembers the sticky note that changed her life in college.

Commercials

CommercialsFact or Fiction

Was "Ring Of Fire" really used to sell hemorrhoid cream?

Reverend Horton Heat

Reverend Horton HeatSongwriter Interviews

The Reverend rants on psychobilly and the egghead academics he bashes in one of his more popular songs.