Coming Back To Life

Album: The Division Bell (1994)
Play Video
  • Where were you when I was burned and broken?
    While the days slipped by from my window, watching
    And where were you when I was hurt and I was helpless?
    'Cause the things you say and the things you do surround me

    While you were hanging yourself on someone else's words
    Dying to believe in what you heard
    I was staring straight into the shining sun

    Lost in thought and lost in time
    While the seeds of life and the seeds of change were planted
    Outside the rain fell dark and slow
    While I pondered on this dangerous but irresistible pastime

    I took a heavenly ride through our silence
    I knew the moment had arrived
    For killing the past and coming back to life

    I took a heavenly ride through our silence
    I knew the waiting had begun
    And headed straight into the shining sun Writer/s: DAVID JON GILMOUR
    Publisher: CONCORD MUSIC PUBLISHING LLC
    Lyrics licensed and provided by LyricFind

Comments: 14

  • Tim Williamson from TxI have thrown myself into this song so many times. Words cannot express the deep meaning it has for me. The time of my life where this song caught me was very dark in many ways. The lyrics and guitar sound helped heal me in many ways and allowed me to come back to life. I tune this in from time to time as a reminder as to who I was, and am who I am today. Thank you all for this beautiful music !!!!!!
  • W. Dantas from BrazilMost people always think that Pink Floyd lyricists will be eternally writing just about the relationship among themselves. I invite everyone to look this context through other eyes. There are a few things that a married person only, specially one who already got through some hard times or relationship crisis, would be able to understand. When you read about the first Gilmour’s marriage and how it has finished (1990) maybe you will understand how the suffering he faced was like. His ex-wife said not a word against him, but said that as Pink Floyd was doing fine, their relationship was fine, but when the band was facing crisis, so was their marriage too. She said that Gilmour was not rude with her, but he took all this pressure “handling this in all his English way”: no talking about and becoming very distant, so after years of highs and lows their marriage ruined. Maybe Gilmour expected a little more patience and friendship from her. Who can tell? In 1994, Gilmour married Polly and it marks a breakthrough in his, until that moment, sad personal life. This song fits perfectly with overcoming the past and looking forward so he “comes back to life” again for now he can face the future hopefully and not as a lonely reality anymore. He weeps probably cause it’s so so hard to get over this kind of rupture and he did it. I’m a songwriter and musician as well and there are certain feelings which the only way to express it is by music.
  • Carlos Franco from NederlandWhen I hear this song the truth creeps through my soul....what David sings there is written and sung straight to my heart and soul also the guitar playing is perfectly fine solos fall right into place in the and say enough
  • Jeremy from OhioI’m not buying what Gilmour said. This, like every other song except Take It Back, is about the divide between him and Waters, and then moving on. Richard gets to have Wearing the Inside Out to communicate that. In the rest, Gilmour speaks for himself or as he believes for Richard and maybe be Nick but probably not. Hard to say a record is underrated having sold over 7 million copies. Yet it so incredibly is.
  • B.parker from TennesseeThis is the first time I've ever heard "Coming Back to Life" this song, it was heartfelt, I understood both the feeling and the meaning of this song it made me cry from within my soul and heart.
  • Dina from EgyptI always feel that David Gilmour's guitar is part of him, it weeps, it laughs, it reflects what David Gilmour wants to say, they are one unit. His guitar playing sure reaches straight to the heart and soul. Pure genius.
  • Fermin from Rosario, ArgentinaI think this is one of the best songs that David Gimour has written. When you hear the music, you feel like you're traveling to other place.

    The song starts with a great clean guitar solo, then David sings over the keyboard track. Minutes after it comes a great and very melodic guitar solo. Then David sings another time and finally plays another great guitar solo.

    If you were musician, you would play this song, but never there will be a person who could play this song as David .

    Gilmour makes breath his guitar!
  • Nate from New York, NyCall the police! An upbeat Pink Floyd song!
  • Prashant from Kathmandu, NepalThere are only a handful of guitarists that have a signature sound. Gilmour is one of them! I close my eyes and listen, I can see the energy from his playing. God touched this man with more than the ability to play the guitar! Awesome!
  • Martín De Valdivia from Valdivia, ChileDavid Gilmour stated that "this song is dedicated to my lovely wife Polly." This can be heard after the song on the DVD David Gimour in Concert released in 2002. (thanks, JiM - Rouyn, Canada)
    I´m affraid this statement is wrong, the sentence, can be heard in the presentation of "high hopes", wich is in my point of view one of the most exquisit and magnificent version of this incredible song.
    May be one of the most beutiful songs ever wrote.
    Greetings from Valdivia, Chile.
  • Jake from Oklahoma City, Oki love this song.
  • Swastik from Dharan, NepalI thought this song is about the coming back to pink floyd by Waters.But I was wrong.This is about Gilmours gf.
  • Christopher from Coweta, OkSome of Gilmour's best guitar work.
  • Nathan from Austin, TxSOOOOOOOOO Beautiful! David Gilmour, you are a GOD!
see more comments

Editor's Picks

Vanessa Carlton

Vanessa CarltonSongwriter Interviews

The "A Thousand Miles" singer on what she thinks of her song being used in White Chicks and how she captured a song from a dream.

Bands Named After Real People (Who Aren't In The Band)

Bands Named After Real People (Who Aren't In The Band)Song Writing

How a gym teacher, a janitor, and a junkie became part of some very famous band names.

Boz Scaggs

Boz ScaggsSongwriter Interviews

The "Lowdown" and "Lido Shuffle" singer makes a habit of playing with the best in the business.

Producer Ron Nevison

Producer Ron NevisonSong Writing

Ron Nevison explains in very clear terms the Quadrophenia concept and how Heart staged their resurgence after being dropped by their record company.

Barry Dean ("Pontoon," "Diamond Rings And Old Barstools")

Barry Dean ("Pontoon," "Diamond Rings And Old Barstools")Songwriter Interviews

A top country songwriter, Barry talks about writing hits for Little Big Town, Tim McGraw and Jason Aldean.

Alan Merrill of The Arrows

Alan Merrill of The ArrowsSongwriter Interviews

In her days with The Runaways, Joan Jett saw The Arrows perform "I Love Rock And Roll," which Alan Merrill co-wrote - that story and much more from this glam rock pioneer.