Album: The Division Bell (1994)

Charted: 26

License This Song 

• (For millions of years mankind lived just like the animals)
  (Then something happened which unleashed the power of our imagination)
  (We learned to talk)
  
  There's a silence surrounding me
  I can't seem to think straight
  I sit in the corner
  And no one can bother me
  I think I should speak now (why won't you talk to me?)
  I can't seem to speak now (you never talk to me)
  My words won't come out right (what are you thinking?)
  I feel like I'm drowning (what are you feeling?)
  I'm feeling weak now (why won't you talk to me?)
  But I can't show my weakness (you never talk to me)
  I sometimes wonder (what are you thinking?)
  Where do we go from here (what are you feeling?)
  
  (It doesn't have to be like this)
  (All we need to do is make sure we keep talking)
  
  (Why won't you talk to me?) I feel like I'm drowning
  (You never talk to me) you know I can't breathe now
  (What are you thinking?) We're going nowhere
  (What are you feeling?) We're going nowhere
  (Why won't you talk to me?)
  (You never talk to me)
  (What are you thinking?)
  (Where do we go from here?)
  
  (It doesn't have to be like this)
  (All we need to do is make sure we keep talking) Writer/s: David Jon Gilmour, Polly Annie Samson, Richard Wright
  Publisher: CONCORD MUSIC PUBLISHING LLC
  Lyrics licensed and provided by LyricFind

Comments: 10

• Music Lover from Gig Harbor Washington UsaSir Stephen Hawking used a TalkBox for a long time, probably since the 1970s, when he lost use of his natural voice. This is an awesome example of how he used his talk box. I love this song "Keep Talking".
• Joe from Brooklyn, NyYes Terry, I do agree that is an excellent use of the TalkBox.
  Since Frampton, ok, Frampton really popularized it but what about
  Gilmour's use of the TalkBox on Pigs (Three Different Ones)?
  Fortunately I'm old enough to have seen & heard Gilmour use it on their 1977 tour.
  Back to Keep Talking, I truely love this song and until reading the notes here,
  I did not know that was Stephen Hawking's synth voice.
  Now that I know, I appreciate this song all that much more.
• Terry from Wickford, RiNo, I'm not talking about the Stephen Hawking voice synth. The actual effect on the guitar at the end of the song (more noticeable on the PULSE version) is called a TalkBox. Watch the video attached here and you hear it around 5:30 and see David using it in closeup at 6:16. It's a tube that goes in the mouth and intercepts the signal to the amp allowing the player to affect the guitar signal with his voice. Frampton was famous for using it on the "Frampton Comes Alive" album.
• Stu from Philly, PaDude, that's not a talk-box... unless you were kidding. that's the synthesizer used by Stephen Hawkings.
• Terry from Wickford, RiBest use of the Talk-Box guitar since Frampton!
• Peter from Townsville, AustraliaStephen Hawking's comments were taken from a telecommunications advertisement (typical of PF's irony, methinks). This song was aired on radio in 1994 when I was at Uni and man I loved it then like I love it now. Brilliant stuff!
• Alton from Huntington Beach, CaThe best song of the century!
• Pete from Nowra, AustraliaStephen Hawking eh??? well there ya go , learn something new every day...is a great song though, same with take it back
  
  the Floyd rules
• Ashley from Moncton, CanadaThey have a super-genius on a genius song, it's genius, even though it isn't the greatest Floyd song. I know, I over use the word genius.
• Ryan from Christchurch, New ZealandThe song is about the absence of communication between people, which is a theme running through the Division Bell album. Stephen Hawking's appearance only highlights this.

More Songfacts:

Grazing In The GrassThe Friends Of Distinction

Grazing In The Grass by The Friends Of Distinction was the first big hit to use the phrase "dig it" in the lyric.

Return To SenderElvis Presley

When the Elvis stamps came out in 1993, lots of folks used them to mail letters with bad addresses so they would be Returned To Sender.

Big LoveFleetwood Mac

"Big Love" is a showcase song for Lindsey Buckingham and the first single from Fleetwood Mac's 1987 album Tango In The Night, but he left the group soon after the album was released and the band didn't perform it live until he returned 10 years later.

Walk On The Wild SideLou Reed

Lou Reed's "Walk On The Wild Side" tells the story of real people who were part of Andy Warhol's "factory," including Holly Woodlawn and Candy Darling.

White as SnowU2

Bono came up with the idea of focusing on a soldier's last thoughts as he dies from his wounds in the U2 song "White As Snow" after reading William Golding's 1956 novel Pincher Martin.

The Safety DanceMen Without Hats

The Men Without Hats lead singer wrote "The Safety Dance" after getting kicked out of a bar for dancing too aggressively. The song is literally about being safe to dance if you want to.

Editor's Picks

Mike CampbellSongwriter Interviews

Mike is lead guitarist with Tom Petty & the Heartbreakers, and co-writer of classic songs like "Boys Of Summer," "Refugee" and "The Heart Of The Matter."

Michael FrantiSongwriter Interviews

Franti tells the story behind his hit "Say Hey (I Love You)" and explains why yoga is an integral part of his lifestyle and his Soulshine tour.

Kerry Livgren of KansasSongwriter Interviews

In this talk from the '80s, the Kansas frontman talks turning to God and writing "Dust In The Wind."

Charlie Benante of AnthraxSongwriter Interviews

The drummer for Anthrax is also a key songwriter. He explains how the group puts their songs together and tells the stories behind some of their classics.

Jonathan Edwards - "Sunshine"They're Playing My Song

"How much does it cost? I'll buy it?" Another songwriter told Jonathan to change these lyrics. Good thing he ignored this advice.

RamonesFact or Fiction

A band so baffling, even their names were contrived. Check your score in the Ramones version of Fact or Fiction.