Description
" Comfortably Numb " is a song by the English rock band Pink Floyd from their eleventh album, The Wall (1979). It was released as a single in 1980, with "Hey You" as the B-side.
The music was composed by the guitarist, David Gilmour. The lyrics were written by the bassist, Roger Waters, based on his experience of being injected with tranquilisers before a performance in 1977. Waters and Gilmour argued during the recording, with Waters preferring an orchestral arrangement and Gilmour preferring a more stripped-down arrangement. They compromised by combining both versions; Gilmour said the song represented the last time he and Waters were able to work together constructively.
"Comfortably Numb" is one of Pink Floyd's best-known songs, notable for its two guitar solos. In 2021, it was ranked number 179 on Rolling Stone 's list of the 500 Greatest Songs of All Time. In 2005, it became the last song ever performed by Waters, Gilmour, keyboardist Richard Wright, and drummer Nick Mason together. An early version was included on the 2012 Wall "Immersion Box Set". The song was covered by Scissor Sisters with a radically different arrangement, which was a UK top ten hit in 2004.
