Pink Floyd bassist/frontman Roger Waters steadily emerged over the decades as a provocative and crafty lyricist, one of the finest in a strictly rock idiom, and even more so after his acrimonious split with the band in the mid-eighties, ostensibly over his 'creative control' tendencies. His style can be ponderous, overly intense and morbidly existential perhaps for some tastes at times, and delivered with an increasingly limited vocal range, but he was never less than an original and thought-provoking artist.

This song, from Waters's 1992 album 'Amused to Death', finds him at his edgiest, satirical best. I've used the live DVD version from his stateside 'In the Flesh' tour of some ten years ago. You'll find it on YouTube here. The original lyrics appear on screen along with concert stills, and also in the text below it. If you want to watch the actual performance without superimposed lyrics, there's a version with Persian subtitles (!) here.

I recommend first enjoy the Waters version, if your unfamiliar with it, and then - er, 'enjoy' mine, but it's a dark, dirge-like opus with a long intro, so make sure you're in the mood and be patient - you'll be well-rewarded.

This one's going to part the murky, polarizing seas of religious orientation among AmIrighters. Do your worst, folks! If I get ones for this from the devout, it won't be the first time and at least I'll know I've pricked the bubble of theological complacency, mbwa ha ha (red horns emerge from LL's thinning, godless skull and countenance darkens to grin of unspeakable evil). Then again I could be the victim of that satanic random one-bomber whom I parodied earlier this week, and who has even longer horns than me.

FOR PINK FLOYD FANS Fortunately for their legions of faithful followers, the 'Waterless' Floyd continued to produce acclaimed albums and concert tours well into the 00s, thanks to the world-class chops of guitarist David Gilmour and keyboard soundscaper Richard Wright, augmented by younger musicians. (Wright died in 2008.) Their legendary, pioneering, extravagant laser-lightshows never failed to lead the field (as in, leave all competitors for dead) up to the very end.

For the converted (and non-), I recommend the 'Remember That Night' set at the Royal Albert Hall 2006, one of Wright/Gilmour's last grand stagings together, with guests David Crosby, Graham Nash, David Bowie and former Bryan Ferry/Roxy Music lead guitarist Phil Manzanera. As with many great instrumentalists, Gilmour's playing improves like fine wine, especially on his more recent composition 'The Blue'. The set includes one of the last (and best) performances of the marathon 'Echoes'. The full concert is here.