I know that the last entry was just a few days ago, but the 27th song in the Play It Again Mayhem series is with us. It is “The Tide Is Turning (After Live Aid)” by Roger Waters. It was the third single from his solo album ‘Radio K.A.O.S’. I think this is possibly the most positive song that Waters has ever written. To buck the trend of 70s songs this one is from the 80s, the second from that decade in this playlist. Apparently, Roger offered his services to Bob Geldof for Live Aid in 1985 but was turned down. After being asked by his record label to offer a more positive and upbeat end to ‘Radio K.A.O.S’ Waters wrote: “The Tide Is Turning (After Live Aid)”. It makes me feel inspired and happy with every listen. Sadly it only made number 54 on the UK Chart.
I don’t often do this but I have copied Roger Waters’ lyrics for the song below, the music and lyrics always heighten my emotions, how about you? The moment when the choir kicks in gets me every time. Did the tide turn in 1987, sadly not, will it turn one day? I hope so. Check out the previous entries along with this new one in the Play It Again Mayhem Spotify Playlist click here to take a listen! What do you think of this track?
Lyrics by Roger Waters
I used to think the world was flat
Rarely threw my hat into the crowd
I felt I had used up my quota of yearning
Used to look in on the children at night
In the glow of their Donald Duck light
And frighten myself with the thought of my little ones burning
But, oh, oh, oh, the tide is turning
The tide is turning
Satellite buzzing through the endless night
Exclusive to moonshots and world title fights
Jesus Christ imagine what it must be earning
Who is the strongest
Who is the best
Who holds the aces
The East
Or the West
This is the crap our children are learning
But oh, oh, oh, the tide is turning
The tide is turning
Oh, oh, oh, the tide is turning
Now the satellite’s confused
‘Cause on Saturday night
The airwaves were full of compassion and light
And his silicon heart warmed
To the sight of a billion candles burning
Oo, oo, oo, the tide is turning
Oo, oo, oo, the tide is turning
The tide is turning Billy
I’m not saying that the battle is won
But on Saturday night all those kids in the sun
Wrested technology’s sword from the hand of the war lords
Oh, oh, oh, the tide is turning
The tide is turning Sylvester
The tide is turning
“That’s it!
Now the past is over but you are not alone
Together we’ll fight Sylvester Stallone
We will not be dragged down in his South China Sea
Of macho bullshit and mediocrity”
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