Did Roger Waters copy one of his favourite songwriters for his final Pink Floyd album?
The controversial figure of Roger Waters is awash with multitudes. Outspoke and forthright in his opinion, Waters has, in recent years at least, been in the papers and under the spotlight more often for his thoughts on Vladimir Putin and Benjamin Netanyahu then his ability to write a masterful tune. However, stepping away from his rather large mouth and instead focusing on the work he created as part of Pink Floyd it is extremely difficult to escape his widespread influence on rock music.
As part of the original group of acid-rock enthusiasts, Waters, alongside Syd Barrett, Nick Mason, and Richard Wright, would begin a transformation of rock and roll that few could have envisaged. While The Beatles had toyed with the notion of psychedelia, Waters and his band would push the envelope into the outer universe. Their unique vision for what music could and should be – a detailed exploration of the self through sonic expression, all coupled with visual experimentation – would go on to define the forthcoming decade.
Of course, by the time the 1970s had rolled around, sadly, Syd Barrett had lost his place in the group following a battle with drugs and his mental health. As David Gilmour stepped in, the power dynamic of the group changed, and Waters ultimately became their creative chief. He would be the focal point for Pink Floyd, galvanising his ideas through their talent and delivering albums such as Meddle, The Dark Side of The Moon and The Wall, which would shape music history forever.
The latter is often thought of as Waters’ creative peak. However, he would deliver one more LP for the band before parting ways in less than amicable fashion. The Final Cut is not necessarily considered the finest entry in the band’s impressive discography, but it certainly still contains some great tracks, namely the near-terrifying opener ‘Post War Dream’.
This is often a theme for Waters, who, like many men of his age, was deeply affected by his father dying in World War II. Waters has opined the darkest elements of conflict on many occasions, and this track is equally poignant in its delivery and construction. However, upon closer inspection, one of his favourite songwriters may have unconsciously inspired the Pink Floyd man.
John Prine’s mythical ‘Sam Stone’ is regarded as one of the finest post-war anthems ever. A troubling re-telling of life after returning back from the wart and the disillusionment one must have felt is expertly told through a rich ballad. Prine’s unflinching storytelling transforms personal tragedy through his stark lryical prowess into a universal lament on the costs of war. It’s so good, that the 1971 tune may well have inspired Waters when writing his own.
As well as sharing the same key of F major, lyrically, the themes are naturally aligned. However, there are similar reference points, with Waters penning “Tell me truly, tell me why, was Jesus crucified?” which feels akin to Prine singing “Jesus dying for nothing”. There could also be a subtle reference to Prine’s song ‘Spanish Pipedream’ with Waters’ line “Was it you, was it me? Did I watch too much TV?” and Prine’s “Blow up your TV, throw away your paper.”
Inspiration can strike anywhere, and Waters was a noted fan of the singer. In a 2016 discussion with NPR, Waters paid tribute to the songwriter: “It’s very, very difficult to write a song or to paint a picture. And I think people who do it, whose work we admire, like John Prine—he doesn’t one day sit down and think, ‘I know, I’m going to write a song about old people and what it must be like to be ignored in old age and the connections between people.’ He wrote that song after he spent a summer delivering laundry to old people’s homes. It’s an expression of some love that he felt.”
The likelihood is that Waters did not intentionally sit down with the idea of paying tribute to John Prine’s masterful anthe ‘Sam Stone’. While he may well have been influenced by the songwriter, by Waters’ own admission, his craft is largely chartered by the winds of spontaneous inspiration. However, there is a very good chance that the impact Prine had on the Pink Floyd man has affected the way he has written songs from the very first moment he heard the country icon.
