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David Gilmour — On An Island
Album: On an Island
Avg rating:
7.4

Your rating:
Total ratings: 4332









Released: 2006
Length: 6:34
Plays (last 30 days): 1
Remember that night...
White sails in the moonlight
They walked it too...
Through empty playground, this ghost's town
Children again on rusting swings getting higher
Sharing a dream
On an Island.... it felt right
We lay side by side,
Between the moon and the tide
Mapping the stars for a while
Let the night surround you
We're half way to the stars,
Ebb and flow
Let it grow..... feel the warmth beside you

Remember that night,
The warmth and the laughter
Candles burn...
Though the church was deserted
At dawn we went down through empty streets to the harbour
Dreamers may leave ...but we're here everafter...
Da da da da da....
Let the night surround you
We're half way to the stars,
Ebb and flow
Let it grow..... feel the warmth beside you...
Comments (386)add comment
 Relayer wrote:

Let me illustrate:

When David Gilmour sings, it sounds like:
"Remember that night, White sails in the moonlight.
They walked it too, Through empty playground, this ghost's town."

If Roger Waters was going to sing this song:
"REMEMBER YOU BUGGERS, HA HA HA HA HA, WHITE SHIPS SINKING IN THE FIRE AND MOON COLLAPSE!  YAH, YOU HAD IT COMING!  
THOSE MINDLESS RAN HERE TOO, DEAD PLAYGROUND FULL OF YOUR FORGOTTEN GHOSTS OF THATCHER!"



Hilarious each time I read it. 
So kind to make it 'not' sound like PF so we know it's just him 
I still think it's fantastic that within the songs on this amazing record, I can hear him tweaking the strings with the same sweet bluesy jamming bends he used back in his Animals days, like in "Dogs," and it still sounds like he's having such fun, and I think it's incredibly soul-satisfying, the way he creates and builds such distinctive guitar statements and adorns them with such memorable, epic, next-level solos... JAM ON, DAVID, and thanks for the legacy!
I think we can attempt to disassociate the art from the artist. That said I will NOT pay to see RW and I would joyfully see Gilmour
 tm wrote:

I love the man. His albums are gold. He has an impeccable ear for tone, and melody which most here cant seem to comprehend… Waters is equally exquisite to me. And Floyd was a combination of two geniuses. Haters - keep sticking your heads up your arses.



Agreed with Gilmore!

Waters is an antisemitic axxhole and a racist!

,..and the emphasis is right "was"! Not anymore though.
Didn't realise until recently that it is his wife Polly Samson who wrote the lyrics for most of the tracks on this album, and Division Bell.
 thewiseking wrote:

Zzzzzz, more droning, still Comfortably Dumb.


You essentially repeated this inane comment two years after its initial appearance.  Still not clever....or applicable...
As good as ANYTHING Pink Floyd ever did. Beautiful, haunting, atmospheric, lyrical. Roger is brilliant too, but David has a musicality unmatched in his peer group. 
I love the vocals! What a great combo of singers - David Gilmour, Graham Nash, and David Crosby... 

Rest In Peace David Crosby!
 MilesW wrote:


Have you been living on an island?



Yes!! You got a problem with that? ...eh?
Have a toke, put on the headphones, close your eyes and clear your mind.
Now, just listen..........
Easy 10.
 joejennings wrote:

NICE!!  I never heard this tune before.  Thanx RP!



Have you been living on an island?
this song is an “aaaaaaaahhhhhhhhhhhh” song…
The more I hear this, the more I like it!!  Thanx RP!
NICE!!  I never heard this tune before.  Thanx RP!
Ha!

I thought "that sounds like pink floyd"

*looks*

"Oh, David Gilmour - that makes sense"
 Relayer wrote:

Let me illustrate:

When David Gilmour sings, it sounds like:
"Remember that night, White sails in the moonlight.
They walked it too, Through empty playground, this ghost's town."

If Roger Waters was going to sing this song:
"REMEMBER YOU BUGGERS, HA HA HA HA HA, WHITE SHIPS SINKING IN THE FIRE AND MOON COLLAPSE!  YAH, YOU HAD IT COMING!  
THOSE MINDLESS RAN HERE TOO, DEAD PLAYGROUND FULL OF YOUR FORGOTTEN GHOSTS OF THATCHER!"


Dude, you better copyright those lyrics before Roger steals 'em!   ; )
Not a fan of Gilmore/Pink Floyd but I think this a fine song nicely presented.
 reallylost wrote:

Sounds like it might have been written in the 60's. I'll bet a computer could write a Pink Floyd song like this. 



Your username contains all the possible answers to your "comment"
Sounds like it might have been written in the 60's. I'll bet a computer could write a Pink Floyd song like this. 
I love the man. His albums are gold. He has an impeccable ear for tone, and melody which most here cant seem to comprehend… Waters is equally exquisite to me. And Floyd was a combination of two geniuses. Haters - keep sticking your heads up your arses.
Such tasteful guitar playing. For me Gilmour has a way of getting it just right for the particular song.
 thewiseking wrote:

Comfortably Dumb................still


Gazing into the mirror again?
 uksminas wrote:

Im sad to hear David so melancholic without any  passion



Ah - don't forget you have the harmonies of Crosby and Nash (while they were still talking/singing) with the soulful guitar of Mr Gilmore - what a combination
 westslope wrote:

Far better than Pink Floyd.  
 
There is no such thing as "Far better than Pink Floyd." Slightly better, maybe.
Great craftsmanship (how doubt about it?) but it's not the Gilmour I like .
 drwhy wrote:
I took my son, who was 16 at the time to see David at the Hollywood bowl.  My son plays guitar and I had to introduce him to some great guitar playing.  He just sat there during the concert totally blown away and shaking his head like " how the heck does he do that".  It was awesome.
 

I imagine that is a common response among guitar players who watch him :) 
I took my son, who was 16 at the time to see David at the Hollywood bowl.  My son plays guitar and I had to introduce him to some great guitar playing.  He just sat there during the concert totally blown away and shaking his head like " how the heck does he do that".  It was awesome.
 thewiseking wrote:
Comfortably Dumb................still
 

You should pay more attention in school.
 Relayer wrote:
Let me illustrate:

When David Gilmour sings, it sounds like:
"Remember that night, White sails in the moonlight.
They walked it too, Through empty playground, this ghost's town."

If Roger Waters was going to sing this song:
"REMEMBER YOU BUGGERS, HA HA HA HA HA, WHITE SHIPS SINKING IN THE FIRE AND MOON COLLAPSE!  YAH, YOU HAD IT COMING!  
THOSE MINDLESS RAN HERE TOO, DEAD PLAYGROUND FULL OF YOUR FORGOTTEN GHOSTS OF THATCHER!"

 
Hi Relayer,

This has to be one of the best song comments on the entire website.  It makes me laugh every time I read it.  

Funny, both Gilmour and Waters are left-wing.  But Waters exudes anger and is far too prone to pointing fingers at corporations and rich people.  

That said, Waters is still brilliant and the man who must be credited with some of Pink Floyd's best work. 

Wish I could sit down with Waters and persuade him to do a double-bill in Israel and the occupied West Bank.  But I kinda doubt that Waters is open to Neo-Viking constructive engagement.  
This could be used as anaesthesia for open heart surgery. It has the sane effect as a bottle of extra strength Dreamy Sleepy Nighty Snoozy-snooze. Aural Mogadon.
 jambo wrote:

jeez, but what else did he learn along the way?
 

Sorry man you missed it.
Such a great solo effort on this album.  Took my 16 year old, who plays guitar, to see him at the Hollywood Bowl a few years ago.  His eyes were wide open watching the beautiful and elegant way he plays guitar.  Saw him and PF back in the 70s during the Dark Side of the Moon tour and never have forgotten how awesome it was.  Actually, I did forget some parts but then again it was the 70s..................  just sayin'
Im sad to hear David so melancholic without any  passion
 thewiseking wrote:
Comfortably Dumb................still
 
Just shows...you're not as wise as you make yourself out to be.
 hindsightseer wrote:

And David Crosby and Graham Nash.
 

Haters gonna hate. BOTH of you in this post!
All I'm gonna say is, the group kicked ass and, the solo careers are just as kick ass!! PF and RP forever!!
 Relayer wrote:
Let me illustrate:

When David Gilmour sings, it sounds like:
"Remember that night, White sails in the moonlight.
They walked it too, Through empty playground, this ghost's town."

If Roger Waters was going to sing this song:
"REMEMBER YOU BUGGERS, HA HA HA HA HA, WHITE SHIPS SINKING IN THE FIRE AND MOON COLLAPSE!  YAH, YOU HAD IT COMING!  
THOSE MINDLESS RAN HERE TOO, DEAD PLAYGROUND FULL OF YOUR FORGOTTEN GHOSTS OF THATCHER!"

 
:)

But Dave on his own just blends into this one same long visit to the floatation tank. Together they had both slap and tickle. And before that, Sid's thing of course.
one helluva an intro and finish
 Relayer wrote:
Let me illustrate:

When David Gilmour sings, it sounds like:
"Remember that night, White sails in the moonlight.
They walked it too, Through empty playground, this ghost's town."

If Roger Waters was going to sing this song:
"REMEMBER YOU BUGGERS, HA HA HA HA HA, WHITE SHIPS SINKING IN THE FIRE AND MOON COLLAPSE!  YAH, YOU HAD IT COMING!  
THOSE MINDLESS RAN HERE TOO, DEAD PLAYGROUND FULL OF YOUR FORGOTTEN GHOSTS OF THATCHER!"

 
Right on target, 100%....and yet PF wouldn't have existed without RW.  Interesting dynamics.
I now must say, amending my constant prayer of over 50 years, "Pink Floyd and its members have always been there for me."  I'm thinkin' DSOTM for my funeral service and Saint Steven from "Live Dead" as the crematorium door slides shut.
 jbuhl wrote:

My nephew is a Guitar player and he said he has spent way to many hours trying to make a guitar sound like that.

 
jeez, but what else did he learn along the way?
This melody, lead guitar and bass guitar, voice, feeling and emotions. I really like this.
 GreenKittenLines wrote:

As always, I really like his cool guitar playing, but not his singing :(

 
Yes, a main vocalist he is a great guitarist. Don't give up the day job Dave!
This is as close to what Pink Floyd would sound like if they had continued to a touring band. I last saw them for the Animals tour I believe at the Hammersmith Odium in London when I was stationed in the UK back in the late 70's. (Although it might have also been somewhere in Florida. Lot of concerts back then.) {#Roflol} {#Drummer}  {#Bananajam}I just remember the giant floating pig. 
 GreenKittenLines wrote:

As always, I really like his cool guitar playing, but not his singing :(
 
Not sure why my comment appears twice, I only pressed "post comment" once
 jbuhl wrote:

My nephew is a Guitar player and he said he has spent way to many hours trying to make a guitar sound like that.
 
As always, I really like his cool guitar playing, but not his singing :(
 StevieSteve wrote:
This album might sound a little dreary but its littered with fine tasteful solos with tone to die for , not to be overlooked by guitar lovers.

 
My nephew is a Guitar player and he said he has spent way to many hours trying to make a guitar sound like that.
unstimakable guitar sound
 stunix wrote:
You can hear Rick Wright on vocals very heavily on this one.  nice feel when it gets going, but Im not a fan of Polly poems.

 
And David Crosby and Graham Nash.
 thewiseking wrote:
Comfortably Dumb................still

 
Bless your heart.
 dragon1952 wrote:
 coloradojohn wrote:
Even on this, a rather mellow song, Gilmour bends it most madly. He makes a towering mountain of sound flow out of a trusty ol' Strat.

 If you watch the "Live at RAH" video, both David Crosby and Graham Nash are standing there with their mouths open and shaking their heads in awe. That's what I love about Gilmour, he doesn't wow you with speed and intricacy like Jeff Beck, he does it with pure gut-wrenching feeling and emotion...almost in slow motion sometimes, and he uses those bends so magnificently.

 
i saw that performance !!
 
Truly beautiful.
Comfortably Dumb................still
 coloradojohn wrote:
Even on this, a rather mellow song, Gilmour bends it most madly. He makes a towering mountain of sound flow out of a trusty ol' Strat.

 If you watch the "Live at RAH" video, both David Crosby and Graham Nash are standing there with their mouths open and shaking their heads in awe. That's what I love about Gilmour, he doesn't wow you with speed and intricacy like Jeff Beck, he does it with pure gut-wrenching feeling and emotion...almost in slow motion sometimes, and he uses those bends so magnificently.


 TheKing2 wrote:
... and after PT something that really sounds like PF. {#Cheesygrin}

 
Hei!  Show some respect.  This is something that sounds like.... David Gilmour.  

In any event, early Porcupine Tree sounds like Pink Floyd, and frankly is not that great.  Later PT material does not and is stupendous.  Far better than Pink Floyd.  
His new album is better. Rattle that Lock.
... and after PT something that really sounds like PF. {#Cheesygrin}
Even on this, a rather mellow song, Gilmour bends it most madly. He makes a towering mountain of sound flow out of a trusty ol' Strat or Tele!
 On_The_Beach wrote:

tmi {#Eek}

 
LOL
 jberko wrote:
A hugely personal cut for me.  I just made love to the woman of my dreams, and she handed me this CD as a gift.  It makes my heart beat fast every time I hear it. 
 
tmi {#Eek}
A hugely personal cut for me.  I just made love to the woman of my dreams, and she handed me this CD as a gift.  It makes my heart beat fast every time I hear it.  
Flimsy but excellently followed by DCFC to get my feet tapping again.  Well done, Mr G.
this totally has the typical Pink Floyd sound. I like it!
this totally sounds like Pink Floyd. I like it.
 Relayer wrote:
Let me illustrate:

When David Gilmour sings, it sounds like:
"Remember that night, White sails in the moonlight.
They walked it too, Through empty playground, this ghost's town."

If Roger Waters was going to sing this song:
"REMEMBER YOU BUGGERS, HA HA HA HA HA, WHITE SHIPS SINKING IN THE FIRE AND MOON COLLAPSE!  YAH, YOU HAD IT COMING!  
THOSE MINDLESS RAN HERE TOO, DEAD PLAYGROUND FULL OF YOUR FORGOTTEN GHOSTS OF THATCHER!"
 
made me laugh out loud, very accurate but the latter needs some gratuitous sex with a german hooker.
You can hear Rick Wright on vocals very heavily on this one.  nice feel when it gets going, but Im not a fan of Polly poems.
 Relayer wrote:
Let me illustrate:

When David Gilmour sings, it sounds like:
"Remember that night, White sails in the moonlight.
They walked it too, Through empty playground, this ghost's town."

If Roger Waters was going to sing this song:
"REMEMBER YOU BUGGERS, HA HA HA HA HA, WHITE SHIPS SINKING IN THE FIRE AND MOON COLLAPSE!  YAH, YOU HAD IT COMING!  
THOSE MINDLESS RAN HERE TOO, DEAD PLAYGROUND FULL OF YOUR FORGOTTEN GHOSTS OF THATCHER!"
 
Dave's lyrics are by Polly, his wife.




 dragon1952 wrote:
Seriously people,,,,not even Quite Likeable?

 
OK, I'll bump mine from 6 to 7 just because it's Gilmour and the solo is quite likeable.
Seriously people,,,,not even Quite Likeable?
Godlike guitar work! For this reason alone, this is a solid 8.
 thewiseking wrote:
Zzzzzz, more droning, still Comfortably Dumb.
 
Don't be so hard on yourself.
As for the song, it's OK. Not one of Gilmour's best.
Zzzzzz, more droning, still Comfortably Dumb.
 Relayer wrote:
Let me illustrate:

When David Gilmour sings, it sounds like:
"Remember that night, White sails in the moonlight.
They walked it too, Through empty playground, this ghost's town."

If Roger Waters was going to sing this song:
"REMEMBER YOU BUGGERS, HA HA HA HA HA, WHITE SHIPS SINKING IN THE FIRE AND MOON COLLAPSE!  YAH, YOU HAD IT COMING!  
THOSE MINDLESS RAN HERE TOO, DEAD PLAYGROUND FULL OF YOUR FORGOTTEN GHOSTS OF THATCHER!"
 
That's hillarious, well done :D
 Relayer wrote:
Let me illustrate:

When David Gilmour sings, it sounds like:
"Remember that night, White sails in the moonlight.
They walked it too, Through empty playground, this ghost's town."

If Roger Waters was going to sing this song:
"REMEMBER YOU BUGGERS, HA HA HA HA HA, WHITE SHIPS SINKING IN THE FIRE AND MOON COLLAPSE!  YAH, YOU HAD IT COMING!  
THOSE MINDLESS RAN HERE TOO, DEAD PLAYGROUND FULL OF YOUR FORGOTTEN GHOSTS OF THATCHER!"
 
Too funny! Roger is definitely an angry man {#Cheesygrin}
Let me illustrate:

When David Gilmour sings, it sounds like:
"Remember that night, White sails in the moonlight.
They walked it too, Through empty playground, this ghost's town."

If Roger Waters was going to sing this song:
"REMEMBER YOU BUGGERS, HA HA HA HA HA, WHITE SHIPS SINKING IN THE FIRE AND MOON COLLAPSE!  YAH, YOU HAD IT COMING!  
THOSE MINDLESS RAN HERE TOO, DEAD PLAYGROUND FULL OF YOUR FORGOTTEN GHOSTS OF THATCHER!"

This guy must really like Pink Floyd!

lol
 scrubbrush wrote:

I'm not moved by the lyrics but the guitar work is awesome



 
Agree.  

Sleepy little section here (Cult With No Name, Porcupine Tree, Gilmour). Not what I want at work right now :-/

I'm not moved by the lyrics but the guitar work is awesome


 Stingray wrote:

Boring music for wanna-be junkies.

Rock for 80+ years old - stuck in the 70's!

Makes me angry!!!



 
You have no idea what you are hearing, none. 
You know, it's good, but mostly because it reminds me of how much I loved "There's No Way Out of Here" and that period. Not sure if, on its own, I'd think so highly of it.
Hipgnosis was busy.
He had to use Yanni's cover art guy.
https://o.scdn.co/300/37070106eee2f526d97004486d3ec002ee3cbaf6
This will always be a 10 for me. The live version at Royal Albert Hall is note-perfect to the album version, with the added benefit of seeing David Crosby and Graham Nash doing BG vocals and Phil Manzanera on 2nd guitar.
 Stingray wrote:

Boring music for wanna-be junkies.

Rock for 80+ years old - stuck in the 70's!

Makes me angry!!!

 
and the only reason you are still here is so you can bitch about every non corprate rap crap tune played, go away, shut the f5473 UP
 bugleboy624 wrote:
RP is the reason why I bought this album. It's a really good album.

 
Good to know because I am thinking of getting it.
Dreary and SO depressingly dull. One of the songs which instantly causes me to switch from RP to ANYTHING else.
RP is the reason why I bought this album. It's a really good album.
 oldfart48 wrote:
great late night or lazy morning tune.....{#Bananajam}{#Bounce}

 
Kinda putting me to sleep right now.  Don't get me wrong, I love me some DG and/or PF, but right now, I need something with some more energy, not a lullaby.   In essence, I agree with your comment, but my current needs don't.
Only DG can make a love song so ponderous and depressing.
 Stingray wrote:

Boring music for wanna-be junkies.

Rock for 80+ years old - stuck in the 70's!

Makes me angry!!!



 
Man, you really hate everything, don't you?  Especially the epic stuff, like this song.
 coloradojohn wrote:
Perfect late-night buzz-on kinda song; jams full-on, sometimes in subtle and deeper ways, a lot like Echoes; & makes me wanna hear that!

 
Then why are we only rating this a 6.9??  This song deserves better....
 jagdriver wrote:

He freely admits this. All of the lyrics from this album are by his wife, Polly Samson.

 

 
Sigh.  It's good to be a rock star.
 coloradojohn wrote:
I can never forget the first time I heard this...I was doing some shopping in a neighborhood discount grocery store, in Setagaya-ku, Tokyo at a place that often had eclectic music on its sound-system; things like Stone Roses and Thievery Corp -- and heard this.  I thought, whoah, there is only ONE guitar that sounds like that; I knew instantly that Dave must have a new record out. Went home and got it...and then began to hear it over RP.  I agree that every serious guitar fan/ Gilmour fan should have it.  It's nice to hear Dave play that old Strat...  

 
That's a great story. Thanks for sharing. I felt a similar excitement upon hearing this tune for the first time on regular radio.

Boring music for wanna-be junkies.

Rock for 80+ years old - stuck in the 70's!

Makes me angry!!!


I can never forget the first time I heard this...I was doing some shopping in a neighborhood discount grocery store, in Setagaya-ku, Tokyo at a place that often had eclectic music on its sound-system; things like Stone Roses and Thievery Corp -- and heard this.  I thought, whoah, there is only ONE guitar that sounds like that; I knew instantly that Dave must have a new record out. Went home and got it...and then began to hear it over RP.  I agree that every serious guitar fan/ Gilmour fan should have it.  It's nice to hear Dave play that old Strat...  
I wonder what it is like to be a god? David, how does it feel?
This album might sound a little dreary but its littered with fine tasteful solos with tone to die for , not to be overlooked by guitar lovers.
Perfect late-night buzz-on kinda song; jams full-on, sometimes in subtle and deeper ways, a lot like Echoes; & makes me wanna hear that!


David Gilmour
- On An Island, Live

"This is certainly an extraordinary and uniquely human one of a kind musical expression .. dig it while we're still alive and pray that its somehow dialed in for the play list in the ever after experience as well."    
chrisellis63


great late night or lazy morning tune.....{#Bananajam}{#Bounce}
 dragon1952 wrote:
Reading the posts you wonder why this only has a 6.9 rating. Should be much higher IMO. The guy is incredible. Check out the Live at Albert Hall in blu-ray....godlike! 

IMO, it doesn't stand on its own.  The guy's reputation is PF-inflated.  Maybe too many of us who rate it <5 had moms who taught, "if you can't say anything nice . . ."
Ah, nice. very nice.
Reading the posts you wonder why this only has a 6.9 rating. Should be much higher IMO. The guy is incredible. Check out the Live at Albert Hall in blu-ray....godlike!
gotta admit... crosby and nash kinda make this one.
they only good as Pink Floyd


marvelous...  love it...

HEY YOU DEAF, DUMB and BLIND!

Have fun on plastic beach!


I feel like I got stoned just listening to this song.
I Love Floyd related material and this is a great example of unique and sweet sounding lyricism and performance.  {#Cheers}  Excellent programming Bill!
 westslope wrote:

This follows really nicely from Porcupine Tree's I Drive the Hearse.

The DJ rocks! 

 

This follow quite nicely, even better, from Porcupine Tree's Half-Light.

 


 stunix wrote:
David Gilmour needs Roger Waters to produce great music.  sorry but Polly brings out the pot poori side of him. 
Love the anecdote and the conclusion at the end.
This is so incredibly awesome and monumentally jamming in the way it builds, stands, and fades out...truly distinctively GILMOUR, too!
I love this album...from the beginning till the end. One of David's best solo works...
Gilmour a real musical talent - His best solo work outside of Floyd - crafted layered guitars as you would expect from Gilmour - real hints of Wish you were here - a real complement!
 Dr_Taco wrote:
This tune proves who had the songwriting chops in Pink Floyd.  Not Gilmour.
 
He freely admits this. All of the lyrics from this album are by his wife, Polly Samson.

 
 dwlangham wrote:
I love Gilmour's guitar playing, especially his work on Shine On YCD, The Wall, and The Final Cut.

I don't hate his solo work.

But honestly: Would we be listening to this languid song were it not for the reputation of his earlier work?

Let me answer my own question: No, I wouldn't give this song the time of day were it not for my familiarity with Gilmour's other (better) work.
 
I would be listening. I love this guy's guitar playing. 
What I would expect from Gilmour: Singing, ethereal guitar work, with masterful bends and a sensitive touch of the strings few can match. The peaceful atmosphere of his personal houseboat-recording studio is reflected well in this album.
All the better for having Crosby and Nash on background vocals.
Im biased...I admit it...cant believe this is already since 2006?!!!

Havent heard the whole album, but just cant get enuff of the guitar, the sound...so sue me