The “Comfortably Numb” lyrics on Pink Floyd’s The Wall album represent a partly hallucinogenic experience. Roger Waters and David Gilmour are credited with co-writing the Comfortably Numb lyrics.
Waters has publicly stated that the Comfortably Numb lyrics were inspired by an experience of his when a doctor gave him a shot for hepatitis so that he could perform in a show that was close at hand. But, if one looks closely at the Comfortably Numb lyrics one will notice that there is indeed more to see.
The song is a conversation between doctor and patient and the patient, Pink, reminisces about his childhood on two occasions. First, was his experience as a child having a fever that was similar to what he was going through now. The second part of the Comfortably Numb lyrics talk about a fleeting glimpse of a dream. But, now the “The child is grown,
The dream is gone.”
This part of the Comfortably Numb lyrics may suggest that the dream for a better life has left or of a brighter future. Perhaps the protagonist has succumbed to the numbness of adulthood. But, what is most apparent is the angst within the numbness. Though Pink may have lost his dream and is feeling numb, he is not happy about this and is rebelling and resisting this state of consciousness that he says, “This is not how I am.”
Comfortably Numb Lyrics
Hello?
Is there anybody in there?
Just nod if you can hear me.
Is there anyone at home?
Come on, Come on, Come on, now,
I hear you’re feeling down.
I can ease your pain
Get you on your feet again.
Relax.
I’ll need some information first.
Just the basic facts.
Can you show me where it hurts?
There is no pain you are receding
A distant ship’s smoke on the horizon.
You are only coming through in waves.
Your lips move but I can’t hear what you’re saying.
When I was a child I had a FEVER My hands felt just like two balloons.
Now I’ve got that feeling once again
I can’t explain, you would not understand
This is not how I am.
I have become comfortably numb.
(solo)
I have become comfortably numb.
O.K.
Just a little pin prick.
There’ll be no more aaaaaaaaah!
But you may feel a little sick.
Can you stand up?
I do believe it’s working, good.
That’ll keep you going through the show
Come on it’s time to go.
There is no pain you are receding
A distant ship’s smoke on the horizon.
You are only coming through in waves.
Your lips move but I can’t hear what you’re saying.
When I was a child
I caught a fleeting glimpse
Out of the corner of my eye.
I turned to look but it was gone
I cannot put my finger on it now
The child is grown,
The dream is gone.
but I have become comfortably numb.
Note: Lyrics are copyrighted by the original artists, writers and publishers