Analysis: Raygun's one greatest (indirect) contribution to the world

[ngant17]

Obama might have missed this in his book, but the one contribution that Raygun made to the world (unintentionally, of course): He motivated Roger Gilmore to write a great (and my personal favorite) Pink Floyd song, which BTW was rather uncomplimentary of the man.

Pink Floyd - from the 1987 album, "A Momentary Lapse of Reason":
Yet Another Movie
(Roger Gilmore lyrics below)

--------------------------------------
One sound, one single sound
One kiss, one single kiss
A face outside the window pane
However did it come to this?
A man who ran, a child who cried
A girl who heard, a voice that lied
The sun that burned a fiery red
The vision of an empty bed
The use of force, he was so tough
She'll soon submit, she's had enough
The march of fate, the broken will
Someone is lying very still
He has laughed and he has cried
He has fought and he has died
He's just the same as all the rest
He's not the worst, he's not the best
And still this ceaseless murmuring
The babbling that I brook
The seas of faces, eyes upraised
The empty screen, the vacant look
A man in black on a snow white horse,
A pointless life has run its course,
The red rimmed eyes, the tears still run
As he fades into the setting sun

--------------
A mimic of Raygun's voice is in background.

Each line of those lyrics are rife with profound references.

For example, in the line "He's not the worst, he's not the best", I think he refers to Jimmy Carter's first book, "Why Not the Best".

"The sun that burned a fiery red". He possibly refers to Raygun's notorioius anti-communist politics which resulted wholesale murders in El Salvador and other parts of Central America.

Lots of important symbolic meanings here, but the voice of Raygun at the end isn't hard to decipher.

[aquart]

1. The Reagan Legacy is beggars and infomercials.

I hope they make him watch them in Hell. While he begs for money for food and shelter.

[Horse with no Name]

2. Here is another

In Europe and America, there's a growing feeling of hysteria
Conditioned to respond to all the threats
In the rhetorical speeches of the Soviets
Mr. Krushchev said we will bury you
I don't subscribe to this point of view
It would be such an ignorant thing to do
If the Russians love their children too

How can I save my little boy from Oppenheimer's deadly toy
There is no monopoly in common sense
On either side of the political fence
We share the same biology
Regardless of ideology
Believe me when I say to you
I hope the Russians love their children too

There is no historical precedent
To put the words in the mouth of the President
There's no such thing as a winnable war
It's a lie that we don't believe anymore
Mr. Reagan says we will protect you
I don't subscribe to this point of view
Believe me when I say to you
I hope the Russians love their children too

We share the same biology
Regardless of ideology
What might save us, me, and you
Is if the Russians love their children too

[physioex]

3. LOL...

There are lots of songs that refer to the Raygun era. Don Henley referred to him as an "Arm Chair Warrior". Bon Jovi wrote "Living on a Prayer" because of Raygun's union busting ways.....

On Edit: I remember an old skool rap song "What's high inflation Reganomics" or something to that effect...

[ngant17]

4. And the Soyuz cosmonauts actually took that song into space!

although technically, it was on the next album, Delicate Sound of Thunder, which was largely repackaged with the earlier songs in Momentary Lapse of Reason. This was the closest Raygun ever came to unifying the world. Thank god for Pink.

[physioex]

5. Check this out hilarious...

RAY-GUN-OMICS - 1983 - PROJECT FUTURE

Reaganomics
More Atomics
High inflation
And taxation

Don't yield to temptation,
Crime comes from inflation,
Not just in this nation,
It's a world situation

Chorus I:
Reaganomics (high inflation)
More atomics (and taxation)
High inflation (Reaganomics)
And taxation (more atomics)

Time keeps on changing
Always rearranging
Politicians are aging
What price are we paying?

Chorus II:
High inflation (Reaganomics)
And taxation (more atomics)
Reaganomics (high inflation)
More atomics (and taxation)

[Wiley50]

6. Tech Point: It's DAVID Gilmour and ROGER Waters

Sorry to be picky, but I've been a fan since the orig Pink Floyd Album and then Saucer full of secrets

Finally got to see them (1st of 5 times) in 1971, the Meddle tour, Altlanta Memorial Arts Ctr, Symphony Hall (3000 seats)

[shadowknows69]

7. And actually Waters wasn't in the group for that Album.

[snagglepuss]

8. .