On the Turning Away by Pink Floyd Lyrics Meaning – Dismantling Apathy in a Progressive Anthem
Lyrics
From the pale and downtrodden
And the words they say
Which we won’t understand
“Don’t accept that what’s happening
Is just a case of others’ suffering
Or you’ll find that you’re joining in
The turning away”
It’s a sin that somehow
Light is changing to shadow
And casting it’s shroud
Over all we have known
Unaware how the ranks have grown
Driven on by a heart of stone
We could find that we’re all alone
In the dream of the proud
On the wings of the night
As the daytime is stirring
Where the speechless unite
In a silent accord
Using words you will find are strange
Mesmerized as they light the flame
Feel the new wind of change
On the wings of the night
No more turning away
From the weak and the weary
No more turning away
From the coldness inside
Just a world that we all must share
It’s not enough just to stand and stare
Is it only a dream that there’ll be
No more turning away?
As the gentle chords of Pink Floyd’s ‘On the Turning Away’ rise in the air, listeners are enveloped in a powerful call to consciousness that transcends time and musical genres. The track, found on the band’s 1987 album ‘A Momentary Lapse of Reason’, resonates with a message that is as haunting as it is enlightening—prompting a séance with the human spirit and the compelling need to address the weariness that accompanies social alienation.
With lyrical dissections revealing layers of complexity, ‘On the Turning Away’ possesses the unique Pink Floyd trademark—merging the ethereal with the profound. The song, penned by David Gilmour and Anthony Moore, serves as an eloquent social comment on indifference and the silent complicity in the face of others’ suffering. What follows is an exploration into the depth of this anthem and its transformative power that still echoes with relevance.
The Ethos of Empathy: A Lyrical Breakdown
At the heart of ‘On the Turning Away’ lies a yearning for empathy, a stark reminder of the ease with which society can slip into aloofness. The pale and downtrodden symbolize the marginalized, while the cryptic words are the cries of help that go incomprehensible, not by language, but by willful ignorance. Pink Floyd introduces the concept of a sin; an ethical breach, not in the religious sense but a humanitarian faux pas—as the light of understanding turns to the shadow of neglect.
The band plays into an age-old narrative of apathy, with the ‘ranks’ of the unaware growing, powered by an indifference that’s as hard as stone. Gilmour’s soaring guitar and evocative lyrics dissect the comfort with which individuals could find themselves in seclusion, a moral laziness disguised as a dream of resilience and pride.
The Night’s Awakening: ‘On the Wings of the Night’
Eschewing the conventional structure of verses and choruses, Pink Floyd reaches a crescendo with ‘On the Wings of the Night’, an allegorical passage that highlights the transition from darkness to light. It offers a metaphorical representation of a collective awakening happening in the obscure hours, where the disenfranchised find unity and a voice—even if silent—against the status quo.
The strange words here are not a literal language but represent ideas, perceptions, and convictions that awaken the uninitiated, igniting the flame of change. The night, often associated with concealment and avoidance, now carries the ironic wings of enlightenment, suggesting that understanding and solidarity can arise from the most shadowy corners.
The Call to Action: No More Turning Away
Above all, ‘On the Turning Away’ is an insistent call to action. The declarative ‘No more turning away’ commands the audience’s attention, asking for active participation in the shared plight of humanity. The song challenges us not to ignore the coldness we foster inside by remaining silent observers, but rather to acknowledge that indifference is an antithesis to a shared world that requires mutual care and engagement.
Pink Floyd doesn’t pose this as a mere suggestion; the language is definitive. There’s a palpable sense of urgency in the words—a clarion call demanding an end to detachment and signaling a time for restorative justice and compassion.
A Mandate of Hope: Is It Only a Dream?
The final verse of the song places a question mark on the whole premise, posing the profound inquiry on whether the vision of a world without indifference is mere idealism. Gilmour and co.’s poetic dexterity allows the listener to ponder deeply on the transformative potential harbored within every individual, pressing the all-too-human tension between hope and cynicism.
This rhetorical question isn’t so much a statement of doubt as it is a call to redefine reality. By challenging the audience to consider their personal capacity for change, Pink Floyd positions ‘On the Turning Away’ not as an endpoint, but as the beginning of a conscious movement towards unity and action.
Memorable Lines and Everlasting Echoes
‘On the Turning Away’ remains a testament to Pink Floyd’s songwriting prowess, etching lines into the listener’s consciousness long after the music fades. The resounding words ‘It’s not enough just to stand and stare’ assert that observation is not participation. Indeed, the band’s rich musical tapestry always harbored the power of action as intrinsic to their message.
These lines are more than memorable; they are calls engraved in the zeitgeist, asking listeners to consider their role in a world where awareness is not an end but a beginning. The song’s lasting impression is more than musical—it’s a continuing commentary on human nature and the capacity for social evolution within the symphony of society.
