Breathe (Pink Floyd song)
Encyclopedia
"Breathe" is a song by progressive rock
band Pink Floyd
and appears on their album The Dark Side of the Moon
.
playing the lush electric guitar with Univibe
and lap steel guitar
with a volume pedal and several overdubs. On the original Dark Side of the Moon album, it is a separate track from "Speak to Me", the sound collage which opens the album. Since this track segues directly into "Breathe" through the use of a sustained backwards
piano chord, the two are conjoined on most CD versions of the album. A one-minute reprise
is featured at the end of the song "Time
", without the slide guitar and with a more subdued organ.
Along with the other Pink Floyd tracks, "Time
" and "The Great Gig in the Sky
", "Breathe" is seen as Gilmour "carving out a more distinctive style" with the introduction of blues
-based chords and solos
. "Breathe" has also been seen to "embrace ecology".
It was one of twenty songs that had to be cut from Echoes: The Best of Pink Floyd
due to pacing. The reprise, however, is included on the album following with "Time" (though not on the tracklisting or lyric sheet).
Progressive rock
Progressive rock is a subgenre of rock music that developed in the late 1960s and early 1970s as part of a "mostly British attempt to elevate rock music to new levels of artistic credibility." John Covach, in Contemporary Music Review, says that many thought it would not just "succeed the pop of...
band Pink Floyd
Pink Floyd
Pink Floyd were an English rock band that achieved worldwide success with their progressive and psychedelic rock music. Their work is marked by the use of philosophical lyrics, sonic experimentation, innovative album art, and elaborate live shows. Pink Floyd are one of the most commercially...
and appears on their album The Dark Side of the Moon
The Dark Side of the Moon
The Dark Side of the Moon is the eighth studio album by English progressive rock band Pink Floyd, released in March 1973. It built on ideas explored in the band's earlier recordings and live shows, but lacks the extended instrumental excursions that characterised their work following the departure...
.
Authorship and composition
The authorship and composition of this song is credited to David Gilmour and Richard Wright for the music, and Roger Waters for the lyrics. The song is slow-paced and rich in texture, and features David GilmourDavid Gilmour
David Jon Gilmour, CBE, D.M. is an English rock musician and multi-instrumentalist who is best known as the guitarist, one of the lead singers and main songwriters in the progressive rock band Pink Floyd. In addition to his work with Pink Floyd, Gilmour has worked as a producer for a variety of...
playing the lush electric guitar with Univibe
Univibe
The Uni-Vibe is a footpedal-operated phaser or phase shifter for creating chorus and vibrato simulations for electric organ or guitar. It was introduced in the 1960s by Shin-ei, and was intended to emulate the "Doppler sound" of a Leslie speaker...
and lap steel guitar
Lap steel guitar
The lap steel guitar is a type of steel guitar, an instrument derived from and similar to the guitar. The player changes pitch by pressing a metal or glass bar against the strings instead of by pressing strings against the fingerboard....
with a volume pedal and several overdubs. On the original Dark Side of the Moon album, it is a separate track from "Speak to Me", the sound collage which opens the album. Since this track segues directly into "Breathe" through the use of a sustained backwards
Reverse tape effects
Reverse tape effects are special effects created by recording sound onto magnetic tape and then physically reversing the tape so that when the tape is played back, the sounds recorded on it are literally heard in reverse...
piano chord, the two are conjoined on most CD versions of the album. A one-minute reprise
Reprise
Reprise is a fundamental device in the history of art. In literature, a reprise consists of the rewriting of another work; in music, a reprise is the repetition or reiteration of the opening material later in a composition as occurs in the recapitulation of sonata form, though—originally in the...
is featured at the end of the song "Time
Time (Pink Floyd song)
"Time" is the fourth track from English progressive rock band Pink Floyd's 1973 album, The Dark Side of the Moon, and the only song on the album credited to all four members of the band...
", without the slide guitar and with a more subdued organ.
Along with the other Pink Floyd tracks, "Time
Time (Pink Floyd song)
"Time" is the fourth track from English progressive rock band Pink Floyd's 1973 album, The Dark Side of the Moon, and the only song on the album credited to all four members of the band...
" and "The Great Gig in the Sky
The Great Gig in the Sky
"The Great Gig in the Sky" is the fifth track from English progressive rock band Pink Floyd's 1973 album The Dark Side of the Moon. It features voice instrumental music by Clare Torry.-Composition:...
", "Breathe" is seen as Gilmour "carving out a more distinctive style" with the introduction of blues
Blues
Blues is the name given to both a musical form and a music genre that originated in African-American communities of primarily the "Deep South" of the United States at the end of the 19th century from spirituals, work songs, field hollers, shouts and chants, and rhymed simple narrative ballads...
-based chords and solos
Guitar solo
In popular music, a guitar solo is a melodic passage, section, or entire piece of music written for an electric guitar or an acoustic guitar. Guitar solos, which often contain varying degrees of improvisation, are used in many styles of popular music such as blues, jazz, rock and metal styles such...
. "Breathe" has also been seen to "embrace ecology".
It was one of twenty songs that had to be cut from Echoes: The Best of Pink Floyd
Echoes: The Best of Pink Floyd
Echoes: The Best of Pink Floyd is a compilation album by Pink Floyd. It was released by EMI Records in the United Kingdom on 5 November 2001 and the following day in the United States through Capitol Records. It debuted at number 2 on the Billboard 200 album chart on 24 November 2001, with sales...
due to pacing. The reprise, however, is included on the album following with "Time" (though not on the tracklisting or lyric sheet).
Alternative and live versions
- The P·U·L·S·E CD and DVD features a live version of the song with a run time of 2:33.
- The song was played at the Live 8Live 8Live 8 was a string of benefit concerts that took place on 2 July 2005, in the G8 states and in South Africa. They were timed to precede the G8 Conference and summit held at the Gleneagles Hotel in Auchterarder, Scotland from 6–8 July 2005; they also coincided with the 20th anniversary of Live Aid...
concert and features on the DVD. For that performance, "Breathe" and "Breathe (Reprise)Breathe (Reprise)"Breathe " is a song on Pink Floyd's album The Dark Side of the Moon. Following the song "Time", to which it serves as a coda, it reprises the earlier song "Breathe", with different lyrics...
" were combined to form one song. Although Pink Floyd themselves had never done this before, Sea of GreenSea of GreenSea of Green were a Toronto-based rock band combining elements of metal and psychedelia into their sound. The band was formed in 1999 by Travis Cardinal, Eric Kuthe on bass, and Chris Bender. On their final album, Chemical Vacation, drummer Matt Dowd was introduced to the line-up...
had previously covered the song in this manner on their 2001 album Time to FlyTime to FlyTime to Fly was the first full-length album from Toronto-based rock band Sea of Green, released on the Music Cartel label in 2001. The album was produced by '70s producer Nick Blagona who has worked with the likes of Deep Purple, The Police, and Rush amongst others.-Track listing:#"Annihilation" –...
. - The solo Roger Waters DVD and CD, In the Flesh – Live, features a version of the song sung by Doyle Bramhall and Jon Carin.
- Roger Waters originally recorded a song called "Breathe" for Music from The Body, a soundtrack album which he recorded with Ron GeesinRon GeesinRonald 'Ron' Geesin is a British musician and composer, noted for his quirky creations and novel applications of sound. He is probably best known as the orchestrator and organizer of Pink Floyd's "Atom Heart Mother" in 1970, after the band found themselves hopelessly deadlocked over how to...
. Although the two are largely different in lyrics, chords and subject matter, this version can be seen as an early version of the song. Although the song is still available through a CD release of this soundtrack album, it often appears on Pink Floyd bootlegs, most notably on A Tree Full of Secrets. - Live versions with Rick Wright appear on the David Gilmour solo Remember That NightRemember That NightRemember That Night is a live concert recording of Pink Floyd guitarist David Gilmour's solo concerts at the Royal Albert Hall on 29, 30 & 31 May 2006 as part of his On an Island tour. The title is taken from a line in the song "On an Island". It has been released on both DVD and Blu-ray formats...
DVD and Live in GdańskLive in GdanskLive in Gdańsk is a live album by David Gilmour. It is a part of his On an Island project which includes an album, tour, DVD, and live album. It was released on 22 September 2008...
CD. The Live in Gdańsk version is titled "Breathe (In the Air)" rather than just "Breathe".
Personnel
- David GilmourDavid GilmourDavid Jon Gilmour, CBE, D.M. is an English rock musician and multi-instrumentalist who is best known as the guitarist, one of the lead singers and main songwriters in the progressive rock band Pink Floyd. In addition to his work with Pink Floyd, Gilmour has worked as a producer for a variety of...
— music, lead guitar, slide guitar, lead vocals, backing vocals - Roger WatersRoger WatersGeorge Roger Waters is an English musician, singer-songwriter and composer. He was a founding member of the progressive rock band Pink Floyd, serving as bassist and co-lead vocalist. Following the departure of bandmate Syd Barrett in 1968, Waters became the band's lyricist, principal songwriter...
— lyrics, bass guitar - Richard WrightRichard Wright (musician)Richard William Wright was an English pianist, keyboardist and songwriter, best known for his career with Pink Floyd. Wright's richly textured keyboard layers were a vital ingredient and a distinctive characteristic of Pink Floyd's sound...
— music, organ, electric piano , backing vocals - Nick MasonNick MasonNicholas Berkeley "Nick" Mason is an English drummer and songwriter, best known for his work with Pink Floyd. He was the only constant member of the band since its formation in 1965...
— drums, percussion
Cover versions
- "Breathe" is covered on Pink Floyd tribute album An All Star Lineup Performing the Songs of Pink Floyd featuring McAuley Schenker Group vocalist Robin McAuleyRobin McAuleyRobin McAuley is an Irish rock vocalist known mostly for his work in McAuley Schenker Group and before that Grand Prix recording 2 albums...
and Steely DanSteely DanSteely Dan is an American rock band; its core members are Donald Fagen and Walter Becker. The band's popularity peaked in the late 1970s, with the release of seven albums blending elements of jazz, rock, funk, R&B, and pop...
/Doobie Brothers guitarist Jeff "Skunk" BaxterJeff BaxterJeff "Skunk" Baxter is an American guitarist, known for his stints in the rock bands Steely Dan and The Doobie Brothers during the 1970s...
. - An orchestrated version, arranged by Jaz ColemanJaz ColemanJeremy "Jaz" Coleman is a musician, composer, singer-songwriter and record producer. He is notable for his vocal contributions to rock band Killing Joke...
appears on the 1995 London Philharmonic OrchestraLondon Philharmonic OrchestraThe London Philharmonic Orchestra , based in London, is one of the major orchestras of the United Kingdom, and is based in the Royal Festival Hall. In addition, the LPO is the main resident orchestra of the Glyndebourne Festival Opera...
album Us and Them: Symphonic Pink FloydUs and Them: Symphonic Pink Floyd- Chart position :...
. - Sea of GreenSea of GreenSea of Green were a Toronto-based rock band combining elements of metal and psychedelia into their sound. The band was formed in 1999 by Travis Cardinal, Eric Kuthe on bass, and Chris Bender. On their final album, Chemical Vacation, drummer Matt Dowd was introduced to the line-up...
cover Breathe and Breathe (Reprise) on their album Time to FlyTime to FlyTime to Fly was the first full-length album from Toronto-based rock band Sea of Green, released on the Music Cartel label in 2001. The album was produced by '70s producer Nick Blagona who has worked with the likes of Deep Purple, The Police, and Rush amongst others.-Track listing:#"Annihilation" –...
. - Breathe is also covered by the southern metal band Hognose on their album ¡El Sombrero!, released by Arclight Records.
- A version of Breathe by The ShinsThe ShinsThe Shins are an American indie rock band comprising singer, songwriter, and guitarist James Mercer, guitarist/bassist Dave Hernandez, Eric Johnson of Fruit Bats, drummer Joe Plummer and bassist Ron Lewis. Their sound draws on several musical genres, including pop, alternative rock, indie rock,...
is included on the 2007 compilation album The Saturday Sessions: The Dermot O'Leary ShowThe Saturday Sessions: The Dermot O'Leary ShowThe Saturday Sessions: The Dermot O'Leary Show is a 2-disc compilation album of BBC Radio 2 popular music recordings, released in the United Kingdom in July 2007...
. - Flaming Lips included a version of "Breathe" in their act at the Glastonbury FestivalGlastonbury FestivalThe Glastonbury Festival of Contemporary Performing Arts, commonly abbreviated to Glastonbury or even Glasto, is a performing arts festival that takes place near Pilton, Somerset, England, best known for its contemporary music, but also for dance, comedy, theatre, circus, cabaret and other arts.The...
in 2003 and performed a live version for Late Night with Jimmy FallonLate Night with Jimmy FallonLate Night with Jimmy Fallon is an American late-night talk show hosted by Jimmy Fallon on NBC. The show premiered on March 2, 2009, as the third incarnation of the Late Night franchise originated by David Letterman....
in 2010. Flaming Lips also covered the song with Stardeath and White DwarfsStardeath and White DwarfsStardeath and White Dwarfs is an experimental rock band from Norman, Oklahoma, formed in late 2004. The band has released one album, one single and an EP, as well as contributing to The Flaming Lips' 2009 remake of The Dark Side of the Moon by Pink Floyd.The band consists of Dennis Coyne, Casey...
on the band's 2009 album The Flaming Lips and Stardeath and White Dwarfs with Henry Rollins and Peaches Doing The Dark Side of the Moon.