Smell the Roses, the first song from Roger Waters new album has just been released.
Smell The Roses
Since performing at Desert Trip, Roger has been at work completing his new album, “Is This the Life We Really Want?”
Smell the Roses”is the opening track on the 2017 album. The song is about the state of the world and how people are often too caught up in their own lives to notice what’s happening around them. The title “Smell the Roses” is a metaphor for taking time to appreciate the simple things in life and not getting too wrapped up in materialism and consumerism.
Musically, “Smell the Roses” features a slow, grooving rhythm with bluesy guitar riffs and a heavy bass line. The song builds gradually with layers of keyboards and backing vocals, leading up to a powerful chorus with the lyrics “Wake up and smell the roses.”
Lyrically, the song addresses various political and social issues, including climate change, inequality, and the rise of right-wing politics. Waters sings from the perspective of someone who is disillusioned with the state of the world and frustrated with the lack of action being taken to address these problems.
On first listen, the song sounds a little weak. Roger’s vocals start in his ‘speaking style’ reminiscent of ‘To Kill a Child’. The venomous track starts to pick up the pace as the lyrics pack an even greater punch.
” This is the room where they make the explosives
Where they put your name on the bomb
Here’s where they bury the buts and the ifs
And scratch out words like right and wrong ”
(Roger Waters Smell the Roses – Lyrics)
The middle break is reminiscent of the Animals era songs and includes some Dogs barking in the background. The Animals reference makes sense after the contextual success of these songs in concert last year.
I am rapidly growing to like this song. Roger’s vocals gain power as the song runs through with punchy backing singers adding to the texture with ‘Gilmour style’ guitars kicking in to end the track on a high.
