Have a Cigar

"Have a Cigar," the biting satirical track from Pink Floyd's 1975 album Wish You Were Here, is a Roger Waters-penned critique of the music industry's greed and cynicism. One of the most intriguing stories behind the song is its vocal performance. Neither Waters nor David Gilmour, the band’s usual vocalists, sang the lead. Instead, English folk-rock singer Roy Harper stepped in after both struggled with the track. Harper, recording his album HQ at Abbey Road Studios simultaneously, offered to sing as a favor to Gilmour, who had previously contributed guitar to Harper’s work. According to Mark Blake’s book Pigs Might Fly: The Inside Story of Pink Floyd, Gilmour was reluctant to sing the scathing lyrics, as he didn’t fully share Waters’ cynical view of the industry, while Waters strained his voice recording "Shine On You Crazy Diamond." Harper’s delivery, with its sardonic edge, perfectly captured the song’s tone, especially the iconic line, “Oh, by the way, which one’s Pink?”—a real question the band encountered from clueless executives, as Gilmour recalled in a 1992 interview on In the Studio with Redbeard.

Another layer of trivia comes from the song’s production and its place in the album. The track’s funky, rock-driven sound, with its churning guitar riff and synth layers, contrasts with the album’s more ethereal tracks like "Shine On You Crazy Diamond." Its placement as the opener of side two on the original vinyl was deliberate, providing a jolt of energy after the dystopian "Welcome to the Machine," as discussed in a 2022 Reddit thread on the r/pinkfloyd subreddit. The song’s outro, with a blistering Gilmour guitar solo fading into a tinny, AM radio-like filter sweep, was a symbolic jab at the commodification of music, as noted on the Pink Floyd Fandom wiki. Harper later revealed in a 2020 Consequence of Sound interview that he jokingly asked for a lifetime ticket to Lord’s Cricket Ground as payment, but received a one-time cheque instead, which he never cashed, feeling insulted by the gesture.

The song has also left a cultural footprint through covers and tributes. The Foo Fighters, featuring Brian May of Queen, recorded a version for the Mission: Impossible 2 soundtrack, with drummer Taylor Hawkins on vocals, as mentioned on Songfacts. Gov’t Mule included it in their 2008 Dark Side of the Mule live album, blending it with Pink Floyd covers. A 2011 issue of Mojo magazine featured a cover by John Foxx and The Maths, though an incorrect version was initially released, later corrected via a free download, as noted on Wikipedia. A 2020 post by @pinkfloyd on X highlighted an alternate version from the Wish You Were Here sessions, recorded March 10-12, 1975, at Abbey Road, showcasing the band’s experimental process.

Pink Floyd began in London in 1965, emerging from the city’s vibrant underground scene. Founded by Syd Barrett (guitar, vocals), Roger Waters (bass, vocals), Nick Mason (drums), and Richard Wright (keyboards, vocals), the band initially cycled through names like Sigma 6 and The Screaming Abdabs before Barrett coined “Pink Floyd,” combining the names of blues musicians Pink Anderson and Floyd Council. Barrett’s psychedelic vision, blending blues, music hall, and Lewis Carroll-inspired lyrics, drove their early sound, resulting in 1967’s debut album, The Piper at the Gates of Dawn, and hit singles like “Arnold Layne” and “See Emily Play.” By 1968, Barrett’s mental health struggles and LSD use led to his departure, with David Gilmour joining as his replacement. Waters then took the creative helm, steering the band toward conceptual masterpieces like The Dark Side of the Moon (1973) and Wish You Were Here (1975), cementing their legacy as progressive rock pioneers, as detailed on Britannica.

Fans can stay connected with Pink Floyd through their official website, Facebook, Instagram, and X accounts, which share updates on reissues, archival releases, and band news. Dedicated fan communities thrive online, including A Fleeting Glimpse, a fan site with news and rare content, and the r/pinkfloyd subreddit, a hub for discussions and trivia. On Facebook, groups like Pink Floyd Fans and The Pink Floyd Appreciation Society foster vibrant communities for Zoo Freaks to share their love for the band’s music and legacy.