Two Suns In The Sunset

Zoo Freaks, the Zoo Crew is spinning the haunting vibes of Pink Floyd's "Two Suns In The Sunset" from their 1983 album The Final Cut, and we've got some trippy trivia to share. This track, the closing piece of the album, paints a chilling picture of a nuclear holocaust, with the "two suns" symbolizing the sun setting in the west and the glowing fireball of a nuclear explosion in the east. Roger Waters, the song's writer, shared in a 2003 Uncut interview that it’s about living in the moment, urging listeners not to be "scared to take risks" in the face of potential annihilation. The song’s complex time signatures, shifting from 9/8 to 4/4 with measures of 7/8 and 3/8, proved too tricky for drummer Nick Mason, so session musician Andy Newmark stepped in, a rare move for the band. Waters drew inspiration from Andrzej Wajda’s film Ashes and Diamonds, and the lyric “ashes and diamonds, foe and friend, we were all equal in the end” reflects the ultimate equality death brings. In a poignant twist, Waters performed the song live for the first time in 2018 during his Us + Them Tour in Brazil, nearly 35 years after its release, and later shared a socially distanced rendition in 2020, noting on X how much he loved the track.

Another gem from the Zoo Crew’s crate: Waters revealed on a Tumblr fan page, More Relics, that the song stemmed from a drive home where he imagined the sudden horror of a nuclear strike. He wrote it to capture the gut-wrenching realization of losing loved ones forever, referencing his father’s death in World War II and the sacrifices of “the few.” The track’s saxophone solo by Raphael Ravenscroft, famous for Gerry Rafferty’s “Baker Street,” adds an unexpectedly uplifting note to the apocalyptic theme, as fans on Songfacts have noted. The song never saw a live Pink Floyd performance due to the lack of a promotional tour for The Final Cut, which X posts from the band’s official account confirm was originally meant to be a soundtrack for The Wall called Spare Bricks. Fans on the Neptune Pink Floyd forum debate its bluesy vibe fitting better on Waters’ solo album Pros and Cons of Hitch Hiking, but its dark anti-war message seals it as the perfect closer for The Final Cut.

Now, let’s rewind to how Pink Floyd got their start, a tale as wild as a Zoo Freak’s dance party. Formed in London in 1965, the band began as a psychedelic outfit led by Syd Barrett, with Roger Waters on bass, Nick Mason on drums, and Richard Wright on keyboards. They cycled through names before landing on Pink Floyd, inspired by bluesmen Pink Anderson and Floyd Council. Barrett’s whimsical mix of blues, Lewis Carroll-esque lyrics, and experimental sounds defined their early hit “Arnold Layne” and debut album The Piper at the Gates of Dawn in 1967, as detailed on Britannica. Playing at underground venues like the Marquee Club, they wowed crowds with trippy light shows and extended jams like “Interstellar Overdrive.” By 1968, Barrett’s mental health struggles and LSD use led to his departure, with David Gilmour stepping in on guitar. Waters took the creative helm, steering the band toward concept albums like The Dark Side of the Moon and The Wall, cementing their progressive rock legend status.

Zoo Freaks, you can dive deeper into Pink Floyd’s world at their official website, where you’ll find discography and news. Connect with the band on Facebook, Instagram, and X for updates and throwback posts. For fan-driven vibes, check out A Fleeting Glimpse, a comprehensive fan site endorsed by band associates, or join the Neptune Pink Floyd community for forums and trivia. The Pink Floyd Relics Facebook group is another spot to swap stories and rare photos with fellow freaks. Keep spinning those records, and let’s meet on the dark side of the moon!