David Gilmour used wife’s fever as inspiration for unlikely Pink Floyd song

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Songs written by the veteran guitarist David Gilmour have sprouted from some of the most unlikely of places.

For his time as frontman of Pink Floyd, Gilmour put together two albums, A Momentary Lapse of Reason, and The Division Bell. The latter album featured the song Lost for Words, a song that was inspired by Polly Samson’s fever. The inspiration was confirmed by Samson herself as she said the “Little Venice” home they shared proved to be the makings of one of Gilmour’s best Pink Floyd songs. Following Roger Waters‘ departure from the band, Gilmour found himself in possession of the band, inviting Richard Wright back to the group and continuing on with drummer Nick Mason.

Posting to Facebook in May, Samson wrote: “Goodness, this takes me back. David’s footsteps on the flagstone floor of the hallway of the house in Little Venice (where we first shared a home) and the slam of our front door! And the lyrics (like much of The Division Bell album) written while I had a fever; waking from a dream about ivy growing over a door and David saying ‘write that down.’ Listening today, I’d say it holds true that one shouldn’t waste one’s days engulfed in a fever of spite.”

While it would serve as the penultimate song on The Division Bell, and one of Gilmour’s best songs from his time fronting Pink Floyd, he would never perform it as a solo musician. It isn’t the only song Gilmour has ruled out playing during his live set either, with one song dubbed far too violent for him to keep playing.

Gilmour, who has toured as a solo musician since the dissolution of Pink Floyd in 1994, has stayed true to his word and refused to perform several of their very best songs.

Part of the reason is the “violence” for one song, while another song, written by Waters, has been avoided during his solo career because Gilmour wanted to pursue “my music” rather than the work of other members. It is not just Waters’ work that is avoided, with Richard Wright, Nick Mason, and Syd Barrett songs rarely getting a look-in on the solo setlists of late.

Speaking to MOJO Magazine last year, Gilmour said: “There are songs from the past that I no longer feel comfortable singing. I love Run Like Hell [from 1982’s The Wall]. I loved the music I created for it, but all that (sings) ‘You’d better run, run, run…’ I now find that all rather, I don’t know… a bit terrifying and violent.

“Another Brick In The Wall is another one I shan’t be doing. I don’t think I’ve done that with my own band, but I certainly did it in the post-Roger Pink Floyd, against my better judgment. The same with Money. I won’t be doing that. I’m going to be sticking with the ones that are essentially my music, and I feel some ownership of. Comfortably Numb, Wish You Were Here, Shine On You Crazy Diamond, maybe…”

Gilmour has stuck to his word when it comes to keeping away from certain Pink Floyd songs. His last performance of Run Like Hell came during a 2016 performance at the Royal Albert Hall in London, England, while Another Brick in the Wall has still not been performed by Gilmour as a solo artist.