How Roy Harper Ended Up Singing 'Have a Cigar' Instead of David Gilmour

The demo for “Have a Cigar” recorded in late 1974 features David Gilmour handling the vocal—a straightforward rock delivery that later ended up on the Wish You Were Here box set. But during the proper sessions at Abbey Road, the band felt Gilmour’s voice wasn’t quite nailing the cynical, outsider perspective the lyrics demanded.

Producer Norman Smith, a longtime Pink Floyd associate, suggested his friend Roy Harper—a folk singer known for his wry, world-weary tone. Harper came in, laid down the vocal in a couple of takes, and nailed the sneering energy of the song (“By the way, which one’s Pink?”). The band liked it so much they kept it, though Harper later joked he wasn’t sure anyone even knew his name when the record came out.