On the Turning Away: Gilmour’s Hopeful Turn After Waters’ Cynicism

Yes, the shift was intentional. David Gilmour has said that after The Final Cut’s bitterness, he wanted A Momentary Lapse of Reason to feel more open and inclusive. Anthony Moore helped him write lyrics that were direct and compassionate — “No more turning away from the weak and the weary” is a clear rejection of the detachment Gilmour saw in Roger Waters’ later work. The song’s title itself reframes the idea of looking away as a moral failure, not just a political one.

Gilmour made the lyrics a natural lead‑in to his guitar solos. He often recorded solos separately, then asked Moore to adjust the vocal phrasing so the words built toward the same emotional peak the guitar would hit. The solo on “On the Turning Away” climbs from restrained verses into a soaring, almost pleading cry — each bend and sustain mirrors the lyric’s call to stop ignoring suffering. Gil