David Gilmour – There’s No Way Out Of Here

Gilmour is one of those guitarists who you know by his tone. That’s all it takes to recognize him playing without knowing it. In the 1980s, Paul McCartney released “No More Lonely Nights,” and I knew right away that he must have called David Gilmour to do the solo…and he did. Gilmour is like Hendrix in that regard; it’s not hard to pick out his sound. 

I will admit, my favorite Pink Floyd music is the Syd Barrett years, although I do like some of the 1970s as well. Listening to Gilmour’s debut solo album, I’m really impressed. His songs were on point and not much wandering into Floyd land. Of course, you hear some; it’s hard not to with his voice. 

When David Gilmour began work on his first solo album, David Gilmour, the idea made sense. He wanted a break from the structure and pressure that surrounded Pink Floyd in the 1970s. As he said, to establish his own identity outside of the “claustrophobic shadow of Pink Floyd.”  The band had just finished the massive tour for Animals, and was entering a tense period that would lead to The Wall. Recording a solo record gave Gilmour a chance to work at his own pace and record songs that didn’t need to fit a concept.

Some songs came from outside writers. This song was written by Ken Baker and had first appeared on a record by the British country-rock group Unicorn. Gilmour liked the song and reshaped it with a heavier guitar sound and a slower feel to fit him perfectly. Once he puts that guitar on a song, it becomes a Gilmour song. 

The songs on this album were shorter and more straightforward. The guitar stayed at the center of the sound. It didn’t try to compete with the HUGE scale of Pink Floyd’s records. Over time, the album has come to be seen as a snapshot of where he was just before the The Wall era began.

The album peaked at #17 in the UK, #29 on the Billboard Album Charts, and #22 in New Zealand in 1978. 

There’s No Way Out of Here

There’s no way out of hereWhen you come inYou’re in for goodThere was no promise madeThe part you playedThe chance you took

There are no boundaries setThe time and yetYou waste it stillSo it slips through your handsLike grains of sandYou watch it goThere’s no time to be lostYou’ll pay the costSo get it right

There’s no way out of hereWhen you come inYou’re in for good

And never was there an answerThere an answerNot without listeningWithout seeing

There are no answers hereWhen you look outYou don’t see inThere was no promise madeThe part you playedThe chance you took

There’s no way out of hereWhen you come inYou’re in for good

And never was there an answerThere an answerNot without listeningWithout seeing

There’s no way out of hereWhen you come inYou’re in for goodThere are no answers hereWhen you look outYou don’t see in

There was no promise madeThe part you playedThe chance you took

(When you come in)(You’re in for good)

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Author: Badfinger (Max)

Power Pop fan, Baseball, Beatles, Alternative music, old movies, and tv show fan. Also anything to do with pop culture in the 60s and 70s... I'm also a songwriter, bass and guitar player. Not the slightest bit interested in politics at all.

18 thoughts on “David Gilmour – There’s No Way Out Of Here”

  1. Very enjoyable read, Max. After all these years, I find I am still in love with David Gilmour and his music. He is an enormous talent. I have something coming up tomorrow for Song Lyric Sunday which you may enjoy.

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  2. Holy Moly. I never knew Gilmour played on that Macca track. I need to go and listen to that now. I’m glad I caught Gilmour live back in 94. What a monster on guitar.

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  3. Pingback: David Gilmour – There’s No Way Out Of Here – MobsterTiger

  5. Fine song I hadn’t heard for years now. You’re right about him being an identifiable sounding guitarist, one of the best I’d say. I’m in the rare minority who think Pink Floyd didn’t lose much when Roger Waters quit and Gilmour took the wheel.

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    1. I never listened much to anything outside of what was on the radio…well then I started to get into the Barrett years…it was like finding a new band! I started to appreciate their later music because of it…I am glad I got to see them in the 90s as well.

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      1. that would have been an impressive concert for sure. Gilmour’s put out several solo albums but there’s not a lot I’ve heard from them, but what I have sounds good. This might be the song of his I know the most, and then ‘On an Island’ I think it was called. MAkes sense that with the complexity and big production of Pink Floyd he might want to do something on the side that wasn’t as ‘deep’

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      2. When I heard parts of this album I was surprised…it wasn’t PF number 2 at all… I liked this alot because he did keep it simple….and yea that must have been a relief to someone who had to write for concepts…and to cover songs more.

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  6. As much as I appreciate his abilities I would not be able to pick it out of a police line-up. I don’t know his solo stuff much, but I believe he has done things with his daughter that I looked into once.

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  7. This cut just brings me in. Builds then releases. What a band on that live cut. I could listen to them all day. Like you my PF leaning is towards the early stuff. Yeah Dave’s guitar has always grabbed me, back to when he wigged out at Pompeii. Did you pick up his subtle nod to the girls to jump in. Love that touch.

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    1. I loved this…this is catchy and it sticks with you…with that guitar riff. I couldn’t believe it was a cover…he made it his own.
      I remember watching Pompeii in the early 80s the first time…that is when I started to think…hmmm…they are really good. I’m glad I got to see them…even if it was without Waters.

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      1. I had no idea it was a cover and Ive been listening to it since it was released. Im usually better than that.

        I had a buddy who turned me onto ‘Meddle’. I had some exposure to PFs earlier stuff but that album put me over the edge combined with that Pompeii concert. It really did blow my mind. I always wondered what the locals thought when they heard that noise coming out of those ruins especially when Gilmour went to town.

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      2. CB…it sounds SO much like one of his songs…he really took ownership of it.
        The look of it really was so different. Those hills made a natural sound as well…it was a great idea…yea I’d love to know what the locals thought…. I also love when they held the mic to the dog…just barking away with the harmonica/blues harp….

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  8. Max, don’t the lyrics sound like he’s expressing his anxiety and feeling trapped by his Pink Floyd identity? It’s a good tune, and you said it well, when his guitar (and voice) come in, the song is his.

    I just heard a cut from an album he did last year, on release radar. I also see he’s doing music with his daughter, Romany (I wonder if he or she has Romany roots??) Here’s one cut from it:

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    1. Maybe that is the reason he covered this song…he could relate to it. After The Wall he would REALLY relate to it.
      Thanks for the link…that sounds so smooth…it’s so him and sounds really good. I want to hear more of this.

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