Smell the Roses

Not to be confused with Stop and Smell the Roses.
"Smell the Roses"
Single by Roger Waters
from the album Is This the Life We Really Want?
Released20 April 2017
GenreProgressive rock
Length5:15
LabelColumbia
Songwriter(s)Roger Waters
Producer(s)Nigel Godrich
Roger Waters singles chronology
"We Shall Overcome"
(2010) 		"Smell the Roses"
(2017) 		"Déjà Vu"
(2017)

"Smell the Roses" is a song by English rock musician and former Pink Floyd member Roger Waters, and the ninth track on his fifth studio album, Is This the Life We Really Want? It was released as a single on 20 April 2017, and the album was released on 2 June 2017,[1][2][3] by Columbia Records.

In an interview, Waters said of the song: "“Smell the Roses” is almost an afterthought. It’s Nigel going, “Oh f—, you’ve written all these ballads, thank god we’ve done some jams. Could you please write some words to this thing?” “What thing?” “Oh, that thing in E.” “Do I have to?” “Yeah.” So I wrote that song four or five times and then eventually I said, “I’ve had this idea, which I think might work. What if Battersea Power Station is a munitions factory? And also it’s where we torture people? And it’s also this, and that, and the other, and we wrap everything up?” “Whatever, just write it!” So that’s it. It’s the image of this malevolent presence."[4]

The track marks the first music from Waters' first album in 25 years and his first record of new studio material since 1992's Amused to Death.[5] The track later appeared on his next LP, which Waters said would provide listeners with "unflinching commentary on the modern world and uncertain times."[6]

  1. ^ Grow, Kory (16 February 2017). "Hear Roger Waters Tease New 'Is This the Life We Really Want?' LP". Rolling Stone. Retrieved 22 March 2017.
  2. ^ Gil Kaufman. "Roger Waters Posts New Tease of First Solo Rock Album in 25 Years, 'Is This the Life We Really Want?'". Billboard.com. billboard.com. Retrieved 22 March 2017.
  3. ^ Wicks, Amanda (3 March 2017). "Roger Waters Previews New Album 'Is This the Life We Really Want?'". Radio.com. Archived from the original on 23 March 2017. Retrieved 22 March 2017.
  4. ^ Clark Collis. "Roger Waters Talks New Album — And Why Trump's Wall Is 'So Dumb'". Ew.com. Retrieved 2 January 2022.
  5. ^ "Listen to Roger Waters' Biting New Song, 'Smell the Roses'". Ultimate Classic Rock. Retrieved 28 February 2019.
  6. ^ Sarah Murphy (21 April 2017). "Roger Waters "Smell the Roses"". Exclaim.ca. Retrieved 28 February 2019.