Roger Waters and Palestinian musician Mona Miari re-ignite “Comfortably Numb,” with Arabic verses that transform the Pink Floyd classic into a powerful reimagining that brings global attention to genocide
The legendary Roger Waters and acclaimed Palestinian musician Mona Miari are releasing a re-imagined version of the iconic song Comfortably Numb, 47 years after it was first released, with new Arabic verses that transform the Pink Floyd classic into a powerful battlecry to bring global attention to the continued genocide in Gaza. This new interpretation amplifies the song’s original message of rejecting extreme alienation and apathy and brings in new Arabic arrangements and melodies that evoke feelings of resistance and solidarity—themes that are increasingly relevant to the genocidal Israeli war waged against the Palestinian People. Mona Miari intentionally wrote a segment of the song in honor of Hind Rajab, titled Hind’s Lullaby, a haunting exchange imagined as a conversation between Hind Rajab and her mother. Waters also contributes newly written lyrics that reflect on the sanctity of human life: “And every human life was sacred, everyone / Every daughter, every son / With equal human right for everyone,” echoed in Arabic as: “وكانت وقتها كل حياةٍ مقدَّسة / كلُّ ابنةٍ وكلُّ ابن.”
From Palestine to Sudan, Congo, Yemen, Haiti, Cuba, Iran, and beyond, communities across the Global South continue to face violence, displacement, and systemic erasure. Lasting solidarity is most powerful when it becomes part of our everyday practice.
The call to action includes incorporating support from their partners—political education, grassroots organizing, independent media, and cultural work, the greater our collective power to create meaningful change.
Learn - The People's Forum
Organize - Palestinian Youth Movement & Palestinian Feminist Collective
Read - Palestine Writes
Watch - Watermelon Pictures
Amplify - Independent journalists through Writers Against the War on Gaza
Support Artists - Artists Against Apartheid
This musical collaboration between Roger Waters and Mona Miari is rooted in a shared belief that art must remain a space for free expression, even in moments when artists face censorship and political pressure. The project centers the responsibility of artists to reflect the world around them and to speak openly about injustice, humanity, and collective suffering.
Press Materials:
“Comfortably Numb - Reimagined” → translation
Roger - Verse 1:
Hello, is there anybody in there? مرحبًا، هل من أحدٍ هناك؟
Just nod if you can hear me, Is there anyone at home? أومِئ لي إن تَسمِعُني. هل من أحدٍ في البيت؟
Come on now, I hear you‘re feeling down أعلَمُ أنك في شِدّة
Well, I can ease the pain, دعني أُخفِّف الألم
Get you on your feet again حتى تقف على قدميك مجددا
Relax, Relax I need some information first اهدأ،اهدأ، سأحتاج أولًا إلى بعض المعلومات
Just the basic facts أعطني الحقائق الأساسية فقط
Can you show me where it hurts أرجوك، أَرِني مَوضع الألم
Mona - Verse 1:
After all that’s happened بعد اللي صار
There’s no one left ما في حدا
No words are left ما ضلّ في كلام
Why ask at all? شو نفع السؤال؟
All that is gone كل اللي راح
Home.. beloved home دار يا دار يا دار
The night fell silent and the dawn unraveled in whispers
قوليله، يا دا
The olive branch غصن الزيتون
reaches up to the stars ضلّه شامخ، بين النجوم
carries the wounds مليان جراح
of a wailing nation الشعب اللي صاح
Chorus:
Roger - verse 2:
I feel your pain from New York City أشعرُ بألَمِكَ من نيويورك
I feel your pain across the sea يصلني ألمُكَ عبر البحر
That distant ship on the horizon وتلك السفينة البعيدة في الأفق
Is calling out to you and me تنادينا معًا
Mona - verse 2:
When I was young, I dreamt of freedom وأنا صغيرة، كان حلمي الحرية
Today it is hope that fuels who I am. اليوم الأمل، صار نار الهوية
We are roots breaking through rocks إحنا جذور بتِكسر حجر
From under the rubble, we birth our fate من تحت الردم، منرسم القدر
we are the light after darkness إحنا النور بعد العتم
we are what’s promised, we are the dream احنا الوعد، احنا الحلم
Roger & Mona:
I will never become comfortably numb لن أسمحَ أن أُصبحَ مُخدَّرًا ومرتاح
Roger - Verse 3:
We never knew about the Nakba لم نكن نعرف شيئًا عن النكبة.
I was only five years old in ‘48 كنتُ طفلًا في الخامسة عام ثمانيةٍ وأربعين
We were unaware, what was happening over there كنا غافلين عمّا يحدثُ هناك
It breaks my heart I came on board so late وكَم تُؤلِمُني صَحوَتي المُتأخِرة
You reached us all, with your rallying call لكن ندائكُم وصلنا جميعًا
Now here we stand at your gate. ها نحن اليوم نقِفُ على أبوابكُم
Mona’s verse 3:
Writer of the page, write on every line يا كاتب الورقة، اكتب وملّيها
tell them how the siege rages all around احكيلهن، كيف كبر، هالحصار فيها
Homes have fallen.. some live, so many die وقعوا البيوت.. ناس بتحيا، كتير بتموت
the land is going nowhere, we are destined to return الأرض باقية، ومكتوب الرجعة عليها
Roger - Verse 4:
The time has come for a new beginning آنَ أوانُ بدايةٍ جديدة
Time to draw a new line in the sand آنَ أوانُ رسمِ خطٍ جديدٍ في الرمال
It is time to wipe/clean the slate آن أوانُ صفحةٍ جديدة
Go back to 1948 نرجعُ بها لعام ثمانية وأربعين
Before the settlers stole the land قبل أن يسلبَ المستوطنون الأرض
When grandma’s key unlocked the door عندما كان مفتاح جدتك يفتحُ الأبواب
And everyone revered the olive tree عندما كانت شجرة الزيتون مُبجلَّة
And every human life was sacred everyone, وكانت وقتها كل حياةٍ مقدَّسة
Every daughter, every son كلُّ ابنةٍ وكلُّ ابن
With equal human right for everyone بحقٍّ إنسانيٍّ متساوٍ للجميع
Lullaby:
Mona:
The pretty birds in the courtyard ما احلى حمام الدار
The pretty birds in the courtyard ما احلى حمام الدار
Mother, come find me يا أمي لاقيني
Roger:
Is that a Lullaby هل هذه تهويدة؟
Is that your child’s name هل هذا اسمُ طفلك؟
I hear you through the rubble أسمعك بين الركام
I can feel your pain أشعر بألمك
Mona:
Mother, come find me يا إمي لاقيني
Embrace me in the sky بالسما.. أحضنيني
Roger:
I hear you every morning أسمعُكِ كلَّ صباحٍ
Praying with your mom مع أُمِّك تُصَلّين
Your steadfast perseverance صمودك الصامد
Calls me from afar يناديني من بعيد
Mona:
I leave you with the homeland, بوصّيكِ بالوطن
with the soil, with the trees, بالتّراب، بالشجر
I hold your heart and pray at dusk بحضن قلبك.. وبدعي بالسحر
Roger:
I hear a mother’s prayer أسمع صلاةَ أمٍّ
Across the raging main عبر الصخب العارمِ
I hear an angel’s voice أسمع صوت ملاكٍ
Calling out my name يناديني باسمي
Mona:
We remain the free أحرار باقين
we remain the free أحرار.. باقيين
Even if exiled from earth to the sky لو من الأرض للسما.. طالعين
Roger:
Palestine must be free لابد ان تتحرّر فلسطين
I would cross the ocean just وسأعبر البحار
To save one olive tree لأنقذ شجرة زيتون واحدة
With equal rights, for everyone بحقوقٍ متساويةٍ للجميع
River to the sea من النهر إلى البحر
Our destiny, our home, قدرنا، بيتنا (وطننا
Palestine, Palestine. فلسطين
