Roger Waters Shares How He Became So Vocal

Renowned for his iconic role in Pink Floyd, Roger Waters is not just a rock legend but also a vocal advocate unafraid to speak his mind. In a 2023 Instagram Q&A session, Waters engaged with fans, responding to their questions with his characteristic openness. One fan posed a compelling question: How does he find the courage to speak his truth so boldly? In his heartfelt response, Waters credited his mother as the guiding force behind his fearless approach to life.

Lessons From Waters’ Mom

Reflecting on a lesson from his teenage years, Waters shared how his mother’s advice continues to shape his actions and beliefs. He recalled her saying:

“Roger, you’re going to come across all kinds of difficult things in your life and things you will have to ponder upon and where you will have to take a position and so on and so forth. And, when you have a difficult question, this is my advice to you. You should read, read, read everything you can. Find out everything that you can about whatever it is that you might be considering or thinking about.”

On Knowledge and Life Challenges

Waters emphasized that his mother’s wisdom was not only about navigating political questions but also about personal and emotional challenges. She instilled in him a profound respect for knowledge and the importance of understanding all perspectives.

“She was talking about, I think, mainly big kind of political questions, but they might be personal emotional questions as well. Everything you can read, read, read, then read some more. When you’ve done that, my mother said to me, ‘You’ve done all the heavy lifting. The hard work is over; the next bit is easy.’”

The next step, as his mother had taught him, was simple yet powerful: “You do the right thing.” Waters fondly remembered her words, saying:

“Well, those words, you know, echo through the years. My mother’s been dead for about 20 years, but I’ve never forgotten those words.”

Through this touching tribute, Roger Waters not only revealed the source of his courage but also honored his mother’s enduring wisdom. For him, the key lies in seeking knowledge, understanding fully, and then standing up for what is right.