The Final Cut is the twelfth studio album by Pink Floyd, released on 21 March 1983 through Harvest Records, and produced by Roger Waters, James Guthrie, and Michael Kamen.

During the recording of The Wall, Waters, Mason, and Gilmour noticed a change in the behavior of keyboardist Richard Wright, who was appearing in the studio without contributing to the album. Wright left the band after the recording sessions, on friendly terms with the other members of Pink Floyd.

Relations between the remaining members of the band were at a standstill, with a typical example being that during the tour to promote “The Wall”, the four musicians’ caravans were parked in a circle with the doors facing outwards, while they stayed in different hotels. Wright returned for the tour, paid, and was the only musician to make a profit, as Pink Floyd lost $600,000 at the end of the tour.

In 1982, Waters proposed to the remaining members of the band a new project entitled “Spare Bricks”, whose original idea was to be the soundtrack to the film “The Wall”. However, the outbreak of war in the Falklands Islands led Waters to new searches and the composition of new material. His reaction to Margaret Thatcher’s response to the Argentines was to consider it chauvinistic and unnecessary, and he dedicated the upcoming album to his father, who had lost his life in World War II.

The band members argued over whether to include songs left out of “The Wall”, while Waters insisted that Gilmour’s lyrical contribution was too small. Michael Kamen took on the role of referee, but tensions between the three remaining members of Pink Floyd grew, with the three musicians working separately. The disagreement between Gilmour and Waters was made apparent by the fact that only the latter’s name is mentioned in the songwriting.

Nick Mason did not contribute compositionally but recorded special effects that were used on the new album, remaining distant and immersed in his personal problems. The album cover was designed by Roger Waters.

The songs on “The Final Cut” have a common lyrical content, with Waters’ lyrics indicating a sense of betrayal by the British government towards the fallen warriors. The dream of a peaceful, post-war world prompted these men to sacrifice their lives, with governments not embracing these actions.

The lyrics criticize the then British Prime Minister, Margaret Thatcher, whose actions were an example, according to Waters, of the aforementioned betrayal of heroes. There are constant references to her person, named “Maggie”.

Pink Floyd did not tour in support of the album, with Waters and Gilmour focusing on their own releases. Gilmour recorded “About Face” and toured with the Mick Ralphs Band, while Waters released “The Pros and Cons of Hitch Hiking”. Nick Mason released the album “Profiles” in 1985.

The same year, it was announced that Waters had left the band and that he had filed a lawsuit to stop the other members from using the Pink Floyd name. David Gilmour’s side responded with a statement stating that Pink Floyd would continue. The court ruled in favor of Gilmour, with Waters changing management and contributing to the recording of the soundtrack “When the Wind Blows” and his second solo album entitled “Radio K.A.O.S.”.

I select the album’s single, “Not Now John”, refers to society’s ignorance of its economic and political problems.

Tracklist

1. The Post War Dream 3:02
2. Your Possible Pasts 4:22
3. One Of The Few 1:23
4. The Hero’s Return 2:56
5. The Gunners Dream 5:07
6. Paranoid Eyes 3:40
7. Get Your Filthy Hands Off My Desert 1:19
8. The Fletcher Memorial Home 4:11
9. Southampton Dock 2:13
10. The Final Cut 4:46
11. Not Now John 5:01
12. Two Suns In The Sunset 5:14