The Bravery of Being Out of Ideas

Here's a question: Is it just me, or is "The Bravery of Being Out of Range" total crap?

The reason I ask this is that a lot of reviews I've read for "Amused to Death" seem to really harp on this song, and its inclusion on the "In the Flesh" sequence indicates that Roger himself apparently considers it some of his best material (which, incidentally brings up the question: just how good were "Keep Your Filthy Hands..." and "Southhampton Dock," anyhow? The only redeeming qualities I see in those songs is that they lead into the two best songs on "The Final Cut", but playing them back-to-back in concert?!).

So what gives? Is "Bravery" really that great a song, or just artistic self-indulgence on Roger's part?

Just wanted to see what the consensus really is...

I think that it's A great song. It's the second best song on the album behind 'Amused To Death'. As a former soldier in th U.S. Army, I absolutely get a kick of Roger ripping on us. Well, sort of ripping on us.
(In case you are wondering the Army sucks, only sign up if you want to know what slavery is like. Seriously.)

I think its a good song. Maybe not the best on the album but its very fitting and the idea is also fitting.
There is a great deal to be said for the idea of people (politicians) fighting wars with the realization that they are never actually coming into the true line of fire. It enables them to arbitrarily use phrases such as "evil doers" and "infidels" to justify war without coming face to face with the realities of war and self sacrifice.
The military may not be a very enjoyable career but it is certainly an admirable one. Unfortunately 'the powers that be' use extreem dedication and dicipline to their advantage in staging wars for purposes of power, status, sex and glory (and sometimes arguably religion).

Before anything gets started about me being unpatriotic I fully support our boys. I served my country for five years and I put my life on the line. I served in Kosovo and yes, I was shot at. Thankfully not hit. Still if you want to know what slavery is like, or if you want to be janitor. You spend most of the time mowing grass, pulling weeds, raking leaves, painting crap, picking up trash, taking out trash, sweeping floors, mopping floors, waxing floors, and buffing floors. The recruter does'nt tell you about that.

Okay, Eugene--I'll grant that the song does make a few valid points about the state of affairs here in the U.S. (and admittedly, when I first heard it, I did think it was rather funny in a way), but I think that the musical quality on this song is the worst on the album, and it doesn't really advance a position that isn't already detailed in "Late Home Tonight" (both parts) and "Too Much Rope," both of which were, in my opinion, much more effective musically and lyrically. Just my opinion, though...

Maybe but, I just thought it was really catchy. I just kinda grabbed me when I first heard it.

Yeah, I can see it as being "catchy,"--It'll get stuck in my head, but I won't necessarily like it--sort of like the B-52's! I think my real beef with this song is that it's just too "in your face" (if you will); it lacks subtlety, which is really more what I expect from Waters' Work.

Really, how long have you been listening to Roger? I always thought he was quite a bit "In your face".

Yeah, I guess you're probably right about that--the loud, soft, loud, soft again (ad infinitum) thing along with "all that bloody political shouting and screaming his head off" (if I've got Ron Geesin's quote right). Usually, though, Roger gets a good smooth, melodic kind of background music for his ranting and raving. This one seems a radical departure from the norm (too noisy and unpolished, I guess). Maybe I'm just expecting him to sound more like Pink Floyd or something (but then who can blame me, right? hehe).

I agree, Roger is in your face and doesn't really compliment "the party" as background music. Maybe this is a response to Peter Gabriel's (or someone from Genesis) comment in the 'Wish You were Here' Days that Pink Floyd is just that, background music. Anyway, I feel that Roger's work is up to par w/ Pink Floyd's and is the most emotional, educated, intelligent and thought provoking music ever (though I must admit I agree with many of his views). The pleasure and/or disgust you see towards his music and lyrics is certainly an attestment to that.

The Bravery of Being Out Of Range is a good song. A kind of heavier chugging locomotive style to break up some of the other "airier" tracks.

The first time I heard it was In The Flesh, and I was hooked straight away.

Btw, nice quote in the sig, FinkPloyd

A lot or Roger fans seem to think Amused to Death was really good and I never did like it very much at all. Three Wishes was about the only song I really liked. What God Wants was just plodding and boring. The Final Cut though, to me, is incredible. I really like that album. Every song on it is great. IMO.

Roger has never really done a song that ROCKED quite as hard as "The Bravery of Being Out of Range" since that album came out, so perhaps your criticisms were taken to heart.

Meh, I don't think it's a bad song, but it's certainly an overrated one. The lyrics are interesting--Roger DID write them--and the sound is harder than a lot of stuff he did post-Floyd (harkening back to "Young Lust").

So your frustration is certainly understandable. Personally, I do think it's a good song, but not the best on the record and certainly a bit overhyped. Enjoy it if you enjoy it, blow it off if you wish.

XD And ALL his songs are self-indulgent.