Déjà Vu

Roger Waters' song 'Déjà Vu' is a profound exploration of existential and societal discontent, wrapped in a hypothetical narrative where the singer imagines himself as God. The opening lines immediately set the tone, with Waters contemplating how he would have designed the human body differently to withstand the ravages of alcohol and aging. This sets up a theme of dissatisfaction with the natural order and the suffering inherent in human existence. Waters' hypothetical divine perspective allows him to critique the world's imperfections, suggesting that he could have done a better job if given the chance.

The song then shifts to a more contemporary and poignant metaphor, where Waters imagines himself as a drone patrolling foreign skies. This imagery is powerful, evoking the modern realities of warfare and surveillance. The fear of finding someone home, a woman cooking, humanizes the often dehumanized targets of drone strikes, highlighting the moral and ethical dilemmas of modern conflict. This section underscores the disconnect between technological advancement and the preservation of human life and dignity.

In the final verses, Waters paints a bleak picture of the current state of the world. The imagery of ruined temples, fat bankers, extinct buffalo, and polluted streams serves as a critique of environmental degradation, economic inequality, and political hypocrisy. The line 'You lean to the left but you vote to the right' captures the dissonance between people's beliefs and actions. The recurring theme of 'déjà vu' suggests a cyclical nature of these issues, as if humanity is doomed to repeat its mistakes. The song closes on a personal note, with Waters lamenting lost love and the cost of emotional pain, tying the personal to the universal in a poignant reflection on human suffering.