"The Hero's Return" is a song by

Pink Floyd Pink Floyd are an English rock band formed in London in 1965. Gaining an early following as one of the first British psychedelic music, psychedelic groups, they were distinguished by their extended compositions, sonic experimentation, philo ...

from their 1983 album, '' The Final Cut''. Like many tracks included on ''The Final Cut'', "The Hero's Return" had – under its original title "Teacher, Teacher" – been previously rejected from ''

The Wall ''The Wall'' is the eleventh studio album by the English progressive rock band Pink Floyd, released on 30 November 1979 by Harvest/EMI and Columbia/CBS Records. It is a rock opera that explores Pink, a jaded rock star whose eventual self-imp ...

''. Guitarist

David Gilmour David Jon Gilmour ( ; born 6 March 1946) is an English guitarist, singer, songwriter, and member of the rock band Pink Floyd. He joined as guitarist and co-lead vocalist in 1967, shortly before the departure of founding member Syd Barrett. P ...

was opposed to this recycling of songs, believing that if they "weren't good enough for ''The Wall'', why are they good enough now?" Like many other tracks on ''The Final Cut'', "The Hero's Return" featured anti-war lyrics. The lyrics of "The Hero's Return" are almost entirely rewritten from its "Teacher, Teacher" demo version. Retitled as "The Hero's Return (Parts 1 and 2)" with an extra verse absent from ''The Final Cut'' version, the song was released as the B-side of "

Not Now John "Not Now John" is a song by the progressive rock band Pink Floyd, written by Roger Waters. It appears on the album '' The Final Cut'' (1983). The track is the only one on the album featuring the lead vocals of David Gilmour, found in the verses, ...

", also from ''The Final Cut'', in 1983. Despite not being released as an A-side to a single, "The Hero's Return" charted at #31 on the Billboard Mainstream Rock chart in America.

Credits

Roger Waters George Roger Waters (born 6 September 1943) is an English musician, singer-songwriter and composer. In 1965, he co-founded the progressive rock band Pink Floyd. Waters initially served as the bassist, but following the departure of singer-so ...

– lead vocals, bass, synthesiser, tape effects, acoustic guitar *

– lead and rhythm guitar *

Nick Mason Nicholas Berkeley Mason, (born 27 January 1944) is an English drummer and a founder member of the progressive rock band Pink Floyd. He is the only member to feature on every Pink Floyd album, and the only constant member since its formation in ...

– drums, percussion with: *

Andy Bown Andrew Steven Bown (born 27 March 1946) is an English musician, who has specialised in keyboards and bass guitar. He is a member of the rock band Status Quo. Career Bown's first major band was The Herd, along with Peter Frampton. After The H ...

– Yamaha electric piano

References

1980s ballads 1983 songs Pink Floyd songs Hard rock ballads Anti-war songs Songs written by Roger Waters Song recordings produced by Roger Waters The Wall (rock opera) Songs about soldiers {{1980s-rock-song-stub