For other uses, see Take It Back (disambiguation).
Take It Back
single
CoverTakeItBack.jpg
ArtistPink Floyd
AlbumThe Division Bell
B-side
Released23 May 1994[3]
Recorded1993
GenreProgressive rock
Length
  • 6:13 (album version)
  • 4:55 (single edit)
  • 7:07 (extended version on French promo single)
Label
Writer
Producer
  • Bob Ezrin
  • David Gilmour
Prev year1994
Next year1994

"Take It Back" is a song by English progressive rock band Pink Floyd, released as the seventh track on their fourteenth album, The Division Bell (1994).[4][5] It was also released as a single on 23 May 1994, by EMI (UK) and Columbia (US), the first from the album, and Pink Floyd's first for seven years. The single peaked at number 23 on the UK Singles Chart, the fourth highest in the band's history, below 1979 number 1 hit "Another Brick In The Wall" and 1967 top 20 hits "See Emily Play" and "Arnold Layne".[6] The music for the song was written by guitarist David Gilmour and album co-producer Bob Ezrin, with lyrics by Gilmour, his wife Polly Samson and Nick Laird-Clowes. Its accompanying music video was nominated for Best Clip of the Year in the category for Rock at the 1994 Billboard Music Video Awards.[7]

Lyrics

The lyrics were written through the point of view of a dysfunctional relationship, used as an allegory for how humans treat the planet.

During its instrumental section, a barely audible rendition of the nursery rhyme "Ring a Ring o' Roses" can be heard.

Equipment

Guitarist David Gilmour used an E-bow on a Gibson J-200 acoustic guitar that is processed through a Zoom effects box, then directly injected into the board.[8]

Personnel

Additional musicians:

Charts

Weekly charts

Chart (1994)Peak
position
Australia (ARIA)[9]64
Canada Retail Singles (The Record)[10]8
Europe (European Hit Radio)[11]16
Iceland (Íslenski Listinn Topp 40)[12]19
UK Airplay (Music Week)[13]28
US Cash Box Top 100[14]65

Year-end charts

Chart (1994)Position
Canada Top Singles (RPM)[15]71
US Album Rock Tracks (Billboard)[16]23

References

  1. ^ Take It Back (CD single notes). Columbia Records. 1994. 38K 77493. – via Discogs
  2. ^ Take It Back (CD single notes). EMI. 1994. CD EMS 309. – via Discogs
  3. ^ "New Releases: Singles". Music Week. 21 May 1994. p. 35.
  4. ^ Strong, Martin C. (2004). "Pink Floyd". The Great Rock Discography. 7th ed. Edinburgh: Canongate Books. pp. 1175–1178. ISBN 1-84195-551-5.
  5. ^ Mabbett, Andy (1995). The Complete Guide to the Music of Pink Floyd. London: Omnibus Press. ISBN 0-7119-4301-X.
  6. ^ Pink Floyd UK Singles Chart, Official Charts Company, retrieved September 23 2023
  7. ^ Russell, Deborah (15 October 1994). "Music Video Award Nominees Named". Billboard. p. 12. Retrieved 30 May 2025.
  8. ^ "Sounds of Silence" interview, Guitar World, September 1994. Retrieved 28 July 2010.
  9. ^ p. 218.
  10. ^ "Hits of the World: Canada". Billboard. 27 August 1994. p. 50. Retrieved 20 May 2025.
  11. ^ "EHR Top 40". Music & Media. Vol. 11, no. 25. 18 June 1994. p. 25. Retrieved 8 January 2026.
  12. ^ "Íslenski Listinn Topp 40 Vikan 19.5.–25.5. '94" (in Icelandic). Dagblaðið Vísir. 19 May 1994. p. 20. Retrieved 2 April 2025.
  13. ^ "The Airplay Chart". Music Week. 11 June 1994. p. 22. Retrieved 23 May 2025.
  14. ^ "USA Cashbox Charts Summaries". popmusichistory. Retrieved December 14, 2022.
  15. ^ "RPM Top 100 Hit Tracks of 1994". RPM. Retrieved 20 July 2025. – via Library and Archives Canada
  16. ^ "The Year in Music: Hot Album Rock Tracks". Billboard. Vol. 106, no. 52. 24 December 1994. pp. YE-62. Retrieved 20 July 2025.