Waters shared the moving performance to over 263,000 subscribers via his official YouTube channel. Generating over 27,000 views in a few short hours, the performance has been met with a joyous reception from Water’s worldwide fanbase. The Pink Floyd bassist also posted the video to Instagram, which has already received a whopping 80,000 views.

The black and white video opens with Waters sitting in his studio. His guitar, which by now may as well be an extra limb for the musical genius, plays a soft, rather subdued intro to the highly underrated Pink Floyd track, Vera. 

The song was named after Vera Lynn, a beloved World War II singer, who recently passed away. Water’s distinct, husky croon grieves the recently deceased songstress. He sings “Does anybody remember Vera Lynn?/Remember how she said that/We would meet again/Some sunny day?” 

Shortly into the song, Water is joined by his respective bandmates, who add to the emotive performance with cellos, violins, guitars, vocals and keyboard. As the musicians play seamlessly together, their rendition of Vera is heartbreakingly beautiful. 

As the seminal instrumental to Vera slowly patters off, the band launch into Bring The Boys Back Home. Water’s back up vocalists sound like an ethereal greek chorus as they sing “Don’t leave the children on their own, no no”

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This is the third of our Encores from the Us and Them tour. This is the first one with any overdubs, not an easy trick to pull off remotely, luckily the Band are all brilliant. Vera. The Vera in question is Vera Lynn. She was an English singer, songwriter, very popular during the Second World War. Her biggest hit was “We’ll meet again”. She was widely known as the “Forces’ Sweetheart”. Our Vera, who is very fondly remembered back in Blighty, died six weeks ago aged 103. So she had a bloody good innings, bless her. Bring the boys back home. My father never came home, but at least in 1944 he really was fighting to defend his home. Not like now. Now the boys fight and die in colonial wars so some rich asshole can get richer. If it were up to me I’d bring ‘em all home tomorrow. Love R. Roger Waters: Guitar and Vocal @davekilminster: Guitar Joey Waronker: Drums @ilovelucius – Jess Wolfe and Holly Laessig: Vocals @gusseyffert: Bass @nongmopaleovapedaddy420: Guitar @joncarinartist: Piano and Keys @worldbofree: Hammond Wrangled together by @deadskinboy & Roger Waters Mixed by Gus Seyffert Mastered by Dave Cooley at @elysianmasters Edited by Andy Jennison

A post shared by Roger Waters (@rogerwaters) on Aug 6, 2020 at 6:18am PDT

Taking a moment to pause, Waters looks into the camera and says “Yeah, bring the boys back home, particularly from Portland, you big f******* brick.” This is a direct address to US President Donald Trump, referring to Trump’s recent ridiculous command to deploy federal officers in Portland to harm peaceful protesters. 

The Pink Floyd co-creator also spoke recently on the meaning behind Bring The Boys Back Home and Vera. The song strikes a particular chord within Waters, who himself was bereaved after the untimely death of his father. Waters meditates that “My father never came home, but at least in 1944 he really was fighting to defend his home.”

Waters also broke down Vera, expanding on the late great singer’s life, saying ‘She was an English singer, songwriter, very popular during the Second World War. Her biggest hit was ‘We’ll Meet Again.’ She was widely known as the ‘Forces’ Sweetheart.’” 

Released in 1979, The Wall is a seminal piece of art from Pink Floyd. Their sound unmatchable, their storytelling remarkable, and their ability to weave societal commentary and satire into their epic sonics are a few of the many reasons why Pink Floyd was and are still, one of the greatest bands ever.