The Dark Side of the Moon cover art

  Studio Album · No. 6

The Dark Side of the Moon Songwriting Credits by Pink Floyd

1973 Harvest 10 tracks 42 min

Produced by Pink Floyd  ·  Engineered by Alan Parsons, Chris Thomas, Peter James

Harvest Progressive RockPsychedelic Rock
100%
Authorship
Complete Artist

Holds writing credit on 10 of 10 tracks

Authorship Breakdown 10 / 10 documented

Who wrote the songs?

Scored across the 10 tracks with documented writers, by whether Pink Floyd carries a lyricist or composer credit.

100%
10 trackswritten by Pink Floyd 0 tracksoutside writers
Pink Floyd's roles on this album

Share of the 10 tracks where a band member is credited, by role.

Lyricist70%
Composer100%
Producer100%
Performer100%

By the Numbers

10
Tracks
1
Lyricists
1
Producers
45 million
Worldwide Copies Sold
1973
Released

Awards & Recognition 2

Grammy Hall of Fame (1999, Inducted)
National Recording Registry (2013, Inducted)
Data Insight

Roger Waters wrote all of the lyrics on The Dark Side of the Moon, his first time taking complete control of an album's words, while the music was composed collectively by the band, with David Gilmour, Richard Wright, and Nick Mason all contributing. Wright's keyboard work shaped 'Us and Them' and 'The Great Gig in the Sky,' Gilmour drove the guitar on 'Money' and 'Time,' and Waters's conceptual lyrics tied the songs into a unified meditation on madness, money, time, and death. The album marks Waters's emergence as Pink Floyd's lyrical voice, a role he would dominate for the rest of his tenure. Alan Parsons engineered the record at Abbey Road, and his work was central to its sonic detail.

"The Dark Side of the Moon" is the 1973 album by Pink Floyd, a progressive rock and psychedelic rock landmark that explores conflict, greed, time, death, and mental illness, partly reflecting on Syd Barrett's struggles. David Gilmour played guitars and sang, Roger Waters played bass and contributed tape effects, Richard Wright handled keyboards, and Nick Mason played drums, with Alan Parsons engineering at Abbey Road Studios. The album features "Money," "Time," "Us and Them," "Breathe," and "The Great Gig in the Sky" with session vocalist Clare Torry. It reached number 1 on the US Billboard 200 and number 2 on the UK Albums Chart, charting for 996 weeks in total and earning 15 times platinum certification in the United States. With roughly 45 million copies sold worldwide, it ranks among the best-selling albums in history and was added to the National Recording Registry in 2013.

Track Listing & Credits 10 tracks

Written by the artist Written by outside writers
#TitleLyricist(s)Composer(s)Producer(s)Performers
1
Speak to Me
Not documented Nick Mason Pink Floyd -
2
Breathe (In the Air)
Roger Waters David GilmourRichard Wright Pink Floyd Roger Waters (Lead Vocals)David Gilmour (Lead Vocals)
3
On the Run
Not documented David GilmourRoger Waters Pink Floyd -
4
Time
Roger Waters Nick MasonRoger WatersRichard WrightDavid Gilmour Pink Floyd Roger Waters (Lead Vocals)David Gilmour (Lead Vocals)
5
The Great Gig in the Sky
Roger Waters Richard WrightClare Torry Pink Floyd Roger Waters (Lead Vocals)David Gilmour (Lead Vocals)
6
Money #13
Roger Waters Roger Waters Pink Floyd Roger Waters (Lead Vocals)David Gilmour (Lead Vocals)
7
Us and Them
Roger Waters Richard Wright Pink Floyd Roger Waters (Lead Vocals)David Gilmour (Lead Vocals)
8
Any Colour You Like
Not documented David GilmourNick MasonRichard Wright Pink Floyd -
9
Brain Damage
Roger Waters Roger Waters Pink Floyd Roger Waters (Lead Vocals)David Gilmour (Lead Vocals)
10
Eclipse
Roger Waters Roger Waters Pink Floyd Roger Waters (Lead Vocals)David Gilmour (Lead Vocals)

Songwriter & Credit Spotlight 6 contributors

More from Pink Floyd

Frequently Asked Questions The Dark Side of the Moon

Did Roger Waters write The Dark Side of the Moon?
Roger Waters wrote all of the lyrics on The Dark Side of the Moon, but the music was composed collectively by the whole band. David Gilmour, Richard Wright, and Nick Mason all contributed to the music, with individual songs carrying shared credits. This was the first Pink Floyd album where Waters took full control of the words, marking his rise as the band's lyrical voice.
What is the peak chart position of Money by Pink Floyd?
'Money' reached number 13 on the US Billboard Hot 100, becoming Pink Floyd's first hit single in the United States. It was written by Roger Waters and is built on an unusual 7/4 time signature. It remains one of the band's most recognizable songs.
How many copies has The Dark Side of the Moon sold?
The Dark Side of the Moon had sold approximately 45 million copies worldwide as of 2013, making it one of the best-selling albums in history. It is certified 15x Platinum by the RIAA in the United States. The album spent hundreds of weeks on the Billboard 200 chart.
Who engineered The Dark Side of the Moon?
Alan Parsons engineered The Dark Side of the Moon at Abbey Road Studios, with Chris Thomas serving as mix supervisor and Peter James assisting. Parsons's engineering was central to the album's detailed, layered sound. Pink Floyd produced the record themselves.
What is The Great Gig in the Sky on the album?
'The Great Gig in the Sky' is a piece composed by Richard Wright, featuring a wordless improvised vocal by session singer Clare Torry. The song has no written lyrics, with Torry's voice carrying the emotional weight over Wright's piano. It sits at the end of the album's first side.
What awards did The Dark Side of the Moon win?
The Dark Side of the Moon was inducted into the Grammy Hall of Fame in 1999 and added to the Library of Congress National Recording Registry in 2013. These honors recognize its lasting cultural and historical significance. The album remains one of the most acclaimed records in rock history.
What is Us and Them by Pink Floyd about?
'Us and Them' pairs music composed by Richard Wright with lyrics by Roger Waters that deal with conflict, war, and human division. It was released as a double A-side single with 'Time' in 1974. The track's slow build and saxophone make it one of the album's most expansive songs.

Sources