Polly Samson is an English novelist, lyricist and journalist. She is best known for her long creative partnership with Pink Floyd guitarist David Gilmour. They have been married since 1994. Over more than 30 years, she has written lyrics for many Pink Floyd and Gilmour solo albums. She has also built her own career as a writer of fiction and has been elected a Fellow of the Royal Society of Literature.
Who Is Polly Samson?
Polly Samson (full name Polly Anne Samson) was born on 29 April 1962 in London, England. She works as a journalist, short story writer and novelist. She is widely known for co-writing lyrics on Pink Floyd’s The Division Bell (1994), Gilmour’s On an Island (2006), Rattle That Lock (2015) and Luck and Strange (2024). She also wrote lyrics for the Pink Floyd track “Louder than Words” from The Endless River (2014).
Her public profile rests on two main things: a respected body of literary work and a rare, long songwriter collaboration within one of rock’s most influential bands.
Early Life and Background
Samson’s family background is distinctive. Her father, Lance Samson, was a newspaper editor and diplomatic correspondent for the Morning Star. He fled Nazi persecution as a child on the Kindertransport from Hamburg to England. Her mother, Esther Cheo Ying, was a Chinese-English writer. Her memoir Black Country to Red China tells her journey from Shanghai to Barnardo’s care in Britain and later service as a Major in Mao Zedong’s Red Army.
The family moved to Cornwall and then Devon in the 1970s. Samson has described herself as a solitary child who began writing and illustrating stories early. A badger story that won a Blue Peter badge remains a childhood highlight. After leaving the sixth form at Newton Abbot Grammar School, she worked as a telex operator. At 18, she moved to London to work in publishing.
Career and Major Milestones
Journalism and Publishing
Samson entered publishing in the 1980s. By age 24, she was appointed to the board of Jonathan Cape. She later worked as a freelance journalist. She wrote features for the Observer, Guardian and Sunday Times. She also wrote weekly book reviews for the Daily Mail and a column for the Sunday Times. Her short stories appeared in major UK magazines and were broadcast on BBC Radio 4, Radio 3 and Radio Scotland.
Fiction: Books and Recognition
Samson’s first short-story collection, Lying in Bed, was published by Virago in 1999. It was selected as a “Book of the Year” by Susan Hill and Cressida Connolly. Her debut novel, Out of the Picture (2000), was shortlisted for the Authors’ Club first novel award. The story collection Perfect Lives (2010) was a Sunday Times Fiction Choice of the Year. It was shortlisted for the Edge Hill Prize and adapted for BBC Radio 4. One story, “Ivan Knows,” was shortlisted for the VS Pritchett Award.
Her second novel, The Kindness (2015), received widespread acclaim. In 2018, Samson was elected a Fellow of the Royal Society of Literature. Her novel A Theatre for Dreamers (April 2020) entered the Sunday Times Bestsellers Chart at number two. Gilmour produced and performed music for the audiobook, which Samson narrated.
Music: Lyrics for Pink Floyd and David Gilmour
Samson’s entry into songwriting grew from her relationship with Gilmour. During the making of The Division Bell, she contributed lyrics to seven tracks. Producer Bob Ezrin later said she “pulled the whole album together.” Though initially reluctant to be credited, she accepted Gilmour’s insistence and has since become a regular lyricist on his projects.
Key credits include:
- Pink Floyd: The Division Bell (1994, seven songs) and “Louder than Words” on The Endless River (2014).
- David Gilmour solo: On an Island (2006), Rattle That Lock (2015), and Luck and Strange (2024).
On On an Island, she also sang harmony vocals and played piano. She appeared on the Jools Holland Show in 2008.
Personal Life and Family
Samson met David Gilmour in the early 1990s. They married on 29 July 1994. Gilmour adopted Samson’s son Charlie (born 1989) from her previous relationship with writer Heathcote Williams. Together, Samson and Gilmour have three children: Joe (born 1995), Gabriel (born 1997) and Romany (born 2002). Gilmour has eight children in total from two relationships.
The couple divides time between their farm in West Sussex and Gilmour’s houseboat studio, Astoria, on the Thames in Richmond. In a 2024 interview, both described their relationship as mutually stabilizing. Samson stated they “saved each other’s lives” as Gilmour ended heavy drinking and cocaine use around the time they became a couple.
In 2023, Samson publicly criticized former Pink Floyd bandmate Roger Waters on social media. She accused him of antisemitism and being a “Putin apologist.” Waters denied the claims.
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What Is Known About Polly Samson’s Net Worth
Reliable public sources do not establish an individual net worth figure for Polly Samson. While Gilmour’s career has generated substantial wealth—including a 2019 guitar auction raising over $22 million for charity—Samson’s personal finances, book advances, royalties and lyric credits are not disclosed in authoritative records. Public estimates that assign specific net worth values to her should be treated as unverified.
What Polly Samson Is Doing Now
As of 2026, Samson continues to write fiction and collaborate with Gilmour. Their most recent joint project is Gilmour’s album Luck and Strange, released in September 2024. She wrote lyrics for the album. The couple discussed the album extensively in a September 2024 interview, emphasizing ongoing creative plans. Samson’s official website lists her bibliography and press materials, indicating continued engagement with her literary career.
How old is Polly Samson?
Polly Samson is 64 years old as of September 2026. She was born on 29 April 1962 in London, England.
What is Polly Samson known for?
She is known as an English novelist and journalist who has also written lyrics for Pink Floyd and David Gilmour. This includes seven songs on The Division Bell and tracks on On an Island, Rattle That Lock and Luck and Strange.
Who is Polly Samson married to?
She is married to Pink Floyd guitarist David Gilmour. They wed in 1994. Gilmour adopted her son Charlie, and they have three children together: Joe, Gabriel and Romany.
What books has Polly Samson written?
Her books include Lying in Bed (1999), Out of the Picture (2000), Perfect Lives (2010), The Kindness (2015) and A Theatre for Dreamers (2020).
What is Polly Samson’s net worth?
There is no reliable public source that verifies Polly Samson’s individual net worth. Financial details about her earnings from books, journalism or songwriting have not been officially disclosed.
Where does Polly Samson live?
Public reports indicate she lives with David Gilmour in West Sussex, England. She also spends time on their houseboat studio, Astoria, on the Thames in Richmond.
The Bottom Line
Polly Samson is a multi-hyphenate creative. Her career spans award-shortlisted fiction, national journalism and high-profile songwriting within Pink Floyd and David Gilmour’s solo work. Her biography combines a distinctive family history, a self-made path through publishing and literature, and a rare, decades-long lyric partnership that has shaped some of the most prominent rock recordings of the past 30 years.
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