| The Wall (disc 1) |
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| 1- In The Flesh? Written by: Waters Running Time: 3:19 Other Versions: Is There Anybody Out There?, The Wall (film), Live In Berlin Rating: ***** Comments: This is where "The Pink Floyd Sound" is left behind for a newer, more heavy rock style. This begins the narrative of the concept album, where your are told to expect what you did not expect. This is a great, powerful song. Lyrics: so you thought you might like to go to the show? to feel the warm thrill of confusion, that space-cadet glow tell me, is something eluding you, sunshine? is this not what you expected to see? if you wanna find out what's behind these cold eyes you'll just have to claw you're way through this disguise Words: [faintly at the very beginning]: ...we came in? [shouted after the lyrics]: lights...roll the sound effects...action...drop it...drop it on 'em...drop it on them! |
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| 2- The Thin Ice Written by: Waters Running Time: 2:29 Other Versions: Is There Anybody Out There?, Live In Berlin Rating: **** Comment: It seems like a nice little song at first, with a sound of a baby crying and then Gilmour singing soft lyrics, but then Waters comes in and sings some disturbing lyrics. It's not much on its own, but it makes the story work just a little bit better. Lyrics: mama loves her baby daddy loves you too and the sea may look warm to you, baby and the sky may look blue ooh ooh ooh ooh, babe ooh ooh ooh, baby blue ooh ooh ooh ooh ooh ooh babe if you should go skating on the thin ice of modern life dragging behind you the silent reproach of a million tear-stained eyes don't be surprised when a crack in the ice appears under your feet you slip out of your depth and out of your mind with your fear flowing out behind you as you claw the thin ice |
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| 3- Another Brick In The Wall (part 1) Written by: Waters Running Time: 3:09 Other Versions: Is There Anybody Out There?, Live In Berlin Rating: ***** Comments: The first part of one of the greatest rock meddleys ever written, this song offers some excellent bass and guitar playing, as well as simple yet powerful lyrics. On it's own, this song is nothing more than OK, but combined with the rest of it, it's phenomenal. Lyrics: daddy's flown across the ocean leaving just a memory a snapshot in the family album daddy, what else did you leave for me? daddy, what'd you leave behind for me?! all in all it was just a brick in the wall all in all it was all just bricks in the wall |
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| 4- The Happiest Days Of Our Lives Written by: Waters Running Time: 1:51 Other Versions: Is There Anybody Out There?, Live In Berlin, In The Flesh Rating: ***** Comments: This is such a great, intense, and powerful song. Along with the following track, it has become one of the greatest and most recognizable rock n' roll songs of all time. This song is just a build-up to the next, and it is a spectacular build-up, packed with anger and emotion. It's an incredible track, but nothing without the song it leads into. Lyrics: when we grew up and went to school there were certain teachers who would hurt the children any way they could by pouring their derision upon anything we did exposing every weakness, however carefully hidden by the kid but in the town it was well-known, when they got home at night their fat and psychopathic wives would thrash them within inches of their lives Words: (schoolmaster): you, yes you, stand still, laddy! |
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| 5- Another Brick In The Wall (part 2) Written by: Waters Running Time: 3:59 Other Versions: Is There Anybody Out There?, Live In Berlin, P*U*L*S*E, In The Flesh Rating: ***** Comments: This is the most recognizable Pink Floyd song today, and one of the best. This song has become an anthem for rebellious youth, and part of rock n' roll history. Almost everyone can relate to what this song is saying, and it lays it out so perfectly. The lyrics are sung beautifully by Gilmour, then repeated by a youth choir, which is a great effect. What follows is a terrific instrumental, and then a few of the most famous quotes from the album. Everything about this song of anger and resentment is perfect. Lyrics: we don't need no education we don't need no thought control no dark sarcasm in the classroom teacher, leave them kids alone hey! teacher! leave them kids alone! all in all it's just another brick in the wall all in all you're just another brick in the wall we don't need no education we don't need no thought control no dark sarcasm in the classroom teachers, leave them kids alone hey! teacher! leave those kids alone all in all you're just another brick in the wall all in all you're just another brick in the wall Words: (schoolmaster): wrong, do it again!...if you don't eat you're meat, you can't have any pudding; how can you have any pudding if you don't eat your meat?!...you, yes, you behind the bikesheds, stand still, laddy! |
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| 6- Mother Written by: Waters Running Time: 5:36 Other Versions: Is There Anybody Out There?, The Wall (film), Live In Berlin, In The Flesh Rating: *** Comments: This is yet another song that many people can relate to. It's about what the title would suggest: mother. It's kind of a beautiful song, yet the lyrics are so dark and depressing. After the first refrain, the guitar really comes in strong, and the song picks up in power, but for the most part, it's one of the weaker tracks. Lyrics: mother do you think they'll drop the bomb? mother do you think they'll like the song? mother do you think they'll try to break my balls? ooh ah, mother, should i build the wall? mother should i run for president? mother should i trust the government? mother will they put me in the firing line? ooh ah, is it just a waste of time? hush now, baby baby, don't you cry mama's gonna make all of your nightmares comes true mama's gonna put all of her fears into you mama's gonna keep you right here under her wing she won't let you fly, but she might let you sing mama's gonna keep baby cozy and warm ooh babe, ooh babe, ooh babe of course mama's gonna help build the wall mother do you think she's good enough for me? mother do you think she's dangerous to me? mother will she tear your little boy apart? ooh ah, mother, will she break my heart? hush now, baby baby, don't you cry mama's gonna check out all your girlfriends for you mama won't let anyone dirty get through mama's gonna wait up until you get in mama will always find out where you've been mama's gonna keep baby healthy and clean ooh babe, ooh babe, ooh babe you'll always be a baby to me mother did it need to be so high? |
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| 7- Goodbye, Blue Sky Written by: Waters Running Time: 2:48 Other Versions: Is There Anybody Out There?, Live In Berlin Rating: **** Comments: This is one of the most haunting songs on the album. Again, it comes in the guise of being gentle, yet the lyrics are very dark. This song also produces some very intense images. This carries the story along, and feeds heavily into the underlying concept. Lyrics: ooh ooh ooh ooh ooh, ooh ooh ooh ooh ooh, ooh ooh ooh ooh ooh did-did-did-did you see the frightened ones? did-did-did-did you hear the falling bombs? did-did-did-did you ever wonder why we had to run for shelter when the promise of a brave new world unfurled beneath the clear blue sky? ooh ooh ooh ooh ooh, ooh ooh ooh ooh ooh did-did-did-did you see the fightened ones? did-did-did-did you hear the falling bombs? the flames are all long gone, but the pain lingers on goodbye, blue sky goodbye, blue sky, goodbye, goodbye Words: look mommy, there's an aeroplane up in the sky... |
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| 8- Empty Spaces Written by: Waters Running Time: 2:08 Other Version: Is There Anybody Out There?, The Wall (film), Live In Berlin Rating: **** Comment: This song is actually just half of a larger song, that combined with this track is one of the best Pink Floyd songs of all time, but they cut it off the studio album to make the narration move smoother. This is an excellent song, but without it's second half, it doesn't sound nearly as good. Lyrics: what shall we use to fill the empty spaces where we used to talk? how shall i fill the final places? how should i complete the wall...? Words: [backward message]: congratulations, you have just discovered the secret message...please send your answer to old pink, care of the funny farm, chalfon..."roger, carolyn's on the phone"...okay... |
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| 9- Young Lust Written by: Waters, Gilmour Running Time: 3:30 Other Versions: Is There Anybody Out There?, Live In Berlin Rating: *** Comments: This is a classic rock song, with simple lyrics and a steady rhythm. It's not one of the better songs on the album, but it is very good. It's more of a dance song than the other, highly emotional anthems of anger. Lyrics: i am just a new boy a stranger in this town where are all the good times? who's gonna show this stranger around? ooh, i need a dirty woman ooh, i need a dirty girl where's a woman in this desert land? make me feel like a real man take this rock n' roll refugee ooh baby, set me free ooh, i need a dirty woman ooh, i need a dirty girl ooh, i need a dirty woman ooh, i need a dirty girl Words: <dialing> (man): hello? (operator): we have a collect call to mrs. floyd from mr. floyd, will you except the charges from united states? <click> he hung up. is this your residence? i wonder why he hung up? is there supposed to be someone else there besides your wife, sir, to answer? <dialing> (man): hello? (operator): this is united states calling, are we reaching...? <click> he keeps hanging up, and it's a man answering... |
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| 10- One Of My Turns Written by: Waters Running Time: 3:37 Other Versions: Is There Anybody Out There?, Live In Berlin Rating: ***** Comments: This song is the perfect musical interpretation of flipping out. One moment, everything is slow, and you're zoned out, just thinking about how much everything sucks, and then all of a sudden, you just snap! This song is very powerful, and is one of the highlights of the first half of the album. Lyrics: day after day, love turns grey like the skin of a dying man and night after night we pretend it's alright but i have grown older and you have grown colder and nothing is very much fun anymore and i can feel one of my turns coming on i feel cold as a razor blade tight as a tourniquet dry as a funeral drum... run to the bedroom in the suitcase on the left you'll find my favourite axe don't look so frightened, this is just a passing phase one of my bad days would you like to watch tv? or get between the sheets? or contemplate the silent freeway? would you like something to eat? would you like to learn to fly? would ya? would you like to see me try? oh no! would you like to call the cops? do you think it's time i stopped? why are you running away? Words: (girlfriend): oh my god, what a fabulous room!...are all these your guitars?...god, this place is bigger than our apartment...uh, can i get a drink of water?...you want some, huh?...oh wow, look at this tub!...wanna take a bath?...what are you watching?...hello?...are you feeling okay? |
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| 11- Don't Leave Me Now Written by: Waters Running Time: 4:17 Other Versions: Is There Anybody Out There?, Live In Berlin Rating: *** Comments: This is absolutely one of the worst songs on the album, yet it's so necessary to the plot. It may be tedious to listen to, but it's perfect how it is. The lyrics just pathetic enough to make the previous track mean more, and the music is drawn out enough to make the following track stronger. So, despite the fact that it's a bad song, it's a strong link, necessary to hold the fabric of the concept album together. Lyrics: ooh babe, don't leave me now don't say it's the end of the road remember the flowers i sent? i need you, babe to put through the shredder in front of my friends ooh babe, don't leave me now how could you go? when you know how i need you, need you, need you... to beat to a pulp on a saturday night ooh babe, don't leave me now how can you treat me this way? running away? ooh babe, why are you running away? ooh babe...ooh babe...ooh babe...ooh ooh...ooh ooh ooh |
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| 12- Another Brick In The Wall (part 3) Written by: Waters Running Time: 1:14 Other Versions: Is There Anybody Out There?, Live In Berlin Rating: ***** Comments: This is the high-intensity, powerful climax of the first half of the album. It comes in strong with the sound effects of smashing televisions, and then the lyrics jump in, backed up strongly by the instruments and synthesizers. The beat is as steady as a heart-beat, and the melody is that same familiar tune from the first two parts of this song, only with more intensity. Mostly everyone can recognize the anger behind this song. Lyrics: i don't need no arms around me and i don't need no drugs to calm me i have seen the writing on the wall don't think i need anything at all no, don't think i need anything at all! all in all it was all just bricks in the wall all in all you were all just brick in the wall |
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| 13- Goodbye, Cruel World Written by: Waters Running Time: 1:17 Other Versions: Is There Anybody Out There?, Live In Berlin Rating: **** Comments: The powerful background notes from the previous track carry over into the background of this song, and grow barely audible until about halfway through this haunting song. The final track on the first half of the album, this song is about the familiarity of contemplating suicide. It captures those suicidal thoughts perfectly, and expresses them so simply that it's almost scary. Lyrics: goodbye, cruel world i'm leaving you today goodbye, goodbye, goodbye goodbye all you people there's nothing you can say to make me change my mind goodbye |
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| Released: 1979 by Columbia Records Running Time (disc 1): 39:14 Ranking: #2 out of 14 studio albums Album Highlight (disc 1): Another Brick In The Wall (part 2) Album Weak Point (disc 1): Don't Leave Me Now Average Song Rating (disc 1): **** Comments: Not one song on this half of this incredible album works well on its own. "Another Brick In The Wall (part 2)" comes closest, but it still doesn't work very well without the track before it. All of the songs together form one narrative, which is what makes this album such a masterpiece. It is not a collection of songs, but one piece of music flowing from one part to the next, all the while telling the story of a rock musician's descent into madness. When the songs are heard in context, they are spectacular, and each is entirely necessary to the narrative, making this an album that can be considered perfect. |
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