Another Brick in the Wall

"Another Brick in the Wall" is the title of three songs to the same tune, on Pink Floyd's 1979 concept album, The Wall, subtitled "Part I", "Part II" (hit single), and "Part III", respectively, all of which were written by the controversial Pink Floyd frontman, Roger Waters.

"Another Brick in the Wall Part II" was released as a single, and provided the band's only number-one hit in the UK and the US. It is a protest song against rigid schooling in general and boarding schools in particular which has led to it being banned in several countries.

For "Part II", Pink Floyd needed a school choir, and approached music teacher Alun Renshaw of Islington Green, near their Britannia Row Studios. The chorus was overdubbed twelve times to give the impression that the choir was larger. Though the school received a lump sum payment of £1000, there was no contractual arrangement for royalties. Under 1996 UK copyright law, they became eligible, and after choir members found each other through the website Friends Reunited, they sued. Music industry professionals estimated that each student would be owed around £500.

"Part II" gave Pink Floyd a Grammy nomination for Best Performance by a Rock Duo or Group and lost to Bob Seger's "Against the Wind".

In 1980, the song was adopted as a protest anthem by black students during the "Elsie's River" uprising in South Africa, protesting against the racial propaganda and bias in the official curriculum. On May 2, it was banned by the government.

Film Version/Music Video

Following "The Happiest Days of Our Lives" children are shown marching through a maze and then into a grinder. Then the children destroy the school and throw the teacher into the bonfire (although never seen). It turns out that it was all in (the main character) Pink's head.

Prior to the film, the first video for the track depicted students running in a playground and the teacher puppet from The Wall concerts was used. Also, depicted some animated scenes which were used in The Trial and this clip was directed by Gerald Scarfe.

Cover versions

In 1980, The Barron Knights recorded a humorous version as part of a Christmas single entitled Never Mind The Presents with lyrics including "Hey, Santa, leave the booze alone".
In 1998, for the movie The Faculty, "Part II" was covered by the "Class of '99", which featured Layne Staley (Alice in Chains, singer), Tom Morello (RATM, Audioslave, guitar), Stephen Perkins (Jane's Addiction, drums), Martyn LeNoble (Porno For Pyros, The Cult, Jane's Addiction, bass) and Matt Serletic.
In 2001, on D12's debut album Devil's Night, at the end of "Revalation", comes the "How can you have any pudding if you don't eat your meat??!!" ending from "Part II".
In 2002 the pop/electronica group, Dirty Vegas, released a self titled album which included a prominent sample of "Another Brick In The Wall, Part II" in the song "Simple Things, Part 2".
In 2004 the nu metal band Korn covered the three parts of "Another Brick in the Wall" as well as "Goodbye Cruel World" for their album Greatest Hits, Volume 1; they frequently perform it in their live shows.
In 2005, pop group Girls Aloud played a portion of "Part II" as an introduction to their song "No Good Advice" during their UK "What Will The Neighbours Say?" theatre tour.

Concept

The "bricks" are different traumatic events that make up the mental "wall" created by the protagonist.
In "Part I", Pink tells the story of his father's death during the Anzio Campaign. This part of the song establishes the idea of everything being "another brick in the wall" - another thing that causes Pink to slowly disassociate himself from society.
"Part II", the part re-released as a hit single, is the rebellion of the students against their abusive teacher.
"Part III" could be called Pink's last bout of sanity before being completely hidden behind the wall - he resists his wife and drug, then says that he doesn't need anything at all. The song is in contrast to "Goodbye Cruel World", immediately following, where he has finished the wall.

Personnel

Roger Waters - bass guitar, lead vocals, guitar on "Part III"
David Gilmour - guitars, lead vocals on "Part II", backing vocals on "Part I", synthesizer on "Part III"
Nick Mason - drums and percussion on "Part II" and "Part III"
Richard Wright - keyboards
Islington Green School, led by Noel Davis - choir on "Part II"

Reference: Fitch, Vernon. The Pink Floyd Encyclopedia (3rd edition), 2005. ISBN 1-894959-24-8

Trivia

There is a reference to George Orwell's novel Nineteen Eighty-Four in "Part II". "Thought control" (mentioned in chorus) was often used in the novel. In many times Roger Waters wrote lyrics inspired by Orwell. For example Pink Floyd's album Animals (inspired by Animal Farm).

External links