Us and Them
David Gilmour/Rick Wright/Roger Waters Lyrics

Us and them
There is a division between people, with "us" on one side and "them" on the other.

And after all we're only ordinary men
Both groups are made up of ordinary people who are not inherently different from each other.

Me, and you
The singer is addressing both groups, acknowledging that he is part of one of them.

God only knows it's not what we would choose to do
The situation at hand is not something that either group would want to be a part of.

Forward he cried from the rear
Some authority figure is urging others to move forward, even though they may not be in the front lines themselves.

And the front rank died
The people in the front of the battle were killed or injured.

And the general sat,and the lines on the map
The person in charge was not directly involved with the fighting and was making decisions based on the map of the area.

Moved from side to side
The boundaries of the battle and who was in control were constantly changing.

Black and blue
People on both sides were injured and suffering.

And who knows which is which and who is who
It is difficult to tell the difference between the two groups and who is on which side.

Up and down
The situation is constantly changing and there are ups and downs for both groups.

And in the end it's only round and round and round
Despite all the fighting and changes, the situation and outcome remain the same.

Haven't you heard it's a battle of words
The conflict extends beyond physical fighting to verbal arguments and propaganda.

The poster bearer cried
Someone is trying to spread their message through posters or other promotional materials.

Listen son, said the man with the gun
An armed person is trying to convince someone to join their side in the conflict.

There's room for you inside
The armed person is suggesting that the other person join their group or shelter themselves from the violence.

Down and out
Some people are struggling and have fallen on hard times.

It can't be helped but there's a lot of it about
The situation is unfortunate and difficult, but it is a common experience for many people.

With, without
Some people have certain things or advantages that others do not.

And who'll deny it's what the fighting's all about
The conflict is ultimately about the unequal distribution of resources and power.

Out of the way, it's a busy day
People are preoccupied with their own concerns and may not be aware of others' struggles.

I've got things on my mind
People are dealing with their own personal issues and may not be focused on the larger conflict.

For wants of the price of a tea and a slice
Poverty and lack of resources can have dire consequences, like starvation or illness.

The old man died.
The consequences of the conflict, like death and suffering, are often borne by vulnerable people like the elderly.