Us and Them
Pink Floyd Tom Stoppard Lyrics
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And after all we're only ordinary men
Me and you
God only knows
It's not what we would choose to do
Forward he cried from the rear
And the front rank died
And the general sat
Moved from side to side
Black and blue
And who knows which is which and who is who
Up and down
And in the end it's only round 'n round
Haven't you heard it's a battle of words
The poster bearer cried
Listen son, said the man with the gun
There's room for you inside
"I mean, they're not gonna kill ya, so if you give 'em a quick short, sharp, shock, they won't do it again. Dig it? I mean he get off lightly, 'cause I would've given him a thrashing - I only hit him once! It was only a difference of opinion, but really...I mean good manners don't cost nothing do they, eh?"
Down and out
It can't be helped that there's a lot of it about
With, without
And who'll deny it's what the fighting's all about?
Out of the way
It's a busy day
I've got things on my mind
For the want of the price
Of tea and a slice
The old man died
The song "Us and Them" by Pink Floyd is a commentary on the futility and absurdity of war. The song begins with the idea that the people on both sides of the conflict are ordinary men who never asked for this war. Despite this, they are being led to their deaths by generals who are safe in the rear. The lines on the map are moved without regard for the lives of those who are actually fighting. The chorus repeats the phrase "us and them," as if to emphasize the divide between the opposing sides. The bridge tells the story of a man who is urging someone to join the fight on his side, promising that they won't be killed. The man even offers a disturbingly cavalier attitude towards violence, suggesting that if they don't like it, they can simply give their enemies a "quick short, sharp, shock." The final verse suggests that there is a lot of fighting happening all around us, regardless of our involvement. The singer reflects on the idea that it's all pointless, and that people are dying for the smallest reasons, such as the want of the price of tea and a slice.
Line by Line Meaning
Us and them
The distinction between groups of people
And after all we're only ordinary men
Despite our differences, we are all human beings with flaws and imperfections
Me and you
The singer is addressing the listener, emphasizing their commonality
God only knows
It is unknown why we behave the way we do
It's not what we would choose to do
Our actions are not always a result of our desires or preferences
Forward he cried from the rear
The person giving orders is not necessarily in the front line of battle
And the front rank died
The people in the most dangerous positions are the ones who suffer the greatest losses
And the general sat
Those in positions of power and authority are often far removed from the actual fighting
And the lines on the map
Borders and boundaries are arbitrary and meaningless in the context of war
Moved from side to side
Territory changes hands frequently in war
Black and blue
Both sides suffer injuries and damage
And who knows which is which and who is who
It can be difficult to distinguish between opposing groups when they are all equally affected by the conflict
Up and down
The fortunes of war can change rapidly and unpredictably
And in the end it's only round 'n round
Despite the destruction and loss of life, history repeats itself and wars continue to occur
Haven't you heard it's a battle of words
Propaganda and rhetoric play a significant role in shaping public opinion and rationale for going to war
The poster bearer cried
A person giving a speech or making a statement on behalf of their cause
Listen son, said the man with the gun
The role of violence and coercion in achieving political goals
There's room for you inside
Join our side and you will be protected
Down and out
Those who are marginalized or disadvantaged are more likely to suffer the consequences of war
It can't be helped that there's a lot of it about
War is an unfortunate but inevitable part of human history
With, without
Some people have more than others, and this can lead to conflict
And who'll deny it's what the fighting's all about?
The root cause of war is often a struggle for power or resources
Out of the way
Those not involved in the fighting are expected to clear a path for those who are
It's a busy day
A sarcastic comment on the absurdity of war, where violent conflict is treated as just another daily activity
I've got things on my mind
Individuals caught up in the chaos of war may be preoccupied with their own survival or other concerns
For the want of the price
Even something as small as a lack of funds for basic necessities can have fatal consequences
Of tea and a slice
An example of a simple, inexpensive pleasure that can be denied to those living in poverty or war
The old man died
A commentary on the senseless loss of life in war, where individuals who have lived long and full lives are killed for no reason
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Warner/Chappell Music, Inc., T.R.O. INC.
Written by: ROGER WATERS, RICK WRIGHT
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind