Roger Waters was the main lyricist for the classic British rock band Pink Floyd. He, along with Syd Barrett, Nick Mason, and Richard Wright, formed the band in 1965 and released their first album, The Piper at the Gates of Dawn in 1967. In 1968, Syd Barrett was replaced by guitarist/singer David Gilmour. He and Gilmour were the main creative forces behind the albums Meddle, Dark Side of the Moon, and Wish You Were Here; Waters eventually became the primary songwriter, being the driving force behind Animals, and The Wall as well as the sole songwriter of The Final Cut. Waters became well-known for being an intense perfectionist and his controlling nature alienated the rest of the band. The Final Cut, released in 1983, was essentially a Roger Waters solo album "performed by Pink Floyd" as the credits stated. This would be the group's last album with Waters. David Gilmour decided to carry on with Pink Floyd and Waters, believing that Pink Floyd was a "non-entity" without him, sued the rest of the band to retire the Pink Floyd name. His lawsuit ultimately failed, and Pink Floyd released three more studio albums and two double live albums, without him.
The feud between David Gilmour and Roger Waters lasted for decades, and it wasn't until Live 8 in 2005 that they finally decided to set their differences aside and perform a brief set for the charity gig. This would be the last time that Pink Floyd would ever perform together in their "classic" lineup. Shortly after the show, there was much speculation that Pink Floyd would get back together for a full reunion tour, but Gilmour ultimately nixed the idea, stating that although the Live 8 gig was fun, the rehearsals were not.
Much to everyone's surprise, Gilmour and Waters reunited once again on July 11, 2010 for a charity performance for “The Hoping Foundation,” an organization that supports Palestinian refugee kids. At Ronnie Scott’s club in London, the duo performed four songs together: “To Know Him Is to Love Him” (a cover of the old Teddy Bear’s song), “Wish You Were Here,” “Comfortably Numb,” and finally (after a special request) “Another Brick in the Wall Part 2.” Once again, just like after the Live 8 Reunion, speculation began regarding future reunions. No official Pink Floyd reunion has yet been set, but Gilmour did promise that he would join Roger Waters for one show on his 2010-11 “The Wall” tour, performing “Comfortably Numb.” Gilmour fulfilled his promise on May 14, 2011 in London.
Waters has so far released the following solo albums:
* Music from The Body soundtrack with Ron Geesin(1970)
* The Pros and Cons of Hitch Hiking (1984)
* When the Wind Blows soundtrack with contributions from other artists as well (1986)
* Radio K.A.O.S. (1987)
* The Wall: Live in Berlin (1990)
* Amused to Death (1992)
* In the Flesh live (2000)
* Flickering Flame: The Solo Years, Vol. 1 (2003)
* Ça Ira (Opera) (2005)
*Is This the Life We Really Want? (2017)
*Igor Stravinsky's The Soldier's Tale (2018)
*The Lockdown Sessions (2022)
Another Brick In The Wall Part II
Roger Waters Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Leaving just a memory
A snapshot in the family album
Daddy, what else did you leave for me?
Daddy, whatcha 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
The lyrics to Roger Waters's song Another Brick In The Wall Part II can be interpreted in a few different ways. It seems to be about the emotional distance between a father and his child. The first two lines suggest that the father has left his child behind, perhaps physically or emotionally, and all that is left of him is a memory or a snapshot in a family album. The child then questions what else his father left behind for him, suggesting that he feels abandoned or neglected.
However, the chorus takes on a different tone. The repetition of "all in all it was just a brick in the wall" suggests that the father's absence is not unique or significant. It is just one piece of a larger, societal problem. The following line "all in all it was all just bricks in the wall" reinforces this idea that the father's absence is just one of many "bricks" that make up a larger issue.
The lyrics are also accompanied by the voice of a school teacher, who yells at a student to "stand still laddy." This can be interpreted as a commentary on the oppressive nature of the education system and how it seeks to control and stifle creativity.
Overall, the song seems to be about the ways in which society and institutions create emotional distance between individuals and how this can lead to feelings of abandonment and frustration.
Line by Line Meaning
Daddy's flown across the ocean
Father traveled to another part of the world
Leaving just a memory
His departure left behind only a recollection
A snapshot in the family album
A photograph that will be preserved in the family's collection
Daddy, what else did you leave for me?
What else besides memories did he leave behind for his son?
Daddy, whatcha leave behind for me?
A shortened version of the previous line, in a more colloquial tone
All in all it was just a brick in the wall
In the grand scheme of things, his father's presence was insignificant
All in all it was all just bricks in the wall
All the people and institutions trying to control and manipulate the singer's life were all just pieces of the same oppressive structure
[Teacher:] "You! Yes, you! Stand still laddy!"
The teacher interrupts the artist's thoughts and commands him to stand still
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@kriijan3747
I just love how the people in the crowd are so different. Kids, teens, adults, older people....
This music seems to resonate with everyone.
@SpaceTimeManipulatorSTM
the way younger people weren't just there, they were super emotional about it.
@aidanbouw5224
Even saw a guy with a full on battle jacket, which I'm going to assume had patches of metal bands on them
@paradoxward2533
it is the quasi-tragedy of human existence that resonates with everyone....,
@robertmiller5425
Its because roger waters and the rest of the group will always be cool no matter how old they get
@erikvandoorn1674
True. I was there with my daughter.
@zickerrr___1759
I get goosebumps no Matter how many times I hear the transition between Happiest Days Of Our Life and Another Brick In The Wall.
@patrickellis6529
Same, bro
@wimpytheory8053
EEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE "we don't need no education"
@MK-nn7gm
It’s a buildup, it’s insane. I can’t explain it I feel like I’m gonna explode at that part