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View Full Version : Calling all Pink Floyd Fans!!


The Children of the Revolution
15th February 2004, 16:22
I have noticed that there are many Floyd fans around on Che-Lives... So please, help me with a problem that's been bugging me for months. Years, even.

I'm sure most of you will have heard of the track "Us and Them". For me, (although I'm not sure) this is a wonderful song about the futility of War; World War I in particular. It traces the battles and the General's incompetence:

"Forward!" , he cried, from the rear - and the front rank died
The General sat, and the lines on the map, moved from side to side

Then, the eventual resting place of all those who signed up. Forgotten. And dying as beggars on the streets:

For want of the price, of tea and a slice, the old man died...

BUT!

There's a voiceover in between the second and third verses.
It's not included on the lyrics sheet.
AND I'M SURE IT'S REALLY IMPORTANT!!
I think some of the words are "Give 'em a short, sharp, shock, and they don't do it again..."
BUT WHAT ARE THE OTHER WORDS??

Any suggestions would be welcome...
RAGING BULL
15th February 2004, 16:44
"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 got off lightly, 'cos 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 ? "
The Children of the Revolution
15th February 2004, 18:03
Wow.

Ok, thanks... any idea what it all means though??
RAGING BULL
15th February 2004, 20:28
I have no idea, sorry.

try the internet
nezvanova
15th February 2004, 22:29
check songfacts.com (http://www.songfacts.com) they have some good explanations of lyrics.
The Children of the Revolution
16th February 2004, 02:55
Nice link, thanks.

(from songfacts.com)
"Like other songs on the album, this contains the ramblings of random voices."

Damn. That's really annoying; I was expecting something really profound... Instead it's random garbage. Oh well, at least I was right about the subject matter.

(from songfacts.com)
"Us and Them in my mind is about war, it's confusion and ultimatly the worthlesness of it all. "