’Daddy’s gone..across the ocean
Leaving just a me-moree
A snapshot in the family album
Daddy what else did you leave for me??
Hey! Daddy! What did ya leave behind for me!!!’
These words send a chill down my spine, every time I hear this album. Pink floyd at their friendliest.
There is no questioning the greatness of this band and their work, but to me ’the wall’ is the best way to get introduced to floyd. So if you haven’t heard them, go buy this album now! Even better, buy the DVD of the movie (yes, this album is also a full length film) and watch it with a loved one. It can e brutal, so beware.
Now for some details.
’The wall’ talks of the life of the son of a World War 2 war hero. It traces the life of this protagonist as he is born to a childhood filled with resentment towards his ’hero’ dad (hence those words), a school life filled with the urge to rebel ( ’We don’t need no education!), on to teenage filled with tender love, bitter experiences and so on.
The album handles this metamorphosis through exquisite music, blessed with phenomenal poetry. An example is ’Mother’, where our protagonist talks to his Mom. His affection for her, yet his sad resentment of her protectionist ways is too beautiful for words to capture..an absolute MUST for any music lover.
Our protagonist proceeds through life, then, turns into a succesful rock star, reaching the pinnacle of ’success’, fights his own war along the way, and finally fights his’trial’, only to be found guilty.
Two lines from ’The trial’ to illustrate their mastery over words :
(The song depicts a trial where all the lawyers, defendants, accused, audience et al are various animals. This includes our protagonist)
’ The man who stands before you.....
......was caught showing feelings !!
Showing feelings of an almost human nature
THIS WILL NOT DO!!’
I can go on and on here, but I am truly not blessed with writing skills that can do justice to this masterpiece.
Do go out and hear it for yourselves.
If you love this as much as I do, then graduate to the ’Division Bell’, and buy a CD of ’Pulse’ (which is a motley collection from their various albums, a live version)
Once you have done this, you are hooked! Then enjoy the rest of their many beautiful albums at leisure.
Happy listening!!
Cheers ( and do post some comments!!!)