Pink Floyd's "The Wall" Broken Down

Wall- An emotional barrier that prevents people from getting too close or being able to read one’s emotions.

Bricks- A series of emotional traumas that make up the Wall.

Pink- The Protagonist of the story.

Worms- Bad ideas.

[In the Flesh?]

So ya thought ya

Might like to go to the show

To feel the warm thrill of confusion,

That space cadet glow.

Tell me, is something eluding you, sunshine?

Is this not what you expected to see?

If you wanna find out what's behind these cold eyes

You'll just have to claw your way through this disguise.

Lights!

Roll the sound effects!

Action!

Drop it on 'em!

DROP IT ON 'EM!

The Song in a Sentence

Paralleling his own conception and birth into life as well as the narrative, Pink invites the audience at one of his rock concerts (and by extension, us the listener) to delve into his story.

[The Thin Ice]

Momma loves her baby, and daddy loves you too.

And the sea may look warm to you babe

And the sky may look blue

Ooooh babe

Ooooh baby blue

Oooooh babe.

[Roger Waters]

If you should go skating

On the thin ice of modern life

Dragging behind you the silent reproach

Of a million tear-stained eyes

Don't be surprised when a crack in the ice

Appears under your feet.

You slip out of your depth and out of your mind

With your fear flowing out behind you

As you claw the thin ice.

The Song in a Sentence

Pink is born, but is automatically instructed that modern life is full of pain and disappointment.

[Another Brick in the Wall, Part 1]

Daddy's flown across the ocean

Leaving just a memory.

A snapshot in the family album.

Daddy, what else did you leave for me?

Daddy, what d'ya 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 Song in a Sentence

As a child, Pink begins building a mental wall between himself and the world so that he can distance himself from the pain of life, such as having to grow up without a father, killed in battle...