Kevin's Watch

I was listening to this album the other day for the first time in... forever. In my case it was a record that appealed to me strongly during the throes of teen angst, and I'm sure many shared my experience. It was in heavy rotation to say the least. As I got older I moved on. But listening to the songs again after so long a break is like reuniting with old friends after a long and unforeseen departure. I had forgotten how much I missed them!

Anyway, I'm curious: if you take away the big recognizable hits off the record, i.e., Another Brick in the Wall Part I, II & III, Comfortably Numb, Hey You, Young Lust, and Run Like Hell, which of the remainder do you favor the most? There are some pithy gems and a few more expansive song concepts that seem to perfectly capture a particular mood or a thought within the overall concept. If I had to limit myself to only one of these favorite 'small' moments, it is probably:


Nobody Home

(Waters) 3:25


"Alright, I'll take care of them part of the time, but there's somebody else that needs taking care of in Washington"
"Who's that?"
"Rose Pilchitt!"
"Rose Pilchitt? Who's that?"
[Kid screams in background. foreground: "Shut Up!"]
"36-24-36 [laughter] does that answer your question?"
[foreground: "Oi! I've got a little black book with me poems in!"]
"Who's she?"
"She was 'Miss Armoured Division' in 1961 ... "

I've got a little black book with my poems in.
Got a bag with a toothbrush and a comb in.
When I'm a good dog, they sometimes throw me a bone in.

I got elastic bands keepin my shoes on.
Got those swollen hand blues.
Got thirteen channels of shit on the T.V. to choose from.
I've got electric light.
And I've got second sight.
And amazing powers of observation.
And that is how I know
When I try to get through
On the telephone to you
There'll be nobody home.

I've got the obligatory Hendrix perm.
And the inevitable pinhole burns
All down the front of my favorite satin shirt.
I've got nicotine stains on my fingers.
I've got a silver spoon on a chain.
I've got a grand piano to prop up my mortal remains.

I've got wild staring eyes.
And I've got a strong urge to fly.
But I got nowhere to fly to.
Ooooh, Babe when I pick up the phone

"Surprise, surprise, surprise..." (from Gomer Pyle show)

There's still nobody home.

I've got a pair of Gohills boots
and I got fading roots.

"Where the hell are you?"
"Over 47 german planes were destroyed with the loss of only 15 of our own aircraft"
"Where the hell are you Simon?"
[Machine gun sound, followed by plane crashing]

Yup.

I always loved Goodbye Blue Sky. Taught myself how to play it on acoustic. Such a pretty/sad tune. And the animation in the movie is downright creepy.

Yea, Z, agree with that.
And Ron, "Nobody"...yep, a high point.
For some reason the pair of "One of my turns"/"Don't leave me know" grabs some delicate part of my amygdala and twists.

Not a single wasted note on that album, but "Is There Anybody Out There" has got to be my favorite. Roger's voice, Rick's delicate keyboard washes, and Dave's stunning acoustic guitar make that one of my favorite PF tracks.

I suppose it's to be expected, but I find it amusing that everyone's choices are echoing my internal debate. Beautiful songs all, and difficult to pick just one. Although Vraith cheated and chose two... (those were my 1B, BTW).

Ron Burgunihilo wrote:Although Vraith cheated and chose two... (those were my 1B, BTW).

Heh...I only did it cuz they seem to me to really be different movements in a single piece. [though I suppose that's a reasonable position to take on the whole thing.]

I was just teasing you... there are no rules here. And yes, those two songs are definitely a unit of sorts.

I've got to agree with Ron. My favorite "non-hit" from this record has always been "Nobody Home".

Waters really shines as a lyricist here - every line is just so beautiful and poignant. I also think this is one of his best voal performances - I love the way he changes the dynamic range in his voice, and the perfect Waters sneer on "amazing powers of observation".

I also think this piece has got a perfect combination of sound effects too. It really showcases how that stuff can add to the song. I love the echo on "fly to".... And the TV sound bites fit in so perfectly - they couldn't be better.

So if I had to pick one, that's my favorite, but really, I agree with Cail - not a wasted note on the entire album.

the Show Must Go On

I was so glad when I picked up the live version of the Wall.

There must be some mistake
I didnt mean to let them
Take away my soul.
Am I too old, is it too late?

I iwll be seeing the Wall live for the second time in May. better seats. the sound was awesome the first time - now we will be able to see the show form a proper vantage. our third time seeing Roger. (we saw him do Dark Side)

Those lyrics are amazing - thanks for the reminder Sgt.

Nobody Home has always been one of my favourites lyrically, and musically.

The recent tour by Roger Waters has cemented 2 more songs in my favourites, mainly due to the imagery surrounding them: Vera, and Bring the Boys back Home. Highly emotional! Especially Bring the Boys back Home.

he did Vera/Bring the Boys Back Home during the the first half of the DSotM tour. very moving.

wish i could afford the new Wall box set to hear the demos.

I found the imagery that was shown on the recent Wall tour. Vera/Bring the Boy back Home really cut me up, especially the girl at the part when "Vera, Vera" is sung. Mind you, I'd had a few drinks which heightened the emotion...

Vera/Bring the Boys back Home

BTW Cail, as I have been viewing this thread over a mobile device & missed your link until just now, that was a great post on the other thread. I don't think I can quite explain the appeal of the album to me in the specific way that you can, but the Wall's motifs of alienation and the struggle for individuality are themes that speak to most teenagers to one degree or another.

PS I did search for "the wall" before posting this thread and nothing specific came up. But I'm glad you linked the earlier thread.

ANother Brick in the Wall pt II is the song I have heard most live in concert. four times with a fifth coming up. Pink Floyd once, Roger twice and GNR once. it is in contention for my least favorite Floyd track.

Cail wrote:Not a single wasted note on that album,

I disagree.

I'd buy a 're-mastered' studio album with that song. Get on it, EMI!

Orlion wrote:

Cail wrote:Not a single wasted note on that album,

I disagree.

I'd buy a 're-mastered' studio album with that song. Get on it, EMI!

Oh yeah, I dearly love "What Shall We Do Now?". Lyrics were in the original LP.

Hidden Gems?
I thought that you were referring to the backward tracks and "hidden" messeges that are peppered throughout the album.
Of course, if you have the CD, you cannot play it backwards and hear some of the things being said.

But you can catch some things like at the very start where Roger says, "...Where we came in.",
which goes with the very last thing you can hear on the 2nd album where he says, "This is ...".
Put together, he says, "This is where we came in."

1- Put on Record 1, Side 2 (I mean the vinyl LP; if you have the CD or the cassette you're not very likely to find this!)

2- With the turntable in the Stop position (i.e. not moving!), put the pickup needle in the groove between track 1 (Goodbye Blue Sky) and 2 (Empty spaces)

3- Raise the volume level a lot!! (Don't worry: on headphones this won't hurt...they usually have a weaker frequency response than loudspeakers.)

4- Now the hard part comes: without starting the turntable (i.e. still keeping it motionless!) spin the record backwards (with your fingers, or in any other way you like) at an approximate speed of 33 RPM. (Doing this while it's spinning is even more difficult, according to me!)

5- If you listen carefully (especially on the left channel) you should hear amidst all the background noise a very low-pitched and muffled voice saying what follows: "Congratulations. You have just discovered the secret message. Please send your answer to Old Pink, care of the Funny Farm". Thie was INTENTIONALLY recorded backwards: you don't hear anything in the normal direction.

or listen here

Surprised nobody has mentioned 'Mother' yet. IMO it holds its own against any other song on the album (but yeah, they're all great).

Saw him do the Wall in Kansas City on this tour. Thinking about seeing it again when it comes back around in May, but tickets are so expensive It's cool when he sings Mother and on the video screen behind him is a video of him singing it back on the original Wall tour.

The effects on this tour were awesome as well - glad I got to see it. Just wish Dave, Nick and Rick would have been there with Roger