This song is about war. Each of the pairs of words represents something about war:
Us and Them: represents the two sides in a war, and the fact that there is no middle ground, you're either for US or for THEM. However, we're really the same (we're only ordinary men).
Me and You: this represents the individual soldiers, who really have no reason or wish to kill the opposing soldiers (it's not what we would choose to do). However, they have to, because the general said so.
The next four line stanza (forward he cried... moved from side to side) represents drawing up war plans that will affect the lives of soldiers (front rank died) by one small group of people.
Black and Blue: this represents the injuries from war, which in reality are much more than just bruises. In the thick of battle, you can't tell who is a friend or enemy, however (who knows which is which and who is who), so you end up hurting people on you're own side.
Up and Down: this is probably the weakest connection, but I feel that it means that they march up and down, over hills and through valleys, but all the war does is draw them in circles.
From "haven't you heard" to "room for you inside" represents the war posters. They say that no one will get hurt and that everyone should join. However, when they get to the battlefield, they are met with guns and are forced into POW camps (or something of the like, I'm not sure what exactly).
Down and Out: I'm not sure what it's about, but I would guess cowardice on the part of soldiers (there's a lot of it about).
With Without: This of course represents that the war is for money and material gain (it's what the fighting's all about), and we're wasting the lives of soldiers for personal gain.
The final four lines ("out of the way... old man died") are perhaps the most important. They show that the war reflects human nature. Even with all the people dying on the front, we go about our day only caring about ourselves ("out of the way... on my mind"), and we still fight amongst ourselves over trivial things (for want of the price... old man died"). This perfectly resembles the war described in the above twenty lines, where we fight and kill others for material gain, but on a larger scale.
This fits in with the entire concept of Dark Side of the Moon, which is considering factors that could lead to insanity. The trauma of war can be extremely severe, and can lead people to go insane. The last four lines of this song, however, show that Waters feels that even the little things in life, like having enough money, or having things on your mind, can lead to the same effects.
This song is about war. Each of the pairs of words represents something about war:
Us and Them: represents the two sides in a war, and the fact that there is no middle ground, you're either for US or for THEM. However, we're really the same (we're only ordinary men).
Me and You: this represents the individual soldiers, who really have no reason or wish to kill the opposing soldiers (it's not what we would choose to do). However, they have to, because the general said so.
The next four line stanza (forward he cried... moved from side to side) represents drawing up war plans that will affect the lives of soldiers (front rank died) by one small group of people.
Black and Blue: this represents the injuries from war, which in reality are much more than just bruises. In the thick of battle, you can't tell who is a friend or enemy, however (who knows which is which and who is who), so you end up hurting people on you're own side.
Up and Down: this is probably the weakest connection, but I feel that it means that they march up and down, over hills and through valleys, but all the war does is draw them in circles.
From "haven't you heard" to "room for you inside" represents the war posters. They say that no one will get hurt and that everyone should join. However, when they get to the battlefield, they are met with guns and are forced into POW camps (or something of the like, I'm not sure what exactly).
Down and Out: I'm not sure what it's about, but I would guess cowardice on the part of soldiers (there's a lot of it about).
With Without: This of course represents that the war is for money and material gain (it's what the fighting's all about), and we're wasting the lives of soldiers for personal gain.
The final four lines ("out of the way... old man died") are perhaps the most important. They show that the war reflects human nature. Even with all the people dying on the front, we go about our day only caring about ourselves ("out of the way... on my mind"), and we still fight amongst ourselves over trivial things (for want of the price... old man died"). This perfectly resembles the war described in the above twenty lines, where we fight and kill others for material gain, but on a larger scale.
This fits in with the entire concept of Dark Side of the Moon, which is considering factors that could lead to insanity. The trauma of war can be extremely severe, and can lead people to go insane. The last four lines of this song, however, show that Waters feels that even the little things in life, like having enough money, or having things on your mind, can lead to the same effects.
I hope that clears things up.