I love this song, and while it's about war, on a larger scale, it's about human nature in general.
However, one thing here is KILLING me. The four lines at the end
"...out of the way, it's a busy day
I've got things on my mind
for want of the price of tea and a slice
the old man died ..."
Have always been the most touching in this song, and nobody else seems to see them the same way I always have. I've always interpreted the old man as a beggar, and the four lines a somber commentarty on how we treat our own people. The "...With, Without..." in the line before is referring to money, the root of all the fighting.
The man saying "...out of my way - on my mind..." is a man "with", perhaps a buisnessman of some sort. The old man is without, a beggar who doesn't even have the money to buy lunch. And just because the buisnessman is worried about things as trivial as getting to work on time, or thinking about the work he is going to have to do at his job, he doesn't even stop and give his fellow human being the time of day, or the five bucks/pounds/whatever to buy food. We're all human beings, and we're all we have on this Earth, so what's being said is that we should be kinder to one another.
rather than being a beggar, he's probably an old veteran hobbling down a busy street, either ignored or tutted at as he blocks the path of those who are too busy. a lack of financial support (a meagre war pension) could result in such a man dying in poverty. very touching...
rather than being a beggar, he's probably an old veteran hobbling down a busy street, either ignored or tutted at as he blocks the path of those who are too busy. a lack of financial support (a meagre war pension) could result in such a man dying in poverty. very touching...
I love this song, and while it's about war, on a larger scale, it's about human nature in general.
However, one thing here is KILLING me. The four lines at the end "...out of the way, it's a busy day I've got things on my mind for want of the price of tea and a slice the old man died ..."
Have always been the most touching in this song, and nobody else seems to see them the same way I always have. I've always interpreted the old man as a beggar, and the four lines a somber commentarty on how we treat our own people. The "...With, Without..." in the line before is referring to money, the root of all the fighting. The man saying "...out of my way - on my mind..." is a man "with", perhaps a buisnessman of some sort. The old man is without, a beggar who doesn't even have the money to buy lunch. And just because the buisnessman is worried about things as trivial as getting to work on time, or thinking about the work he is going to have to do at his job, he doesn't even stop and give his fellow human being the time of day, or the five bucks/pounds/whatever to buy food. We're all human beings, and we're all we have on this Earth, so what's being said is that we should be kinder to one another.
I didn't interpret "the old man" as a beggar. I interpreted it as a man who is never satisfied with what he has.
I didn't interpret "the old man" as a beggar. I interpreted it as a man who is never satisfied with what he has.
rather than being a beggar, he's probably an old veteran hobbling down a busy street, either ignored or tutted at as he blocks the path of those who are too busy. a lack of financial support (a meagre war pension) could result in such a man dying in poverty. very touching...
rather than being a beggar, he's probably an old veteran hobbling down a busy street, either ignored or tutted at as he blocks the path of those who are too busy. a lack of financial support (a meagre war pension) could result in such a man dying in poverty. very touching...
@NimEdelweiss
@NimEdelweiss
@NimEdelweiss That is exactly how Waters explained the song (see genius.com/Pink-floyd-us-and-them-lyrics)
@NimEdelweiss That is exactly how Waters explained the song (see genius.com/Pink-floyd-us-and-them-lyrics)