The Happiest Days of Our Lives Lyrics
There were certain teachers who would
Hurt the children any way they could
By pouring their derision
Exposing every weakness
However carefully hidden by the kids
But in the town it was well known
Psychopathic wives would thrash them
Within inches of their lives
This song is completely self-explanatory, and while usually seen as an intro into "Another Brick in the Wall part II", stands on it's own very well.
It's a cycle of cruelty and oppression. The teachers are abused by their wives, so they take it out on the kids, where it, in turn, eats away at them. The title is extremely sarcastic. While your childhood and school days are often said to be the happiest days of your life (and for many, they are), they obviously weren't for Roger Waters. Considering the school system in England, especially at that time, that's no surprise.
this song kicks and leads perfectly into another brick in the wall 2 gotta love the helicopter at the beginning
personally i think it should've been a train, but that was probably an after thought once the movie was made.
personally i think it should've been a train, but that was probably an after thought once the movie was made.
The happiest days of our lives is an obscured use of exageration... the album "the Wall" is a discography of a messed up rock star, Pink. this song he shows his feelings about the educational system back in the day and all that good stuff! Vintage Roger Waters!
It might only be me, but at the end of this song when you hear the drums and all doesn't it sound like the lion king? lol just my opinion....
radio stations where i live play this first all the time, its great :) thats because its only classic rock on the station, so they actually know what there doing with it...
The title of this song is such a great example of irony. Adults always tell children that their youth contains the happiest days of their lives, but in Pink's world, there is no such happiness with the presence of his sadistic teachers.
Also, I've heard that Roger Waters was always intrigued by the concept of cycles in life. I believe that the lyrics about the teachers' wives thrashing them is an example of a cycle within The Wall. The wives thrash the teachers, the teachers thrash Pink, Pink later thrashes his audience...
you're almost there - except you're not describing a cycle. A cycle is something that goes around and comes back to the beginning...this is a purely linear thought - A abuses B, B abuses C, C grows up to abuse his audience. It never comes back to A as C (Pink) has no relationship with A (teacher's wife). It is simply cause and effect described here. Pink (recall that Pink is NOT autobiographical of Roger Waters) is upset at being restrained in thought and self expression in school and blames the teacher's miserable home life (and the school system) for his...
you're almost there - except you're not describing a cycle. A cycle is something that goes around and comes back to the beginning...this is a purely linear thought - A abuses B, B abuses C, C grows up to abuse his audience. It never comes back to A as C (Pink) has no relationship with A (teacher's wife). It is simply cause and effect described here. Pink (recall that Pink is NOT autobiographical of Roger Waters) is upset at being restrained in thought and self expression in school and blames the teacher's miserable home life (and the school system) for his feeling of being trapped in an abusive system.
this song rocks... i actually thought it was part of another brick in the wall 2 cuz i'v always heard them one after another. i agree with this song so much .... teachers are some fucked up people and its so true that they try to expose are weaknesses. anyways... pink floyd kicks ass... pink floyd kicks ass and everyone should listen to them
I remember someone asking me if I knew the song "Another Brick in the Wall" by Pink Floyd, I couldn't help but say yes and starts with "You.. Yes You!... stand still laddy" which is the teacher's voice at the start of this song. The person asking me just looked at me like I had no idea what I was talking about. I had to explain how the two songs were related, almost one and the same. Somehow, I managed to look stupid even though I knew what I was talking about.... my life story. :(
i think this criticism of the educational system is specific to england. although i find the public school system in the US thoroughly fucked up, i have never encountered a trully sadistic teacher as potrayed in Pink Floyd's songs and movie.
@vexedprogeny I have. Things were worse in the 70's and 80's (and probably even worse earlier...)
@vexedprogeny I have. Things were worse in the 70's and 80's (and probably even worse earlier...)