In regards to the meaning of this song:
Before a live performance on the EP Five Stories Falling, Geoff states “It’s about the last time I went to visit my grandmother in Columbus, and I saw that she was dying and it was the last time I was going to see her. It is about realizing how young you are, but how quickly you can go.”
That’s the thing about Geoff and his sublime poetry, you think it’s about one thing, but really it’s about something entirely different. But the lyrics are still universal and omnipresent, ubiquitous, even. So relatable. That’s one thing I love about this band. I also love their live performances, raw energy and Geoff’s beautiful, imperfectly perfect vocals. His voice soothes my aching soul.
We don't need no education
We don't need no thought control
No dark sarcasm in the classroom
Teacher, leave them kids alone
Hey, teacher, leave them kids alone
All in all, it's just another brick in the wall
All in all, you're just another brick in the wall
We don't need no education
We don't need no thought control
No dark sarcasm in the classroom
Teachers, leave them kids alone
Hey, teacher, leave us kids alone
All in all, you're just another brick in the wall
All in all, you're just another brick in the wall
Wrong, do it again
Wrong, do it again
If you don't eat your meat, you can't have any pudding
How can you have any pudding if you don't eat your meat?
You, yes
You, behind the bike sheds, stand still, laddy
We don't need no thought control
No dark sarcasm in the classroom
Teacher, leave them kids alone
Hey, teacher, leave them kids alone
All in all, it's just another brick in the wall
All in all, you're just another brick in the wall
We don't need no education
We don't need no thought control
No dark sarcasm in the classroom
Teachers, leave them kids alone
Hey, teacher, leave us kids alone
All in all, you're just another brick in the wall
All in all, you're just another brick in the wall
Wrong, do it again
Wrong, do it again
If you don't eat your meat, you can't have any pudding
How can you have any pudding if you don't eat your meat?
You, yes
You, behind the bike sheds, stand still, laddy
Lyrics submitted by SongMeanings
Another Brick in the Wall, Pt. 2 Lyrics as written by George Roger Waters
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management
Lyrics powered by LyricFind
Add your thoughts
Log in now to tell us what you think this song means.
Don’t have an account? Create an account with SongMeanings to post comments, submit lyrics, and more. It’s super easy, we promise!
More Featured Meanings
Standing On The Edge Of Summer
Thursday
Thursday
Mountain Song
Jane's Addiction
Jane's Addiction
Jane's Addiction vocalist Perry Farrell gives Adam Reader some heartfelt insight into Jane’s Addiction's hard rock manifesto "Mountain Song", which was the second single from their revolutionary album Nothing's Shocking. Mountain song was first recorded in 1986 and appeared on the soundtrack to the film Dudes starring Jon Cryer. The version on Nothing's Shocking was re-recorded in 1988.
"'Mountain Song' was actually about... I hate to say it but... drugs. Climbing this mountain and getting as high as you can, and then coming down that mountain," reveals Farrell. "What it feels to descend from the mountain top... not easy at all. The ascension is tough but exhilarating. Getting down is... it's a real bummer. Drugs is not for everybody obviously. For me, I wanted to experience the heights, and the lows come along with it."
"There's a part - 'Cash in now honey, cash in Miss Smith.' Miss Smith is my Mother; our last name was Smith. Cashing in when she cashed in her life. So... she decided that, to her... at that time, she was desperate. Life wasn't worth it for her, that was her opinion. Some people think, never take your life, and some people find that their life isn't worth living. She was in love with my Dad, and my Dad was not faithful to her, and it broke her heart. She was very desperate and she did something that I know she regrets."
Amazing
Ed Sheeran
Ed Sheeran
Ed Sheeran tells a story of unsuccessfully trying to feel “Amazing.” This track is about the being weighed down by emotional stress despite valiant attempts to find some positivity in the situation. This track was written by Ed Sheeran from the perspective of his friend. From the track, we see this person fall deeper into the negative thoughts and slide further down the path of mental torment with every lyric.
American Town
Ed Sheeran
Ed Sheeran
Ed Sheeran shares a short story of reconnecting with an old flame on “American Town.” The track is about a holiday Ed Sheeran spends with his countrywoman who resides in America. The two are back together after a long period apart, and get around to enjoying a bunch of fun activities while rekindling the flames of their romance.
Page
Ed Sheeran
Ed Sheeran
There aren’t many things that’ll hurt more than giving love a chance against your better judgement only to have your heart crushed yet again. Ed Sheeran tells such a story on “Page.” On this track, he is devastated to have lost his lover and even more saddened by the feeling that he may never move on from this.
the words are directed to all the people and things that have stood in his way of being who he is, a real person that sees through their "wall". and no matter how much authority or importance a person holds, he is saying they are all the same, just another part(brick) of what stands between the real people and their real society. the wall is the group of ppl, government, whoever that stops you from doing what you want
Yah, i hate to say it mac, but that part...he actually did hate school that much. Its not all deep inner meaning, anti-establishment. He just hated school that much. Hate to burst the bubble. But i do believe that what you state holds true for part 3.
what is paramount to what you say, piper, is in the "importance" a person holds, which can be an ordinary, regular guy or gal...it doesn't have to be an established authority type, I see it every day and I'll be damned if i don't stand up (in my own compassionate ways..) to bring that part of the person to their attention (also in my own way, which is subtle and goes unnoticed usually...)
i dont need no edumacation...
fail.
Correction - fail on your part, dumb ass. <br /> <br /> He was trying to be satrical. Grats at failing.
win.
^This is a win:D
I think that this song is actually a strong satire of a utopian society. If you've ever read George Orwell's book "1984" than this would be more clear. The idea that Orwell warns about in his book is that by trying to create a "better" and "more perfect" society that is agreable to everyone, all that has really been done is stripped people of free thought, free will, and basically all humanistic expression whatsoever.
The song seems at first to just say "We don't need no education" as if it's just some rebelious kid who doesn't want to go to school. But the school depicted in this song is a very restricting and controlling force. The "education" described in the song really seems to be thought control, where certain concepts are methodolically being imprinted in the minds of the students. Even the Scottish men yelling at the kids in the end, who seem to be some kind of supervisors and enforcers, are keeping them all in-line like prison guards.
Just my thoughts, anyone read "1984" that thinks the same?
Actually its based on the Indian culture on the topics of life taught by Swami Achutyanand about rebelling against the chuts(Bad PPl) of the society when they pressurise the society!!! he basically preaches Love, Peace and Party which is what pink floyd actually refers to!!
I agree that it follows much of the same themes, but watching the video, I thought more about A Clockwork Orange, which talks about actual good vs forced (educated) good, and if argues that even ultra-evil attitude is better than forced and inhuman good. In the video this is shown when they raze the school building, therefore breaking the institution that breaks their liberty. The brick in the wall phrase I think could refer to 1984 too, since every other person in the society just restrains the protagonist from breaking free.
The "All in all we're all just bricks in the wall" I believe means that, in this pictured society, this "perfect world" Utopian place, all we are is the building blocks being molded and shaped to fit in perfectly. Bricks are shaped, all the same size, color, consistency. All kept in perfect line. Sure they make a great wall, but we aren't bricks. We are humans, meant to have our own opinions and thoughts. Mind washing to make people peaceful and calm is not good. Like in the book Fahrenheit 451, They live "Happily" and "Perfect" and are brought up without any real opinions. They go suicidal or get depressed and yet don't REALLY know why. Excuse me, I have ADD and forgot where i was going with this XD
I read 1984 and although I do think both it and Clockwork Orange (as mentioned by another replier) relate to the song, I believe that to be more about thematic and coincidence: the lyrics are actually discussing our own modern society, more specifically Roger Waters' childhood school.
@Scabster it's definitely unnerving to think most of the people that like this tune and the ones screaming it at their shows are/were bricks in the wall.
each painful,sad memory he has is just another brick in the wall that he has gradually built around his feelings
"we don't need no education...." there's a double negative there! are they just using incorrect english to make a point, or are they really saying that only through knowledge (transposing DON'T need NO education to its opposite) can we triumph over the government and other authoritative figures that stand between us and our ideal life?
You're joking, right?
actually, that's a valid point. i always thought i was the first one but now...........................
Spot ON! Double negative makes POSITIVE.<br /> We NEED education (knowledge)<br /> We NEED thought control! <br /> No darkness/evil/negative trying to distract us <br /> "Teachers" being anyone who's distracting us from the main goal/negative influence<br /> All in all is LITERAL. We are just ONE brick in the wall. ONE piece of a whole.<br /> Wrong! Do it again! -You messed up this time, ready to start life all over?<br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> @brickinthewall86
according to nick mason: 'i still think it's a good record, but often misunderstood. it is not anti-education but it is anti-nasty-shitty-teachers, hopefully less common now.'
it's on the echoes website.
We played this song at our Graduation.
in "the wall" - the movie - every incident in "pink's" life becomes another brick in the wall he's created. he is slowly learning to block out everyone. this song is describing the school he went to, and how they forced the children into submission and made them conform to this standard. he is claiming, in the song, that the treatment of the school to him is just another brick in that wall he created, just another thing to help isolate him more and more.
I was in high school when this song came out. And wow, was it embraced by the students! It was like a national student anthem.