The Happiest Days of Our Lives
Encyclopedia
"The Happiest Days of Our Lives" is a song by Pink Floyd
. It appeared on The Wall
album in 1979
.
sound effect; followed by shouting from the schoolmaster (In a helicopter). Then the sound effects abruptly cut out for the lyrical portion. Throughout the most of the song, the lead instrument is the electric guitar with an added delay effect and during the bridge to "Another Brick in the Wall, Part II
", there are intense drums and backing vocals. Due to the smooth transition from this song to "Another Brick in the Wall, Part II", it might give the listener the impression that this song is part of "Another Brick".
On the album, "The Happiest Days of Our Lives" segues into "Another Brick in the Wall, Part II" with a loud, high-pitched scream by Roger Waters
(this sound is later reprised on Run Like Hell
). Because of this segue, many radio stations play one right after the other.
In the film based on the album, the sound at the beginning of the song is depicted as coming from a train entering a large tunnel, rather than a helicopter heard on the album. According to Gerald Scarfe
, there was supposed to be a puppet of the teacher at the end of the tunnel in the film. Alan Parker made shots of it, but it didn't work out, so they used Alex McAvoy
, who played the schoolteacher, to do the scene instead. Before the cut in the middle for the Schoolmaster to mock Pink, somewhat quiet hysterical laughter is heard, extremely similar to the Schoolmaster's voice.
According to Waters, the lyrics were a reflection of his own negative experience in school. He described this in an interview with Tommy Vance
of BBC Radio One.
", and, as punishment, ridicules Pink by reading his poem out loud to the entire class then slaps his hand with a ruler. The following scene shows the teacher in his own home, being forced to eat a piece of tough meat during dinner at his wife's silent command. To relieve himself of this frustration, the teacher spanks a child with a belt the next day. In the film it seems the Schoolmaster is not so vicious as in the album, but nonetheless Pink views him in a negative way.
tried to add a similar helicopter sound effect to the fadeout of her single "Experiment IV
", her recording engineers were unable to duplicate the overwhelming sound, so she asked Roger Waters
for the original tape, and he obliged as long as it was mentioned in the credits.
Pink Floyd
Pink Floyd were an English rock band that achieved worldwide success with their progressive and psychedelic rock music. Their work is marked by the use of philosophical lyrics, sonic experimentation, innovative album art, and elaborate live shows. Pink Floyd are one of the most commercially...
. It appeared on The Wall
The Wall
The Wall is the eleventh studio album by English progressive rock group Pink Floyd. Released as a double album on 30 November 1979, it was subsequently performed live with elaborate theatrical effects, and adapted into a feature film, Pink Floyd—The Wall.As with the band's previous three...
album in 1979
1979 in music
See also:Record labels established in 1979* 1979 in music This is a list of notable events in music that took place in the year 1979.-January–February:*January 1...
.
Composition
The song is approximately 1 minute, 46 seconds in length, beginning with 24 seconds of a helicopterHelicopter
A helicopter is a type of rotorcraft in which lift and thrust are supplied by one or more engine-driven rotors. This allows the helicopter to take off and land vertically, to hover, and to fly forwards, backwards, and laterally...
sound effect; followed by shouting from the schoolmaster (In a helicopter). Then the sound effects abruptly cut out for the lyrical portion. Throughout the most of the song, the lead instrument is the electric guitar with an added delay effect and during the bridge to "Another Brick in the Wall, Part II
Another Brick in the Wall
"Another Brick in the Wall" is the title of three songs set to variations of the same basic theme, on Pink Floyd's 1979 rock opera, The Wall, subtitled Part 1 , Part 2 , and Part 3...
", there are intense drums and backing vocals. Due to the smooth transition from this song to "Another Brick in the Wall, Part II", it might give the listener the impression that this song is part of "Another Brick".
On the album, "The Happiest Days of Our Lives" segues into "Another Brick in the Wall, Part II" with a loud, high-pitched scream by Roger Waters
Roger Waters
George Roger Waters is an English musician, singer-songwriter and composer. He was a founding member of the progressive rock band Pink Floyd, serving as bassist and co-lead vocalist. Following the departure of bandmate Syd Barrett in 1968, Waters became the band's lyricist, principal songwriter...
(this sound is later reprised on Run Like Hell
Run Like Hell
"Run Like Hell" is a song from the 1979 Pink Floyd album The Wall.-Overview:The song is written from the point of view of anti-hero Pink during a hallucination in which he becomes a fascist dictator and turns a concert audience into an angry mob...
). Because of this segue, many radio stations play one right after the other.
In the film based on the album, the sound at the beginning of the song is depicted as coming from a train entering a large tunnel, rather than a helicopter heard on the album. According to Gerald Scarfe
Gerald Scarfe
Gerald Anthony Scarfe, CBE, RDI, is an English cartoonist and illustrator. He worked as editorial cartoonist for The Sunday Times and illustrator for The New Yorker...
, there was supposed to be a puppet of the teacher at the end of the tunnel in the film. Alan Parker made shots of it, but it didn't work out, so they used Alex McAvoy
Alex McAvoy
Alex McAvoy was a Scottish actor, known for his role as Sunny Jim in the BBC Scotland adaptation of Neil Munro's Para Handy stories, The Vital Spark....
, who played the schoolteacher, to do the scene instead. Before the cut in the middle for the Schoolmaster to mock Pink, somewhat quiet hysterical laughter is heard, extremely similar to the Schoolmaster's voice.
Plot
As with the other songs on The Wall, "The Happiest Days of Our Lives" tells a portion of the story of Pink, the album's protagonist. Pink is sent to a school which is run by strict and often violent teachers who treat the pupils with contempt.According to Waters, the lyrics were a reflection of his own negative experience in school. He described this in an interview with Tommy Vance
Tommy Vance
Tommy Vance was a British pop radio broadcaster, born in Eynsham, Oxfordshire. He was one of the few music broadcasters in the United Kingdom to champion hard rock and heavy metal in the early 1980s, providing the only national radio forum for both bands and fans...
of BBC Radio One.
Film version
Pink and his two friends go down to a railway track to lay bullets on the rails and watch them explode under the passing train. Pink, putting himself up against the tunnel wall, sees that the train cars are packed with faceless people. The imagery here once again takes us to World War 2, and the idea of cattle cars filled with Holocaust victims is undeniable. He sees his teacher at the other end of the tunnel yelling at Pink and ordering him to stand still. In the next scene, which takes place in Pink's school, the teacher discovers Pink writing a poem, which contains lyrics from "MoneyMoney (Pink Floyd song)
"Money" is the sixth track from English progressive rock band Pink Floyd's 1973 album The Dark Side of the Moon. Written by bassist Roger Waters, it opened side two of the original vinyl LP, and is the only song on the album to enter the top 20 on the Billboard Hot 100...
", and, as punishment, ridicules Pink by reading his poem out loud to the entire class then slaps his hand with a ruler. The following scene shows the teacher in his own home, being forced to eat a piece of tough meat during dinner at his wife's silent command. To relieve himself of this frustration, the teacher spanks a child with a belt the next day. In the film it seems the Schoolmaster is not so vicious as in the album, but nonetheless Pink views him in a negative way.
Personnel
- David GilmourDavid GilmourDavid Jon Gilmour, CBE, D.M. is an English rock musician and multi-instrumentalist who is best known as the guitarist, one of the lead singers and main songwriters in the progressive rock band Pink Floyd. In addition to his work with Pink Floyd, Gilmour has worked as a producer for a variety of...
— guitars - Nick MasonNick MasonNicholas Berkeley "Nick" Mason is an English drummer and songwriter, best known for his work with Pink Floyd. He was the only constant member of the band since its formation in 1965...
— floor tom, snare and kick drum - Roger WatersRoger WatersGeorge Roger Waters is an English musician, singer-songwriter and composer. He was a founding member of the progressive rock band Pink Floyd, serving as bassist and co-lead vocalist. Following the departure of bandmate Syd Barrett in 1968, Waters became the band's lyricist, principal songwriter...
— bass with delay, lead vocals, backing vocals - James GuthrieJames Guthrie (record producer)James K.A. Guthrie is a British recording engineer and record producer best known for his work with the progressive rock band Pink Floyd, having served as a producer and engineer for the band since 1978...
— hi-hat and choke cymbal
Addendum
When Kate BushKate Bush
Kate Bush is an English singer-songwriter, musician and record producer. Her eclectic musical style and idiosyncratic vocal style have made her one of the United Kingdom's most successful solo female performers of the past 30 years.In 1978, at the age of 19, Bush topped the UK Singles Chart...
tried to add a similar helicopter sound effect to the fadeout of her single "Experiment IV
Experiment IV
"Experiment IV" is a song by the British singer Kate Bush. It was released as a single on 27 October 1986, in order to promote Bush's greatest hits album The Whole Story...
", her recording engineers were unable to duplicate the overwhelming sound, so she asked Roger Waters
Roger Waters
George Roger Waters is an English musician, singer-songwriter and composer. He was a founding member of the progressive rock band Pink Floyd, serving as bassist and co-lead vocalist. Following the departure of bandmate Syd Barrett in 1968, Waters became the band's lyricist, principal songwriter...
for the original tape, and he obliged as long as it was mentioned in the credits.