Sheep (song)
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Sheep is a song by the British band Pink Floyd. It was released on the album Animals in 1977.
History
During their tour in 1974 Pink Floyd played three new songs in the first half of the shows, followed by the whole of the Dark Side of the Moon album. Those three new songs were "You Gotta Be Crazy" (which would later become "Dogs"), "Shine On You Crazy Diamond" and "Raving And Drooling".During performances of Raving And Drooling a recording of a DJ at BBC Radio called Jimmy Young was played after being cut up and reassembled in random order. This was Waters' idea of a man "raving and drooling" (or being insane). The lyrics of the song at this point were quite different from the ones that were to become "Sheep" [link].
Both "You Gotta Be Crazy" and "Raving And Drooling" were originally planned to be on the album following the tour (Wish You Were Here), but the plans were changed and they both ended up in different forms on Animals.
Meaning
Sheep in Animals are not so different than the ones in Animal Farm. The sheep represent the lowest class of the social system, the proletariat. They are oblivious and exploited, "only dimly aware of a certain unease in the air". In the first verse they are described to be peacefully grazing - unaware that they are soon to be brought to a slaughterhouse. They are warned of the presence of dogs, the iron-handed guardians of the system. It is also described in the first few lines that the artist had "looked over Jordan and I have seen / Things are not what they seem," which can be a reference to the incredulous increase of GDP per capita in Jordan in the 70s.In the second verse the awful truth suddenly dawns on them and with "terminal shock in (their) eyes" they realise that they are being led into the "valley of steel", which is a homographic phrase, because it also represents the high-rise buildings (hence the steel framework), home of the corporate world as well as the slaughterhouse. The song continues into a mock biblical verse in which the sheep describe their dedicated belief in their master with "great power and great hunger." But in a humorous turnabout the sheep, "through quiet reflection and great dedication" master the art of karate and rebel against the dogs.
The third verse describes the sheeps' revolt, as they fall "on his neck with a scream." They might have had enough but they are still undereducated and uncivilised as they are described as "demented avengers." The song is completed with a cheerful announcement: "Have you heard the news? / The dogs are dead!" The sheep, because of their strength in numbers, overpower and kill the dogs.
Psalm 23
Starting at 6:27 and ending at 7:08, a parody of Psalm 23 ("The Lord is my shepherd...") is spoken in the background by means of a vocoder, with the words changed to suit the subject of the song.Originally (during live shows) this was performed by Nick Mason, but on the album this was done by an anonymous roadie.
The lyrics spoken in the background are:
"The Lord is my shepherd, I shall not want. He makes me down to lie. Through pastures green, He leadeth me the silent waters by. With bright knives, He releaseth my soul. He maketh me to hang on hooks in high places. He converteth me to lamb cutlets. For lo, He hath great power, and great hunger. When cometh the day we lowly ones, Through quiet reflection, and great dedication. Master the art of karate. Lo, we shall rise up. And then we'll make the bugger's eyes water."
Credits
- Music and lyrics - Roger Waters
- Roger Waters - vocal, rhythm guitar, tape and electronic effects, vocoder
- David Gilmour - lead guitar, bass guitar, rhythm guitar, synthesizer
- Richard Wright - Fender-Rhodes piano, Hammond organ, ARP String Synthesizers, Mini-Moog Synthesizers
- Nick Mason - drums, tape effects
- Anonymous roadie - Vocoder-spoken section
Reference: Fitch, Vernon. The Pink Floyd Encyclopedia (3rd edition), 2005. ISBN 1-894959-24-8
Quotes
David Gilmour, 1998, to Karl Coryat, "Bass Player"
External links
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