Goodbye Blue Sky
| "Goodbye Blue Sky" | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Song by Pink Floyd from the album The Wall | ||||
| Released | 30 November 1979 (UK), 8 December 1979 (US) | |||
| Recorded | April–November, 1979 | |||
| Genre | Progressive rock, rock opera | |||
| Length | 2:45 | |||
| Label | Harvest Records (UK) Columbia Records (US)/Capitol Records (US) |
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| Writer | Roger Waters | |||
| Producer | Bob Ezrin, David Gilmour, James Guthrie and Roger Waters | |||
| The Wall track listing | ||||
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"Goodbye Blue Sky" is a song by Pink Floyd.[1] It appeared on The Wall album in 1979.[2]
Contents |
[edit] Plot
In a brief prologue, birds are heard chirping peacefully. The sound of approaching bombers catches the attention of a child (voiced by a young Harry Waters), who states, "Look mummy, there's an aeroplane up in the sky".
The lyrics go on to describe the memory of the Blitz: Did you see the frightened ones? Did you hear the falling bombs? Did you ever wonder why we had to run for shelter when the promise of a brave new world unfurled beneath a clear blue sky?... The flames are all long gone but the pain lingers on. Goodbye, blue sky.
[edit] Film version
In the film version, this segment is animated by Gerald Scarfe. It shows a white dove (which begins as live action) flying peacefully up only to suddenly explode gorily, torn apart by a black Nazi eagle (Reichsadler). This mechanical-looking giant bird of prey swoops menacingly around over the countryside, then grabs at the earth with its claws, ripping up a huge section and flying off leaving a trail of blood. It glides over England before leaving a bloated monster in the wake of its shadow, which then turns into a machine-like warlord releasing warplanes. Next, naked, gas-masked people (the frightened ones) are seen running about on all four limbs and hiding from the dangers of an air raid, possibly The Blitz. Finally, a Union Jack that fragments, turning into a bleeding cross, the Nazi eagle crashed and the dove flies right out of it (representing peace). The blood trailing away worthlessly down into the gutter and a drain, as a small twang sound similar to that of a banjo. This is one of the most dramatic animation segments in the film, with a clear anti-war message — and seemingly critical of the pillars of state's support for conflict. Unlike the album, this comes in after "When the Tigers Broke Free" and before "The Happiest Days of Our Lives".
[edit] Live Versions
For the 1990 large-scale concert The Wall – Live in Berlin, vocals for this song were provided by Joni Mitchell, with visuals largely reprised from the movie version.
Roger Waters's 2010-2012 tour The Wall Live uses the song to depict a metaphorical "cultural bombing". As bomber planes fly in from the distance, they drop not bombs, but dollar signs, euro signs, religious symbols, and corporate logos.
[edit] Personnel
- Roger Waters — EMS VCS 3[3]
- David Gilmour — lead and harmony vocals, acoustic guitars, bass guitar, synthesizers[3]
- Richard Wright — synthesizers[3]
- Harry Waters — child's voice[3]
[edit] Cover versions
- On Ann Wilson's 2007 solo album, Hope & Glory, there is a version with Wilson's sister Nancy. The Wilson sister's band, Heart, also released a live version of the song on Dreamboat Annie Live.
- The song appears on Yonder Mountain String Band's 2002 live album Mountain Tracks: Volume 2 as a hidden track after "Follow Me Down to the Riverside".
- The song has been once referenced during a live introduction to System of a Down's song "Toxicity" in an anti-fascism speech.
- The song has been covered by the group Yes.
[edit] Further reading
- Fitch, Vernon. The Pink Floyd Encyclopedia (3rd edition), 2005. ISBN 1-894959-24-8
[edit] References
- ^ Mabbett, Andy (1995). The Complete Guide to the Music of Pink Floyd. London: Omnibus Press. ISBN 0-7119-4301-X.
- ^ Strong, Martin C. (2004). The Great Rock Discography (7th ed.). Edinburgh: Canongate Books. p. 1177. ISBN 1-84195-551-5.
- ^ a b c d Fitch, Vernon and Mahon, Richard, Comfortably Numb — A History of The Wall 1978–1981, 2006, p.81.
[edit] External links
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