The Great Gig in the Sky

For the tribute band, see The Great Gig in the Sky (band)

Template:Dsotm "The Great Gig in the Sky" is the fifth track from British progressive rock band Pink Floyd's 1973 album, Dark Side of the Moon. It features soaring voice instrumental music by Clare Torry. The song was called "The Religion Song" during recording. The vocals resemble wailing and screams, indicating the horror of dying.

Clare Torry's vocals

In an interview, [1], Clare mentioned that she was trying to emulate an instrument. So it was, from all published accounts, an improvisation with Clare apparently using her songwriting skills to give it form and function.

In fact, she mentions in her interview that she was never clearly told that the song was about death. In a different interview on the DVD "The Dark Side of the Moon" (Eagle Vision EV 30042-9 US NTSC version), Richard Wright mentions that she began singing words and they knew they didn't want that. Published interviews mention that she recorded the takes very quickly - on the DVD, the track sheet shows four tracks used for her vocals.

In her interview, she mentions that an accountant at Abbey Road called her; other interviews with band members mentioned that Alan Parsons suggested her.

Chris Thomas, who was brought in to assist Alan Parsons in mixing the album (arguments over the use of overall compression supposedly ensued) mentions that they were actually in mixdown at the time. On the DVD, various members mention that they had this song and weren't quite sure what to do with it. Wright further mentions that when she finished, she was apologetic about wasting their time even though those present were amazed at her improvisation.

In Clare's interview she mentions that she left thinking that it wouldn't be included on the final cut. In fact, she states that the only way she knew it was used was when she saw it at a local record store, saw her name in the credits and purchased it.

During live performances by Pink Floyd, up to three singers were used, each taking different parts of the song.

Aside from the soaring vocals there are two spoken parts, an introduction at 0:38 spoken by “Gerry” (an Irish Abbey Road Studios doorman at the time), and Clare Torry's voice at 3:33.

In 2004, Torry sued Pink Floyd and EMI for songwriting royalties, on the basis that her contribution to "Great Gig in the Sky" constituted co-authorship with Rick Wright; originally, she was paid the standard Sunday flat studio rate of £30. In 2005, a settlement was reached in High Court in Torry's favour, although terms were not disclosed. [2] In the P*U*L*S*E DVD booklet, The Great Gig In The Sky is credited to Wright and "vocal composition by Clare Torry".

Composition

Most of the song is a slightly altered arrangement of the beat and bassline from the song "Breathe". However, due it the altered beat and bassline, it is not directly related to "Breathe", unlike the last part of "Time" (sometimes listed in songbooks as "Breathe (Reprise)"), and "Any Colour You Like" (sometimes nicknamed "Breathe (2nd Reprise)").

When the Dark Side of the Moon suite was performed in 1972 (before the album was released), the song was completely different and went under the title "The Mortality Sequence". Then, it was simply an organ and samples of people speaking about death being played during the performance.

Spoken parts

(At 0:38)

And I am not frightened of dying. Any time will do; I don't mind. Why should I be frightened of dying? There's no reason for it—you've gotta go sometime
— Gerry

(At 3:33, faintly)

I never said I was frightened of dying.
— Myfanwy 'Miv' Watts, wife of roadie Peter 'Puddie' Watts, father of actress Naomi Watts

Sometimes misheard as "if you can hear this whisper, you're a dime" or "if you hear this whisper, you are dying."

Trivia

This piece was used as the backing music for a UK television advert for an analgesic in the early '90s.

Notes

^ The track number depends upon the album version; some releases merge the two tracks "Speak to Me" and "Breathe," for instance.