Mike Posted March 29, 2005 Report Share Posted March 29, 2005 Reference: Pink Floyd - Mother When I submitted this song, I had a questions that where never answered through my researching. The line "Mother, should I run for president"? Pink Floyd is a british band, one might expect Roger to write "Mother, should I run for prime minister" rather than resident? I know it fits better lyrically. Not being a natural born U.S. citizen, Roger could not actually run for president, right? My question is: Did any member become a U.S. citizen? Mike Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Aunt_Acid Posted March 30, 2005 Report Share Posted March 30, 2005 As far as I know, Roger isn't too fond of the US. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Addictedtoclassic Posted March 30, 2005 Report Share Posted March 30, 2005 I thought the character in The Wall runs away to live in the US. If that's the case, then the line "Mother should I run for President?" would be fitting if he was living in the US during that portion of the story. But yes, you are correct. In order to run for President, you must be a naturally born US citizen. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Aunt_Acid Posted March 30, 2005 Report Share Posted March 30, 2005 He didn't move there, he just went there on tour. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DiggsUK Posted March 30, 2005 Report Share Posted March 30, 2005 I think he sang that because 'Prime Minister' didn't rhyme. Regards Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Aunt_Acid Posted March 30, 2005 Report Share Posted March 30, 2005 President hardly rhymes with government. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DiggsUK Posted April 1, 2005 Report Share Posted April 1, 2005 It does kind of, and it scans too. Regards Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Earth-Angel Posted April 1, 2005 Report Share Posted April 1, 2005 I think they rhyme fine, both ending in "ent" helps somewhat. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
brentley Posted April 3, 2005 Report Share Posted April 3, 2005 heres my take on the matter, i think that he said president because right b4 that he said "Mother, should I trust the government?" so he said president to kind of portray a negative image for presidents, one that can't be trusted Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Aunt_Acid Posted April 3, 2005 Report Share Posted April 3, 2005 Actually, he said "should I trust the government" after he asked if he should run for president. But then why wouldn't he use prime minister if he wanted to portray a negative image? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
scott Posted April 3, 2005 Report Share Posted April 3, 2005 Because The Wall was in the post-Watergate era, so a president would obviously be an obvious target for mistrust. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Aunt_Acid Posted April 3, 2005 Report Share Posted April 3, 2005 Tru Dat. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pete38890 Posted April 3, 2005 Report Share Posted April 3, 2005 The album sales are in the US, and so the Prime Minister is a distant also-ran. Always follow the money. The english major in me says rhyme doesn't matter: ancient English poets invented language and pronunciation as they went along, butchering every quatrain to make it fit. It's no different today. The hip-hop poets owe a lot to Keats and Chaucer.... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mike Posted April 3, 2005 Author Report Share Posted April 3, 2005 I don't buy that... The following line "Mother, will they put me in the firing line?" and considering The Wall deals with WWII, and the insecurities, uncertainties of growing up and dealing with the history of the war and the it's effects on everyone. I put this lines relevancy squarely in reasoning of the power to make or prevent wars. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pete38890 Posted April 3, 2005 Report Share Posted April 3, 2005 That certainly makes sense if you are talking about an historical document. Yes, "The Wall" alludes to the trauma of post ww2 Britain, but it was written by a couple of guys two generations removed from that horror. Just as the bible can be interpreted in minutiae to reveal that Elvis is the savior of man, so can "The Wall" prove that life exists on the dark side of the moon. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pete38890 Posted April 4, 2005 Report Share Posted April 4, 2005 Holy cats, and wait amoment while I process. I'm slow, but real. "Mother, do you think they'll drop the bomb?" I'm not an historical scholar, but I don't think an autistic child would be privy to the intentions of the united states in re: the pacific front. "Mother do you think they'll like this song?" I reckon they did. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Aunt_Acid Posted April 4, 2005 Report Share Posted April 4, 2005 but it was written by a couple of guys two generations removed from that horror Roger Waters' father died in the war. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Aunt_Acid Posted April 4, 2005 Report Share Posted April 4, 2005 an autistic child Autistic? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pete38890 Posted April 4, 2005 Report Share Posted April 4, 2005 Yes, autistic, Bob. I could be wrong about the Brothers Floyd family tree, but The Wall is stacked on the tragedy of autism. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Aunt_Acid Posted April 4, 2005 Report Share Posted April 4, 2005 You just make less sense with every post. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
syd Posted April 4, 2005 Report Share Posted April 4, 2005 The song opens up with Pink's concerns of war, rooted with his father's death. He then wonders if "they", (meaning society, his peers, the world) will like his song or try to break him down. Now he asks his mother if he should build a wall...his mother's haunting answer can be found later. Pink questions whether he should run for president when he is older, but this does not literally mean president to me. It is there to show that Pink has dreams and hopes. http://utopia.knoware.nl/users/ptr/pfloyd/review/wall_floyd.html Pink's youthful imaginings shine through even amidst his budding paranoia when he asks if he should "run for president." To clear up a few misconceptions, I seriously doubt that this is a realistic dream of running for United States president considering that Pink is, after all, British. Rather, I believe that the unspecified presidency is used to show that despite his hardening world and personal views, Pink is still young and thus full of childlike expectations and dreams. All dream of being great and important figures at some time or another, Pink is no exception. Still, his momentary dreams of great political power are quashed when his overpowering apprehension takes over when he questions the trustworthiness of the government, wondering if "they'll put me in the firing line." Once again, the "they" is unspecified and can refer to either the actual government or anyone who assails and criticizes those with power. As Pink realizes, power and greatness merely emphasize the vulnerability of a person; when one is in the spotlight, he or she is that much more susceptible to public criticism and attack. http://home.mchsi.com/~ttint/mother.html Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pete38890 Posted April 4, 2005 Report Share Posted April 4, 2005 I'm sure it has something to do with chemical imbalance. One of us will be better come the morning. The other will have to fend for himself.... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mike Posted April 4, 2005 Author Report Share Posted April 4, 2005 http://utopia.knoware.nl/users/ptr/pfloyd/review/wall_floyd.html http://home.mchsi.com/~ttint/mother.html Syd Quite Excellent post! I encourage you to add this to the songfacts for this song! Mike Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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