
Another Brick in the Wall, Pt. 2
Pink Floyd
The Wall (1979)
Roger Waters
Listen to the Song
Search for videoAt a glance
- Key
- D Dorian
- Time signature
- 4/4
- Main progression
- i–IV–VII–III
- Chords used
- F · C · Dm · Dm7 · G
Summary
Serving as the centerpiece of the 1979 rock opera 'The Wall,' this track is a definitive masterpiece of progressive rock and social rebellion. It famously combines a disco-influenced beat with a haunting children's choir to deliver a sharp indictment of authoritative discipline.
Musical Analysis
The song's harmonic identity is defined by the D Dorian mode, specifically the movement from Dm to G major. This avoids the 'darker' Aeolian sound of a Bb chord and instead uses the B natural of the IV chord to create a more driving, rock-oriented tension. The…
History
Written by Roger Waters, the song is a three-part protest against the rigid and abusive British boarding school system. Part 2, the most famous section, specifically targets 'thought control' and 'dark sarcasm in the classroom.' It was originally a short verse…
“The children from Islington Green School were initially not paid, though they later received a platinum record and small royalty payments in the 2000s.”
Full musical analysis
The song's harmonic identity is defined by the D Dorian mode, specifically the movement from Dm to G major. This avoids the 'darker' Aeolian sound of a Bb chord and instead uses the B natural of the IV chord to create a more driving, rock-oriented tension. The solo section heavily utilizes D minor pentatonic and blues scales over a static Dm7 groove, emphasizing the rhythmic pocket over complex chord changes.
Written by Roger Waters, the song is a three-part protest against the rigid and abusive British boarding school system. Part 2, the most famous section, specifically targets 'thought control' and 'dark sarcasm in the classroom.' It was originally a short verse and chorus, but producer Bob Ezrin suggested expanding it with a disco-influenced beat and a second verse performed by school children to make it more commercially viable.
Serving as the centerpiece of the 1979 rock opera 'The Wall,' this track is a definitive masterpiece of progressive rock and social rebellion. It famously combines a disco-influenced beat with a haunting children's choir to deliver a sharp indictment of authoritative discipline.
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Song DNA
Genre
Progressive Rock
Era
70s
Mood
Defiant
Tempo
Mid-tempo
Key
Minor
Texture
Full Band
Sound
Guitar-driven
Feel
Groovy
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Statistics
1.7M
Plays
290K
Listeners
1.3M
Genius Views
15
Annotations
100%
Popularity
5:43
Duration
4/4
Time
Credits
Written by
Produced by
From the album The Wall