Pink Floyd's "The Wall"

[Linus]

I wonder if anyone here has seen the Pink Floyd movie/video “The Wall” Although it can be a very difficult movie to follow, I believe that the main character ‘Pink’ is someone who has been covertly incested by his mother. Pink is most likely the alter ego for Roger Waters, or some have suggested Syd Barrett.

Anyway, ‘Pink’s’ father died during WWII, and he never met him. His mother is very overbearing and manipulative of her son. Later as Pink grows up, and becomes a famous musician he has to deal with drug abuse and problems that come from being a famous rock star. However, he also has intimacy problems with his wife and even with groupies that he brings to his hotel room. (in one scene he brings a groupie to his room, and turns on the TV to zone out.)

There are many messages that can be interpreted in this movie, some of them accurate, perhaps others not so. I know that I have for a long time been drawn to this movie and feel like I can really emphasize with ‘Pink’ and some of his struggles in life. (alas, I am NOT a famous Rock Star.)

I thought I would post the lyrics to “Mother” and get your opinion on it. It seems very much that this is an poetical explanation of covert incest…..

Mother
By Roger Waters.

Mother do you think they'll drop the bomb?
Mother do you think they'll like this song?
Mother do you think they'll try to break my balls?
Mother should I build the wall?
Mother should I run for president?
Mother should I trust the government?
Mother will they put me in the firing line?
Mother am I really dying?

Hush now baby, baby, dont you cry.
Mother's gonna make all your nightmares come true.
Mother's gonna put all her fears into you.
Mother's gonna keep you right here under her wing.
She wont let you fly, but she might let you sing.
Mama will keep baby cozy and warm.
Ooooh baby ooooh baby oooooh baby,
Of course mama'll help to build the wall.

Mother do you think she's good enough -- to me?
Mother do you think she's dangerous -- to me?
Mother will she tear your little boy apart?
Mother will she break my heart?

Hush now baby, baby dont you cry.
Mama's gonna check out all your girlfriends for you.
Mama wont let anyone dirty get through.
Mama's gonna wait up until you get in.
Mama will always find out where you've been.
Mama's gonna keep baby healthy and clean.
Ooooh baby oooh baby oooh baby,
You'll always be baby to me.

Mother, did it need to be so high?

[Moriji]

I have seen the movie and have thought so too. I love the album, by the way.

I mentioned in another thread that I think Jim Morrison was a covert incest survivor. He hated both his parents, by the way.

I also read that he was molested by someone and that he told his mother once and she didn't believe him.

[persephone]

Just reading these lyrics made my stomach flip. I'd say it's a dead on portrayl of an incesting, narcissistic controlling mother.


persephone

[healium]

No doubt. "Mother's going to put all of her fears into you". Thanks. This articulates something my mother did perfectly and which hadn't been conscious of.

How about the Who's "Tommy"? Tommy goes into his own world after seeing his mother have sex with a man who becomes his step-father. Before that he'd been coddled incestuously. In a way, he may have felt his mother violently "broke up" with him. This also rings true for me. When my mother got remarried I felt incredibly rejected. She also stopped hugging and kissing me, etc.

One more pop culture representation I can throw out is Bill Clinton's upbringing with him mother. His way is so familiar to mine and his struggles with promiscuity as well.

[2young2luv]

I was depressed by that movie. I could identify with the lead character so much. I loved that song "Mother" but I never realized it had those lyrics even though I've listened to it hundreds of times. I also liked "Comfortably Numb". That was a very influencing film for me as a teenager in the 80's. Thanks for the insight.