It is truley a tribute to any artist when he is admired, and his music, or creations, are loved the world over by people of many nationalites. So it is, and has been for Roger Waters, whose music cuts through the barriers of many languages and yet still communicates feeling, meaning, politics, understanding, and the pure and simple enjoyment of listening to good music which is creative, and never heard before.
Sometimes though it helps to have a little bit more information about the meanings of things which might be foreign to some, or hard to understand by those whose education has been limited or whose lifestyles and cultures may be radically different. Jean-Manuel has written this article to help us all to obtain a better understanding of Amused To Death.
Upon listening to Amused to Death soon after it's release, I sometimes became confused or did not understand some of the words, references, or jargon, Roger was using among the lyrics. I wondered whether others in non-English speaking countries might also be having some difficulty as well. So I asked my friend Thomas Granier who is a University instructor to help me, both to understand and to write this article. I also asked Michael Simone, our club president, to edit it and help with the definitions, and translations.
The following are the words or references, followed by their definitions or meanings, that we thought others may be having difficulty in understanding. Hopefully these definitions will help to give a better comprehension and awareness of the story and lyrics of Amused to Death.
Bill Hubbard was a English soldier, a member of the Royal Fusiliers, who died of wounds during the battle of the Somme in France during World War I. Alf Razzel, a company file clerk and also a member of the Royal Fusiliers, was Bill Hubbard's friend and attempted to carry him to safety during a German attack but had to leave him to die when Bill's wounds prevented him from going any further. In the song "The Ballad of Bill Hubbard," Roger Waters taped Alf Razzel recounting the anguish he still felt almost 70 years later, of leaving his friend to die in NO Mans Land.
Semtex is a Plastic Explosive made in Yugoslavia. It is not sensitive to x-rays so it is in wide use by many terrorist organizations. It is suspected that it was used to blow up the U.S. TWA airliner over Lockerby Scotland.
Crack is a crystallized form of low grade Cocaine. The 'rock' crystals are formed from powder cocaine through the chemical process known as "Free-Basing." Rock Cocaine or Crack is smoked in a glass tube like pipe. It produces a powerful high, yet short in duration, and is very addicting.
To the Christians of Europe during the middle ages, Jerusalem in the Holy Land was a sacred city. The tomb of Christ, the Mount of Olives, Golgotha, and all places associated with the life and death of Christ were believed to have divine powers of healing and of absolving penitents of sin. People from all parts of Europe made pilgrimages to Jerusalem and other holy places.As long as the Saracens held Jerusalem, there was very little trouble. The Saracens permitted the pilgrims to come and go. In 1071, however, the fierce Seljuk Turks captured Jerusalem from the Saracens. The Turks at once began to persecute the Christians. Pilgrims on their way to the Holy City were robbed and beaten. The sacred places of the Roman Catholic church were profaned or destroyed.
When European Christians heard of the persecution, they were outraged. Alexius Commenus, emperor of the Eastern Roman Empire, feared that the Turks might seize Constantinople, his capital. They had already defeated and slain his predecessor. As the terror of the Turks spread, Alexius Commenus sent a plea for aid to Pope Urban II at Rome.
The pope called a council at Clermont in France in 1095. Speaking with ringing eloquence, he urged his audience to undertake a crusade to rescue the Holy Land. No speech in history has ever had greater results. Fired with religious zeal, clergy, knights, and common people shouted, "God wills it!"
And so began The CRUSADES. "God wills it!" That was the battle cry of the thousands of Christians who joined crusades to free the Holy Land from the Turks. From 1096 to 1270 there were eight major crusades and two children's crusades, both in the year 1212. Only the First and Third Crusades were successful. In the long history of the Crusades, thousands of knights, soldiers, merchants, and peasants lost their lives on the march or in battle.
Jihad is a Muslim word meaning Religious War. A war of Moslems against enemies of their faith, or a war to spread the Muslim faith or 'Islam' throughout the world over all other religions in the name of Ala (or God).
Refers to a group of four classical musicians, a 'Quartet,' who happen to be from Vienna, Austria. The city of Vienna having been the center hub of the classical music world for the past 400 years. Roger makes this reference in describing the scenes in the movie by Stanley Kubrick's "2001 A Space Oddesy" in which a lot of classical music is used as a soundtrack. In one scene in particular a gorilla or Ape clutches the bone in his hand, and smashing it on a rock learns that it can be used as a weapon, he then throws the bone in the air in celebration of his discovery, while a Viennese quartet is heard playing music in the background.
This reference is made to describe the lengths our religious societies will go to to rationalize the killing of others who are of different faiths in the name of God. The German Nazi's attempted extermination of the Jews, the Jewish state of Israel's constant killing of, and war upon the Arab Muslims (Palestinians) to keep control of lands they now occupy, and the Palestinian counter of a terrorist war or Jihad which sometimes includes the taking of hostages who are oftentimes killed in the end.
The American term 'Wall Street' is named for a street in New York, where the main U.S. stock exchange, as well as offices of all major stock brokers are located. It is the business center of the U.S. financial market.
In a mythical story of creation found in the Christian Bible, God creates a paradise on earth, a 'The Garden of Eden,' a land for whom the first two humans, Adam and Eve can live.
An 'Uzi' sub-machine gun is the standard machine gun of the Israeli army. It was developed by, and named after Major Uziel Gal in 1952. Early models had a folding wooden stock but soon after, it was made with the steel and plastic folding stock that has become the trademark of the gun today. Modified in 1960, it is similar to the Russian 'Kalaschnikov' sub-machine gun. The Uzi has a reputation for ruggedness and quality. Use of the Uzi has become widespread among many armies of the world, and has also become prevalent in use among many terrorist organizations, organized crime syndicates and drug cartels and dealers.
Like 'Varnet' (sun glasses) Ray Ban is a manufacturer of very expensive, high quality sun glasses. In many circles these are viewed as status symbols.
In using the phrase BB Gun days, Roger is referring to the post World War II era in the US. In this era there was a 'baby boom' or huge birth rate increase. During this time the fascination of the American people with war, soldiers and guns was at an all time high. Most all boys raised in this era (age 6-10) played games of war using toy guns, pretending they were soldiers and pretend fighting other groups of boys who were the enemy. When boys got older their parents sometimes would buy them "BB Guns," which are air rifles that shoot tiny BB pellets. These guns were mostly harmless as real weapons in that they were not powerful enough to kill people, but many innocent birds and small animals died at the hands of young boys using them for target practice. Such was the attitude of American Society in the 1950's.
Tripoli is the capitol of Libya. It was bombed by U.S. fighter bombers in the spring of 1986 in retaliation for the training, supplying and supporting of Arab terrorist groups.
An F-1 is a U.S. mach II jet Fighter Bomber, and an F-15 is a U.S. mach II jet fighter, these are among the most technologically advanced and the most powerful attack aircraft in the history of war.
The Pope is the spiritual head and leader of the Catholic Christian Religion. An Iatolla is one of the spiritual leaders of the Muslim Religion, he is an interpreter of the Koran, (the Muslim bible) preacher of the prophesies of Mohammed, and charged with the expansion of the nations of Islam.
The largest open square in Peking, (now Beijing,) China. It was here in the spring of 1989 that college students and other pro-democracy demonstrators gathered to demonstrate their desire for freedom and democracy. They were eventually beaten and gunned down by Chinese army troops under orders of the Chinese Communist Government.
The YANGTZE RIVER. The longest river in Asia and the fourth longest in the world, the Yangtze River (spelled Chang Jiang in Pinyin) flows for 3,400 miles (5,500 kilometers) from the Kunlun Mountains of Tibet in western China to the East China Sea north of Shanghai. It flows generally north- and eastward, crossing 12 of China's provinces and autonomous regions. As the country's principal inland waterway, it serves as a continuation of sea routes.The Yangtze is one of the world's busiest rivers. Much cargo and passenger traffic travel along 1,700 miles (2,700 kilometers) of its course. Its deep waters allow large ships to reach as far as Wuhan, 700 miles (1,100 kilometers) upriver from the coast.
Fourth in volume among the world's rivers, the Yangtze carries a tremendous amount of water. During the periods of monsoon rains in the summer months, however, the river and its tributaries swell and can create severe floods. There have been many floods, the most serious occurring in 1931, when 140,000 people died. Although floods often threaten to inundate the farmlands, the Yangtze Basin is the granary of China. About half of China's agricultural output is grown here, including 70 percent of the rice crop.
More than three quarters of the river's course runs through mountains. Beginning in the relatively level Tibetan Highlands, it descends to cut through snowcapped mountains with elevations of 16,000 feet (4,900 meters). Villages are rare in this section. Eastward, away from the mountains, the long final section of the course runs along the southern edge of the wide North China Plain toward many major cities. Population is dense near the delta, and agriculture and industry are well developed. The Yangtze divides into two separate outlets above Shanghai to enter the East China Sea.
Historically, the Yangtze River valley was under the British sphere of influence until the 1930s. From 1937 to 1945 much of the river was under Japanese control. (See also China.)
GREAT WALL OF CHINA. The largest engineering and building project ever carried out by humans is the Great Wall of China. It stretches about 1,500 miles (2,400 kilometers) from Bo Hai, a gulf off the Yellow Sea in the east, to a point deep in Gansu province in the west. Parts of the enormous structure date back to the 4th century BC, but the earliest major work on the wall came during the Ch'in Dynasty, which lasted from 221 to 206 BC.The emperor Shih Huang Ti had united the different parts of the country into one China in about 214 BC. He ordered the existing sections of wall to be connected to form one long wall as a protection against invading nomads, or wandering tribes, from the north. The nomads he was especially concerned about were the Hsiung-nu, sometimes thought to be forebears of the Huns. Since that time it has been extended, rebuilt many times, and destroyed in part. But it still stands and has become one of the major tourist attractions in the world.
The wall is simple in structure. It is built of dirt, stone, and brick. Its height ranges from 15 to 30 feet (5 to 9 meters), with watchtowers rising at regular intervals above it. It is 15 to 25 feet (5 to 8 meters) wide. Along the top runs a 13-foot- (4-meter-) wide roadway. Behind the wall there are at intervals permanent camps for troops.
The wall's use as a defensive barrier ended in 1644 with the collapse of the Ming Dynasty. Parts of the wall fell into disrepair, but in the 20th century parts have been rebuilt. A new visitors' site was opened at Mutianyu, northeast of Peking, in 1985. It shares the tourist traffic that was previously concentrated at Badaling, northwest of the city.
CHIANG KAI-SHEK (1887-1975). The lifelong dream of General Chiang Kai-Shek was a united vigorous China, free of foreign domination. As president and premier of the Chinese Republic and commander of its army, Gen. Chiang fought for his dream. His single-minded determination made him one of the most controversial men of his time.Chiang was the son of a middle-class wine merchant who lived in the village of Chikow in Chekiang Province. When he was 15 years old, his mother, following the Chinese custom of that time, arranged his marriage to a girl whom Chiang saw for the first time on his wedding day. The young husband went to Tokyo in 1907 to study at the Military Staff College. There he became a disciple, or follower, of the exiled Chinese revolutionary leader Doctor Sun Yat-sen, "father of the Chinese Republic." In 1911 Chiang returned to China and took part in the revolt that established the Chinese Republic.
When the republic fell into the hands of reactionaries, the young officer joined in an unsuccessful revolt in 1913, which cost him his army post. Another revolt, in 1916, forced him into temporary exile in Japan. In 1923 Dr. Sun sent him to Moscow to study Soviet military and political institutions. On his return Chiang founded a military academy at Canton, the southern stronghold of the revolutionaries. After Dr. Sun's death in 1925, Chiang, supported by his well-trained cadets, rose to power in the Kuomintang (Nationalist party) and in 1926 took command of the Nationalist army.
The general then began his conquering advance to the north of China, with Peking (Beijing), capital of the weak republic, as his goal. In an epic 1,200-mile march, he gained control of south and central China. In 1927 he established his capital at Nanking. Alarmed by the growth of Communism, Chiang dismissed his Soviet advisers and ruthlessly crushed the Chinese Communists. When Kuomintang officials denounced him, Chiang resigned all his offices.
Having divorced his childhood wife some years before, Chiang proposed marriage to Soong Mei-ling, of the famous Soong family. The head of the family, Charles Jones Soong, was an American-educated Chinese who became a Christian missionary and made a fortune by publishing Bibles. His three sons and three daughters were all educated in the United States. One daughter, Soong Ching-ling, became the wife of Dr. Sun. Mei-ling, whom Chiang married in 1927, was renowned for her beauty and her brilliant mind. As her husband's close adviser, Madame Chiang became world-famous.
Soon after his marriage Chiang resumed command of the Kuomintang army and continued his drive to the north. In 1928 his army entered Peking and, as chief of the Kuomintang party, Chiang became the head of the Republic of China.
China, however, was still far from unified. For years Chiang battled insurgent regional commanders and armed Communist forces. When Japan invaded Manchuria in 1931, Chiang offered no resistance, as he believed China still too weak to risk a war. Widespread criticism of his policy forced him to resign as head of the nation, but he continued as commander of the army. In 1933 he made peace with Japan.
Chiang was playing for time. He speeded his program for unifying and strengthening China. In 1935 he became premier and, with his wife, launched the New Life movement--a program designed to improve the lot of the peasants through education, home industries, and self-help.
When Japan again invaded China in an "undeclared war," on July 27, 1937, the nation rallied to Chiang as its generalissimo. He saved most of China from the invaders and accomplished the gigantic task of moving industries and schools to the interior. In 1942, in World War II, he became Allied commander in China . He was elected China's president in 1943 and reelected in 1948.
China got economic aid from the United States, but Chiang did not push economic or political reforms. Much of his Nationalist government was corrupt, and inflation brought increasing hardship to the masses.
Yosemite is a large U.S. National Park located in the pine forests of the Sierra Nevada Mountains in California, and is known for it's extreme beauty, it's many huge granite rock formations, and it's many large waterfalls.
Andrew Lloyd Webber is a modern English composer of many hit Broadway Musical Plays. Born in 1948, his most popular musicals include "Evita", and "Phantom of the Opera." He can be reached at the following address: Palace Theater, Shalkesburry Avenue, London WIV 8A4.
Jessica Hahn was the church secretary, who had an affair with Tele-evangelist Jim Baker. It was the publicizing of this affair which ultimately brought him down. As a result, Reverend Jim Baker lost his job as co-host of his TV show "PTL Club" and was soon after convicted of conspiracy and wire and mail fraud, in conjunction with the mishandling of funds for his ministry's Heritage USA theme park. He was sentenced to a 45 year prison term that was later reduced to 8 years. Jessica Hahn has subsequently bared all, posing twice for "Playboy" magazine and launched her own 900 number phone line, and has frequently appeared on TV and radio programs.
Born Vera Welsh, March 20, 1917, she took the surname Lynn as a stage name, as it was her grandmothers name. Vera Lynn is a British singer who's career flourished during WWII when she was nicknamed "The Forces Sweetheart". She became best known for the song "White Cliffs of Dover" (words by Nat Burton, music by Walter Kent. She was also famous for the song "We'll Meet Again" by Ross Parker and Hughie Charles. A phrase from the song "We'll meet again some sunny day..." can be heard at the end of the movie Dr. Strangelove by Stanley Kubrick, as the atomic bomb drops and explodes. It is also played at the beginning of the Pink Floyd movie "The Wall". She is one of the last surviving major entertainers of the war years.
The Garden of Gethsemene is a garden outside Jerusalem at the foot of the Mount of Olives, and is the place where Jesus was betrayed by his disciple Judas and arrested.
Dollars and Cents = USA, Pounds, Shillings, and Pence = UK, Guilders = Dutch, Kršners = Denmark, Norway, and Sweden, Swiss Francs = Switzerland, French Francs = France Escudos = Portugal, Pestetas = Spain, Lira = Italy
Note:
In the song "Watching TV" Roger sings that the 'Yellow Rose' is different from:
Cro-Magnon Man (a primordial version of homosapien discovered in China, who like the Neanderthal became extinct.)
Ann Boleyn (1506-1536) became one of the 6 wives of King Henry the 8th of Great Britain. Three years after her marriage in 1536 the queen is accused of adultery and hanged because the King wanted to marry another woman.
Unknown Nicaraguan; anyone can be killed by a so called 'lost bullet', maybe a reference to assassination of anyone who threatens the powers that be. Dodo; a bird with no wings which made good eating and was hunted to extermination and extinction in the 1800's.
Aztec; a huge advanced and complex civilization of over a thousand years which was exterminated by Cortez and Portuguese and Spanish Conquistadors in the early 15th century. The last king is hanged in 1505.
Cherokee; one of the many American Indian tribes exterminated by the U.S. Army, and racist white expansion across the American continent in the 1800's.
Roger lists these examples of exterminated and extinct beings and peoples and the similarities of and differences from the Yellow Rose exterminated in Tiananmen Square.
Note:
Roger say's in French "Oui il veut des francs Francais" which means "Yes, he wants French Francs"