Sheep (Pink Floyd song)
Sheep is a song by the British band Pink Floyd. It was released on the album Animals in 1977.
History
During their tour in 1974 Pink Floyd played three new songs in the first half of the shows, followed by the whole of the Dark Side of the Moon album. Those three new songs were "You Gotta Be Crazy" (which would later become "Dogs"), "Shine On You Crazy Diamond" and "Raving And Drooling".
During performances of Raving And Drooling a recording of a DJ at BBC Radio called Jimmy Young was played after being cut up and reassembled in random order. This was Waters' idea of a man "raving and drooling" (or being insane). The lyrics of the song at this point were quite different from the ones that were to become "Sheep" [1].
Both "You Gotta Be Crazy" and "Raving And Drooling" were originally planned to be on the album following the tour (Wish You Were Here), but the plans were changed and they both ended up in different forms on Animals.
Meaning
Sheep can be seen as a kind of mini-Animal Farm. The sheep themselves represent the exploited masses, who in the first verse are peacefully grazing - unaware that they are soon to be brought to a slaughterhouse.
In the second verse the awful truth suddenly dawns on them and with "terminal shock in their eyes" they realise that they're being led into the "valley of steel".
In the final verse they revolt against the Dogs and because of their strength in numbers overpower and kill them.
Psalm 23
Starting at 6:27 and ending at 7:08, a parody of Psalm 23 ("The Lord is my shepherd...") is spoken in the background, with the words changed to suit the subject of the song.
Originally (during live shows) this was performed by Nick Mason, but on the album this was done by an anonymous roadie.
The lyrics spoken in the background are:
"The Lord is my shepherd, I shall not want. He makes me down to lie. Through pastures green He leadeth me the silent waters by. With bright knives He releaseth my soul. He maketh me to hang on hooks in high places. He converteth me to lamb cutlets, For lo, He hath great power, and great hunger. When cometh the day we lowly ones, Through quiet reflection, and great dedication Master the art of karate, Lo, we shall rise up, And then we'll make the bugger's eyes water."
Credits
- Music and lyrics - Roger Waters
- Roger Waters - vocal, rhythm guitar, tape effects
- David Gilmour - lead guitar, rhythm guitar, bass, synthesizer
- Richard Wright - Fender-Rhodes piano, Hammond organ, ARP String Synthesizers, Mini-Moog Synthesizers
- Nick Mason - drums, tape effects
plus
- Anonymous roadie - Spoken section
Recorded April, May and July 1976 at the band's own Britannia Row Studios, Islington, London.
Quotes
On Animals Roger played bass on "Dogs" and I played bass on "Sheep"
and "Pigs." Most of the bass line on "Sheep" (apart from the ending) was what Roger had been playing onstage, as we had been performing it as "Raving and Drooling" for a couple of years. However, in the studio Roger had a rhythm guitar part he wanted to play, so we swapped roles. On "Pigs" the part and the
playing are mine. – David Gilmour, 1998, to Karl Coryat, "Bass Player"