In The Flesh (Wall film)

In The Flesh 3:43
     (written by Roger Waters)

Lyrics:
So ya thought ya
Might like to go to the show
To feel the warm thrill of confusion
That space cadet glow, huh
Well, I got some bad news for you, sunshine
Pink isn't well, he's, ah, back in the hotel
And they sent us along as a surrogate band
Now tonight, we're gonna find out
Where you fans really stand!

Are there any queers in the audience tonight?
Get 'em up against the wall!     'Gainst the wall
There's one in the spotlight,
He don't look right!
Have him up against the wall!    'Gainst the...
And that one looks Jewish
And that one's a coon!
Hey now, who let all this riff-raff into the room?
There's one smoking a joint!
And that one's got spots!
If I had my way, I'd have all of you shot!

This was another song newly recorded for the film, with Bob Geldof on lead vocals, in addition to a brass band and choir, each consisting of about two dozen members. As the story goes, Bob went round to Dave Gilmour's house to record the vocals for this song. Dave and engineer James Guthrie readied the 24-track, and then Bob proceeded to sing the song with a heavy Irish country accent, shocking Dave into sliding under the mixing desk with a horrified expression on his face. Finally Bob sang it correctly, prompting a instant response over the studio monitors: "You bastard!"

Pink has distorted his reality so completely now that it bears almost no resemblance to what is actually happening — other than the fact that he is performing in front of an audience. His isolation has made him angry, spiteful, even hateful — and he lashes out at those around him, who are so caught up in his 'cult of personality' that they applaud his every condemnation.

The scenes for In the Flesh were filmed at London's New Horticultural Hall. Assistant director Ray Corbett had to organise nearly 400 skinheads, 24 of which formed Pink's crack Hammer Guard.

Alan Parker: "The toughest section of the skinhead crowd were a group called the Tilbury Skins from South East London. We'd partially defused the threat of real violence by promoting this group to a more prestigious position in the film. They were to play Pink's 'Hammer Guard,' and we were going to use this bunch of amiable loonies as the kernel of the recreated violence that was to follow. Our stunt coordinator had been working with them for a month previously at Pinewood, showing them the rudiments of film stunting, the ability to punch someone without the need for breaking their jaw, and we'd arrived at a sort of disciplined logic to their behaviour. Well, sort of. I remember the crowd reactions as Bob first made the entry for 'In the Flesh II,' and then proceeded to sing the odious lyrics — the sheer spectacle of the proceedings was very seductive and I can remember my fears of people taking it too seriously — and the niggling feeling always that we should make it quite clear to the film audience that what they were watching was created: the exercise of power by an inflated, demented persona over a mindless audience... The most alarming feeling was in the pub at lunchtime, when our jackbooted guards in full uniform walked in and ordered their pints. The local residents, unaware that it was a film, weren't too sure what to make of it. For them the reality of this impending evil was too close to home." [Dallas 126]

Gerald Scarfe: "I invented a skinhead militia called the Hammer Guard. Their insignia is two crossed hammers and my worst moment in the entire film was when one skinhead turned up with his hair shaved into the hammer design. I have nightmares about meeting people in the street who've taken up the Hammer Look. Of course, we were not endorsing violence. But what the film says is that by creating a wall between people it is entirely possible — you could say inevitable — that violence will occur. Somehow the wall has to be broken down." [Dallas 127]

TRACK LISTING
Overture/Prelude
When the Tigers Broke Free Part 1
In the Flesh?
Thin Ice, The
Another Brick in the Wall part 1
When the Tigers Broke Free Part 2
Goodbye Blue Sky
Happiest Days of Our Lives, The
Another Brick in the Wall part 2
Mother
What Shall We Do Now?
Young Lust
One of My Turns
Don't Leave Me Now
Another Brick in the Wall part 3
Goodbye Cruel World
Is There Anybody Out There?
Nobody Home
Vera
Bring the Boys Back Home
Comfortably Numb
In the Flesh
Run Like Hell
Waiting for the Worms
Stop
Trial, The
Outside the Wall