Poles Apart

Does anybody have any idea as to what's going on during the middle of Poles Apart? Ever since I first listened to Division Bell, I was wondering what significance that sound collage had. Any suggestions?

I have no idea about the significance of the middle section of Poles Apart, but I would like to say that both your signature AND your avatar are very nice and work well together.

The sound 'collage' in the middle of PA doesn't mean anything and is an unworthy harking-back to 'when they were young'.

It's bollocks.

Cheers,

model waxwork of fixxlevy

Here are some thoughts that are on the commentary on my website. Since I liked the album, I think the point of view will be a little different from Fixxy's.

"Poles Apart" has a peaceful flow to it, though with a dark meandering in the middle--to me, it reminds me of lost childhood. Before I knew anything about the band, I made the assumption that Mr. Gilmour had lost a son through some falling-out, and it was actually a search for mention of this supposed loss that first inspired me to look for more information on Pink Floyd. There is, of course, NO such loss that I'm aware of.

But that was my first thought. The whole song is bittersweet--have you ever lost a person, even if they turned against you, but not lost the love for them, or at least the pleasure you get from memories of better times? That's what I think it's about, and what that collage is highlighting.

That sounds fair enough to me.

Model waxwork of fixxlevy

I don't know. Maybe it refers to Syd and his Jugband Blues.

Maybe not.

That part is about memories IMO. The narrator/protagonist is lost in his memories and this is the cause for the interruption of the original melody, then suddenly "the rain fell slow" he returns to present where he sings "I thought of you and the years and all the sadness fell away from me".

You have a point. I never thought of that. I never cared.

Me neither, I just enjoy the music, I've never felt the need to disect every tune looking for meanings. I guess I'm just happy in my ignorance

What matters is what it means to you.

It's funny, but I don't even really enjoy the music that much

model waxwork of fixxlevy

Yeah, I remember your comparison to Kenny G.

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Back when the album came out it was said in an interview (I cannot remember who it was at the moment, it might have been James Guthrie) that the middle section was supposed to be carnival "merry-go-round" music, literally "Poles Apart".