And the worms ate into his brain

So I've been trying to comprehend all of the metaphores that are in this album and the movie and I can understand most of the things that are going on (i.e. the wall is a mental one between him and society, etc.) But I can't quite figure out what or who they're referring to when the mention "The worms" in many of there songs...anyone got any ideas?

Ever seen a rotting carcas?

well i can understand that. But they mention it many more times in the album, "Waiting for the worms", "All you have to do is follow the worms", "good morning Worm your honor".

I read somewhere that the term "worms" represents any type of wasting away, or rotting.

What about following the worms is that like if Britain resurects the Empire society will rot away?

like death?

I would define the "worms" as the evil corrupting influences on the spirit of a man; such as envy, jealousy, greed, racism, hatred, paranoia, betrayal, lying, cheating, etc.

Or maybe what 12-step program people would call "The Disease".

Yikes!

Damn, those are bad things?!

Acording to a specialist in clinical psycology, many patients have described the moment when they flip over and become insane as beeing eaten by worms.

I've got a Floyd book at home which talks about this and I'll find out tonight what it says about The Wall and let you know.

perhaps the worms are suppose to represent any type of negative thinking...seeing as pink is supposedly wasting around with disturbing shit, and worthless feelings go through his head, perhaps the worms are just the bad thoughts that he torchures himself with. his memories, and feelings of anger towards life...etc,...blah blah...

if youv'e ever dwelt on the painful and bad aspects of your pathetic life thinking about it drive you mad, and can really eat your brain to bits...

but yeah, whatever.

I think len has it down....

I read an interview with Roger Waters where he said that in his original concept, the worms were one of the main focuses in the wall. Maybe lowering how much they occur in it has made their meaning harder to comprehend.

I can't agree more. It's all about life pressure, expectations created around us, expectations created by us and the fear of fail and fall.