Us and Them (song)

"Us and Them" is a song by the English progressive rock band Pink Floyd, featured on their 1973 album The Dark Side of the Moon. It is the fourth track on the second side of the album.

The song is primarily composed by Roger Waters with music initially conceived by Richard Wright in 1969, originally intended for the film Zabriskie Point. The unused piece, initially called "The Violent Sequence," was reworked and significantly expanded for The Dark Side of the Moon.

"Us and Them" is characterized by its slow tempo, prominent use of the saxophone, played by Dick Parry, and its layered vocals. The lyrics explore themes of conflict, war, social division, and economic disparity, focusing on the inherent tendency of humanity to create opposing groups ("us" versus "them") leading to violence and suffering. The song contrasts these large-scale conflicts with everyday banalities, highlighting the absurd nature of war and its impact on individuals.

The song's arrangement features a delayed bass line, a spacious drum beat, and Wright's distinctive keyboard chords, contributing to its melancholic and reflective atmosphere. Clare Torry's wordless vocals, prominent in other tracks on The Dark Side of the Moon, are absent in "Us and Them," further emphasizing the song's somber and critical tone.

"Us and Them" has become a staple of Pink Floyd's live performances and continues to be recognized as one of the band's most poignant and thought-provoking compositions. Its enduring relevance stems from its exploration of universal themes of conflict and division that persist across cultures and time periods.