Another Brick in the Wall
Updated: 5/24/2026, 7:18:03 PM Wikipedia source
"Another Brick in the Wall" is a three-part composition on Pink Floyd's eleventh studio album The Wall (1979), written by the bassist, Roger Waters. "Part 2", a protest song against corporal punishment in schools and rigid and abusive schooling, features a children's choir. At the suggestion of the producer, Bob Ezrin, Pink Floyd incorporated elements of disco. "Part 2" was Pink Floyd's first UK single since "Point Me at the Sky" (1968). It sold more than four million copies worldwide and topped singles charts in 14 countries, including the UK and the US, and was the UK Christmas No. 1 of 1979. It was nominated for a Grammy Award and was ranked number 384 on Rolling Stone's list of the "500 Greatest Songs of All Time".
Infobox
Published
Pink Floyd Music Publishers
Released
30 November 1979
Recorded
April–November 1979
Genre
Art rock hard rock progressive rock
Length
8:28 (All three parts) 3:11 (Part 1) 3:59 (Part 2) 1:18 (Part 3)
Label
Harvest (UK) Columbia (US)
Songwriter
Roger Waters
Producers
Bob Ezrin David Gilmour James Guthrie Roger Waters
Tables
· Charts › Weekly charts
Australia (Kent Music Report)
Australia (Kent Music Report)
Chart (1979–80)
Australia (Kent Music Report)
Peak
position
2
Austria (Ö3 Austria Top 40)
Austria (Ö3 Austria Top 40)
Chart (1979–80)
Austria (Ö3 Austria Top 40)
Peak
position
1
Belgium (Ultratop 50 Flanders)
Belgium (Ultratop 50 Flanders)
Chart (1979–80)
Belgium (Ultratop 50 Flanders)
Peak
position
2
Canada Top Singles (RPM)
Canada Top Singles (RPM)
Chart (1979–80)
Canada Top Singles (RPM)
Peak
position
1
Denmark (Hitlisten)
Denmark (Hitlisten)
Chart (1979–80)
Denmark (Hitlisten)
Peak
position
5
Finland (Suomen virallinen lista)
Finland (Suomen virallinen lista)
Chart (1979–80)
Finland (Suomen virallinen lista)
Peak
position
1
Germany (GfK)
Germany (GfK)
Chart (1979–80)
Germany (GfK)
Peak
position
1
Ireland (IRMA)
Ireland (IRMA)
Chart (1979–80)
Ireland (IRMA)
Peak
position
1
Israel Singles Chart
Israel Singles Chart
Chart (1979–80)
Israel Singles Chart
Peak
position
1
Italy (Musica e Dischi)
Italy (Musica e Dischi)
Chart (1979–80)
Italy (Musica e Dischi)
Peak
position
2
Netherlands (Dutch Top 40)
Netherlands (Dutch Top 40)
Chart (1979–80)
Netherlands (Dutch Top 40)
Peak
position
3
Netherlands (Single Top 100)
Netherlands (Single Top 100)
Chart (1979–80)
Netherlands (Single Top 100)
Peak
position
4
New Zealand (Recorded Music NZ)
New Zealand (Recorded Music NZ)
Chart (1979–80)
New Zealand (Recorded Music NZ)
Peak
position
1
Norway (VG-lista)
Norway (VG-lista)
Chart (1979–80)
Norway (VG-lista)
Peak
position
1
Portugal Singles Chart
Portugal Singles Chart
Chart (1979–80)
Portugal Singles Chart
Peak
position
1
South African Chart (Springbok Radio)
South African Chart (Springbok Radio)
Chart (1979–80)
South African Chart (Springbok Radio)
Peak
position
1
Spain (PROMUSICAE)
Spain (PROMUSICAE)
Chart (1979–80)
Spain (PROMUSICAE)
Peak
position
2
Sweden (Sverigetopplistan)
Sweden (Sverigetopplistan)
Chart (1979–80)
Sweden (Sverigetopplistan)
Peak
position
1
Switzerland (Schweizer Hitparade)
Switzerland (Schweizer Hitparade)
Chart (1979–80)
Switzerland (Schweizer Hitparade)
Peak
position
1
UK Singles (OCC)
UK Singles (OCC)
Chart (1979–80)
UK Singles (OCC)
Peak
position
1
US Billboard Hot 100
US Billboard Hot 100
Chart (1979–80)
US Billboard Hot 100
Peak
position
1
US Dance Club Songs (Billboard)
US Dance Club Songs (Billboard)
Chart (1979–80)
US Dance Club Songs (Billboard)
Peak
position
57
US Cash Box Top 100
US Cash Box Top 100
Chart (1979–80)
US Cash Box Top 100
Peak
position
1
| Chart (1979–80) | Peak position |
| Australia (Kent Music Report) | 2 |
| Austria (Ö3 Austria Top 40) | 1 |
| Belgium (Ultratop 50 Flanders) | 2 |
| Canada Top Singles (RPM) | 1 |
| Denmark (Hitlisten) | 5 |
| Finland (Suomen virallinen lista) | 1 |
| Germany (GfK) | 1 |
| Ireland (IRMA) | 1 |
| Israel Singles Chart | 1 |
| Italy (Musica e Dischi) | 2 |
| Netherlands (Dutch Top 40) | 3 |
| Netherlands (Single Top 100) | 4 |
| New Zealand (Recorded Music NZ) | 1 |
| Norway (VG-lista) | 1 |
| Portugal Singles Chart | 1 |
| South African Chart (Springbok Radio) | 1 |
| Spain (PROMUSICAE) | 2 |
| Sweden (Sverigetopplistan) | 1 |
| Switzerland (Schweizer Hitparade) | 1 |
| UK Singles (OCC) | 1 |
| US Billboard Hot 100 | 1 |
| US Dance Club Songs (Billboard) | 57 |
| US Cash Box Top 100 | 1 |
· Charts › Weekly charts
France (SNEP)
France (SNEP)
Chart (2012)
France (SNEP)
Peak
position
118
| Chart (2012) | Peak position |
| France (SNEP) | 118 |
· Charts › Weekly charts
France (SNEP)
France (SNEP)
Chart (2014)
France (SNEP)
Peak
position
164
| Chart (2014) | Peak position |
| France (SNEP) | 164 |
· Charts › Year-end charts
Australia (Kent Music Report)
Australia (Kent Music Report)
Chart (1980)
Australia (Kent Music Report)
Rank
4
Canada
Canada
Chart (1980)
Canada
Rank
1
Germany
Germany
Chart (1980)
Germany
Rank
2
Italy (TV Sorrisi e Canzoni)
Italy (TV Sorrisi e Canzoni)
Chart (1980)
Italy (TV Sorrisi e Canzoni)
Rank
9
Netherlands (Dutch Top 40)
Netherlands (Dutch Top 40)
Chart (1980)
Netherlands (Dutch Top 40)
Rank
61
Netherlands (Single Top 100)
Netherlands (Single Top 100)
Chart (1980)
Netherlands (Single Top 100)
Rank
44
New Zealand
New Zealand
Chart (1980)
New Zealand
Rank
5
South Africa
South Africa
Chart (1980)
South Africa
Rank
8
Switzerland
Switzerland
Chart (1980)
Switzerland
Rank
1
US Billboard Hot 100
US Billboard Hot 100
Chart (1980)
US Billboard Hot 100
Rank
2
US Cash Box
US Cash Box
Chart (1980)
US Cash Box
Rank
3
| Chart (1980) | Rank |
| Australia (Kent Music Report) | 4 |
| Canada | 1 |
| Germany | 2 |
| Italy (TV Sorrisi e Canzoni) | 9 |
| Netherlands (Dutch Top 40) | 61 |
| Netherlands (Single Top 100) | 44 |
| New Zealand | 5 |
| South Africa | 8 |
| Switzerland | 1 |
| US Billboard Hot 100 | 2 |
| US Cash Box | 3 |
· Charts › All-time charts
US Billboard Hot 100 (1958–2018)
US Billboard Hot 100 (1958–2018)
Chart
US Billboard Hot 100 (1958–2018)
Position
146
UK Singles (Official Charts Company)
UK Singles (Official Charts Company)
Chart
UK Singles (Official Charts Company)
Position
104
| Chart | Position |
| US Billboard Hot 100 (1958–2018) | 146 |
| UK Singles (Official Charts Company) | 104 |
References
- "Pink Floyd official site"https://www.pinkfloyd.com/history/timeline_1979.php
- The New York Timeshttps://movies.nytimes.com/movie/383755/Rock-Milestones-Pink-Floyd-The-Wall/overview
- Schaffner 1991, pp. 210–211
- Consequence of Soundhttps://consequence.net/2008/07/rock-history-101-another-brick-in-the-wall-part-ii/
- Guitar Worldhttps://web.archive.org/web/20110513090114/http://www.guitarworld.com/article/pink_floyd_goodbye_blue_sky?page=0%2C3
- Fitch & Mahon 2006, pp. 75–76, see also "The David Gilmour Guitar Collection", https://www /watch?v=_E6mIYNO3So at 3:30.https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_E6mIYNO3So
- Louderhttps://www.loudersound.com/features/lee-ritenour-pink-floyd-the-wall-pt2
- Fielder 2013, p. 135.
- Inside Out: A Personal History of Pink Floyd
- Blake 2008, p. 273
- The Sydney Morning Heraldhttps://www.smh.com.au/entertainment/music/kick-against-the-bricks-20041230-gdkeem.html
- Evening Standardhttps://www.standard.co.uk/news/pink-floyd-pupils-sue-for-royalties-7257969.html
- The Sydney Morning Heraldhttps://www.smh.com.au/entertainment/music/kick-against-the-bricks-20041230-gdkeem.html
- BBC Newshttps://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/magazine/7021797.stm
- The Timeshttps://www.thetimes.com/sunday-times-rich-list/profile/article/payout-after-pink-floyd-leaves-them-kids-alone-3t5rlwxm7k8
- Pink Floyd - The Music and the Mystery
- The Guardianhttps://www.theguardian.com/music/2015/dec/10/drugs-austerity-and-thatcher-what-christmas-no-1s-tell-us-about-britain
- Official Chartshttps://www.officialcharts.com/songs/pink-floyd-another-brick-in-the-wall/
- Hot Dance/Disco: 1974–2003
- "Pink Floyd: 10 things you didn't know about the band, Telegraph, February 28th, 2012"https://www.telegraph.co.uk/culture/music/rockandpopmusic/9111636/Pink-Floyd-10-things-you-didnt-know-about-the-band.html