AES116 The Great Gig in the Sky

Containing one of the most haunting and impressive vocal performances ever recorded in a song, The Great Gig in the Sky is a legendary track from Pink Floyd’s album “The Dark Side of the Moon”. This song grapples with the themes of mortality, and our fear of death. 

The Great Gig in the Sky has no lyrics, because there are no words that could adequately express what the band was going for with this song. When they brought in the singer Clare Torrey for an early demo, her first take was actually what ended up in the final product. After she finished singing, the whole recording booth was silent. She even apologized at first thinking that she did badly, but everyone was actually just stunned speechless after hearing such an amazing performance. 

Mirroring the guitar solo from “Time”, the song has two parts; the first half hits you loud and hard, it signifies our struggles to defy death itself, running away from the inevitable. I still remember the first time I heard it, the vocals hit with such pure, raw human emotion that floods over you. It actually scared me, hearing the pain and intense emotion in her voice.

The second half slows everything down, the vocals are toned down and the instruments are quieter. It represents a final understanding, an acceptance of the inevitable fate that lies at the end of the road.

This song taken in by itself is still amazing, but it’s the place and context within the album that elevates it even more. The Dark Side of the Moon is an album that deals with heavy themes of birth, life and death; greed, religion, war. This song marks the end of the first side of the record, that means if you listen to the album on vinyl, it gives you a moment of silence as you flip the record over, allowing you time to reflect on what you just experienced. 

The only words spoken in this track is a vocal sample taken from the doorman in front of the recording studio. The calm way he spoke of facing death is such a contrast from the rest of the song, and it’s strangely reassuring. And it’s true, death doesn’t care if we’re afraid of it or not, it comes either way. 

And I am not frightened of dying, any time will do, I don’t mind.

Why should I be frightened of dying? I see no reason for it, we’ve all gotta go sometime...