I lost family during WWII. I never saw my grandfather who was tortured to death. Only a hand drawn picture from a retouched negative remained. I lost both grandmothers. Only one picture of my maternal and nothing but a blank of my paternal in a frame in the gallery of my mind. My mother lived under Fascism, while my father fought Fascism and an uncivil war. I lost many relatives.and in some ways, I lost a father, his ptsd remained, and now I am dad, and my son won't go to war, he has seen it in his father, ptsd remains. Bless you, Roger Waters💜
This album in its raw form is so much heavier than most people can handle. This song is a missing link. A kid that grew up during WWII, whose father died before he ever knew him. Grows up with an overly protective, highly religious mother.. 'Mother' builds a wall around him to protect from the atrocities of man. Only to result in an adolescent so disconnected from reality that he becomes obsessed with fame, drugs, and sex. The casual listener doesn't understand that the entire album is about human decent into insanity. The album ends in a padded cell.... This song is so incredibly powerful if you understand the context... Why it was omitted from the original album fascinates me. You take the only song that gives any context to Pink's father.. and choose to ignore it. Heavy S**
This song is so powerful. I love the visuals that were coupled with it in the movie with the boy dressing up in his dad’s clothes with a sense of pride. I believe the loss of his father was the first brick of the wall.
This song was my grandfather's favorite song, my father's favorite song and mine; I heard it first, listened to it after the first time my dad let me drive in a Parking lot. That summer we took a road trip visiting major civil war battle sites. Instead of heading home after the trip we drove back to our home town and stopped by grandpa's. we listened to this song again, grandpa had never heard it, he cried said he'd never heard a more beautiful song, I gave him the copy Of the album I made for the car. We visited for awhile then headed back home. I never saw grandpa again, at his funeral they played this song off the copy of the album I gave him, grandma said he listened to it every day those last few weeks while drinking his morning coffee, then he'd stand up, kiss her on the cheek, tell her he loved her and go about his day, just like he had for thirty years. His last day he did all that, but as he went to go about his day he told grandma he felt tired and she was glowing. Years later I was looking into my dads military records for 'this is your life' thing for his 50th. During an archive search I found a record I quickly noticed was wrong. Same name, home town, a few next of kin names I knew from the family tree, but this man died in Anzio Italy during operation shingle. Grandpa wasn't the kind of man that talked about the past in specifics. I don't even know if he had siblings let alone named my father after one. I've always wondered if grandpa cried because that stray name I found by accident that died at Anzio was his kin, my kin.
Lyrics It was just before dawn One miserable morning in black '44 When the forward commander Was told to sit tight When he asked that his men be withdrawn And the generals gave thanks As the other ranks Held back the enemy tanks for a while And the Anzio bridghead was held for the price Of a few hundred ordinary lives And kind old King George sent mother a note When he heard that father was gone It was, I recall, in the form of a scroll With gold leaf and all And I found it one day In a drawer of old photographs, hidden away And my eyes still grow damp To remember That his majesty signed With his own rubber stamp It was dark all around There was frost in the ground When the tigers broke free And no one survived from the Royal Fusiliers, Company see They were all left behind Most of them dead The rest of them dying And that's how the high command Took my daddy from me
Dogstar 74 the Royal Fusiliers was an infantry regiment that had several smaller units called battalions (I think that most of the troops were from the London area and the Home Counties in South East England). Like all of the other British army infantry battalions, the particular battalion that this song refers to, would have had several smaller units called companies including a HQ company/support company/fire support company and 3-4 rifle companies (the infantry companies were usually referred to as 1st/2nd/3rd or A/B/C or X/Y/Z rifle companies). The two rifle companies (X and Z) that were decimated in this battle ended up with 1 officer and 10 other ranks each (22 survivors from a total of two companies that started with 250-300 soldiers). In the UK 'Z' is pronounced as 'zed' but in the song it's pronounced as 'zee', which is the American pronounciation.
Company C was a Nazi company, Roger's father was a British field medic who happened to be killed in the attack. as for Pink's Father imo it's open to opinion on what side of the war he was on.
Omg this is one of the stupidest things I ever done seen. So stupid this is literally my SECOND youtube comment left EVER in 10 years lol. So thanks. Duh he was british. Did the germans also use the name "royal" before naming their battalions? No. England did tho. cuz it has a monarchy? Yknow? They had "royal grenadiers" shit like that? Also: "Tigers" as used in this song, obv. refers to the Germans newly developed mainstay WWII tank the "Tiger". That's just easy history. So since the song clearly states how his father died after the tiger tanks broke thru their lines, why tf would the parent of an Englishman, who went to war for England, and is on record as honorably killed in battle, be fighting for the nazis exactly? What about the song infers this? Like there's two great tragedies here: One is calling a soldier who died fighting nazis a traitor n therefore a nazi. Fuck that. Two: your grasp of the deeper meanings of pink floyd, n your flummoxed state of understanding is woefully lacking, which is a shame, cuz that's...most of the band. as any pink floyd fan would tell you....you are....not getting it. Get it?
I was on a tank leading 18th abn corps into Iraq during desert Storm, this song is something I listen to from Feb 22 to Mar 2 every year. Makes me remember the horrors of war and how hopeless infantry vs tanks are.
Honestly I feel like you might have had it worse. Waters' dad was fighting to stop the Nazis from crushing Europe. You were being sent to die for an oil company's paycheck
Dude, I wish there is a more people like you in the world. If someone think war is funny he should go and feel it on his own skin. War should never get repeat. And still world leaders, incited by corporations, is driving at full speed to another bloody massacre.
@@TooMuchSascha my grandfather drove a tank in stalingrad,6 army..wehrmacht..and for god sake.iam proud of him.Of course,like many others his remains are still there.
One of my favorite Pink Floyd songs. My father fought on the other side. Not in Anzio, but on the Eastern Front and was almost killed by Russian artillery. War always gives birth to dramatic events between life and death. And it is always the common soldiers who have to pay the price. This song expresses that well.
My grandfather and his 2 brothers from Hungary 🇭🇺 were also in the war on the eastern front. He was captured and was in the gulag salt mines for 10 years. He was told that he deserved to go back since he survived that long. Tough old man. Came back with 7 fingers, blind in one eye and shrapnel still stuck in his leg and back. He lived into his 90's. His 2 brothers didn't make it home. He told me it was so cold that his piss froze before it hit the ground. Wow!
Do you remember what unit he was in ? My grandfather fought in the battle of Kursk, 5. Kompanie, II. Bataillon, Panzergrenadier-Regiment 74, 19. Panzer-Division.
@@jamesrobertson2712 No I don't, all I know is that he was Hungarian of Austrian decent and surname. He was educated, made an officer when he was conscripted into the German army. We have a very handsome picture of him in his uniform but I don't know the details but I'm sure someone does. My family was not happy about the whole thing, especially my mother, because they said they knew the turnout but were totally loyal until the end. They all said that Hitler moved way too fast and couldn't possibly win that war. Many good lives were lost and led to the Russians moving in afterwards which didn't make life in Hungary all that good. You know the rest of the story.
@@Candyman. the brother of my grandfather told the same, the piss frozen before It hit the ground, he was in the spanish blue division in the eastern front (leningrado)
@dražen zagreb no unfortunately, same thing happened to my great-uncle. He was caught by the soviets and was sent to the salt mines in Siberia never to be heard from again..
"And that's how the high command took my daddy, From me" brings tears to my eye's.that sudden silence at the end of the song drives the feelings home inside you.powerful song,
@@cliff1634 to each their own. I think it's one of the most personal, emotional and beautiful songs under the PF banner, but it's definitely Roger's baby, not the band's.
SIR ROGER WATERS, EVEN THOUGH I WASN'T EVEN BORN UNTIL THE LATE SIXTIES !!!!... & I CAN NOW UNDERSTAND !!!!... SOME OF THE SHOCK & EMOTIONS !!!!... THAT YOU MUST HAVE EXPERIENCED AS THAT YOUNG SCHOOLBOY !!!!... I FOR ONE !!!!... OWE YOU !!!!... & YOUR REALLY BRAVE FATHER !!!!... A DEPT OF GRATITUDE !!!!... & THANKS OF YOUR BRAVE DAD !!!!... GIVING HIS TOMORROWS !!!!... & FAMILY LIFE WITH YOU & YOUR MUM !!!!... THAT I COULDN'T EVER REPAY IN MANY LIFETIMES !!!!... & EVERYTIME I LISTEN TO" WHEN THE TIGERS BROKE FREE !!!!... " I ALWAYS SAY A PRAYER FOR YOUR BRAVE DAD & HIS MEN !!!!... WHILST ALSO TRYING NOT TO CRY UNCONTROLLABLY !!!!... BECAUSE OF THE TREATMENT YOU RECEIVED FROM YOU SCHOOL TEACHERS !!!!... AS YOUR SONG - " WHEN THE TIGERS BROKE FREE !!!!... " ALSO GAVE ME THE COURAGE !!!!... TO OVERCOME THE DIFFICULTIES IN MY PERSONAL LIFE !!!!... THANKS FOR YOUR SONG !!!!...
God bless you Mr. Waters. I bought The Wall, first time in 11/79. Its been my favorite! I bought 2 albums, 2, 8 tracks, at least 4 cassettes, and 1 CD. I have this movie on video tape but no tape player. I'm 58 now, listened to this song for the first time in a long time, and I cant stop crying. Thanks is all I can say!!
its not unwanted, it was way too emotional for roger waters to put in the album. In my opinion I am happy it wasn't in the album. Why? because I do not think it should be apart of any albums. The song is already a story itself.
+AmigoBarto its crazy to me that so many people love this song but have never heard 'final cut' the whole album is like this. Amazing and underrated album
+Biltospill Thanks for this, I had never heard The Final Cut and now thanks to you, it's my favorite Pink Floyd album. Roger Waters is such an amazing artist.
Allan Davis omg really? that is so cool. thank you for sharing that with me. my top 2 albums all time are Built to Spill - Perfect from now on and Radiohead - in rainbow - The guitar on both albums is just amazing, please share your top 2 albums of all time? Smashing Pumpkins - Gish is up there - Janes Addiction - Nothing Shocking/Ritual De la Habitual to me are great albums, so powerful. I would like to find or stumble upon new music. Thanks Allan
Came home from Afghanistan ( helmand ) in 2008, my freind did not, died on the battleground. I live in Peace now, my war is over...but it all makes no sense. " there has never been a good war or a bad Peace ". This is a very good song !
This is my dad's favourite Pink Floyd song. He heard when he was a little boy when it was released, he said to me it reminded him of my great grandfather who fought in World War II. It brings a tear to my father's eye.
Not the, but one of. I've been a fan of The Wall since high school, but there are too many truly great albums/CDs/recordings that get put in second place or less if you call this the best/greatest, etc. If this is *the* best, which is second? Which is third, fourth and so on? Too bad so many of us think in such black and white terms.
I can sort of understand PF's reasoning to keep this off of the album because of how personal it was to Waters, but it has to be admired as one of PF's most touching songs.
@@turniue Regardless of the actual reasoning behind keeping it out, The Wall can be interpreted in more ways than one, as by the admission of Waters himself. Yes, it absolutely is about himself, but the themes that the album touches on are universal. It's about totalitarianism and hate speech, it's about drug abuse and escapism, it's about sex, it's about injustice, it's about brainwashing, etc... While Waters uses his personal experiences, and turns them into a poetic and musical experiences, those themes can be interpreted in different ways, and used in a broader sense than merely his own personal life. After all, if this was nothing but a vanity project or an album of self-pity, nobody would really care other than Waters himself. Clearly, that isn't the case.
This still brings me to tears... literally... after hearing it for at least 30 years. Now, as a father, I see this as a song about a child losing their own father.
The thing I love about Water's role in Pink Floyd is the way he sings in many of the songs. The perfect example is at about 2:10 mark in the song. It's really intense, almost insane sounding. That's what was one of the major things missing from their post-Waters albums, IMO.
@@jackgbowman6688 I can see Gilmour delivering the vocal style used in a lot of the wall. But I cant imagine anyone else in the world singing anything from meddle. /edit Except the parts Gilmour sang lol.
Pink Floyd needed all four original members (sorry Syd!) For that band to sound like Pink Floyd. Remove just one and it's not Pink Floyd. Now that Rick Wright is gone, a reunion is *not* possible. Just like Rush performing as Rush without Neil Peart. Not the same band at all.
Today I was in Anzio for the Eric Fletcher ceremony at the presence of Roger. When this song broke the silence of the city it was one of the most emotional moment ever felt.
a few days ago my family visited my father's grave and we listened to this song on my smartphone... the most beautiful mourning song ever written in any genre of music... by the greatest composer & lyricist of the past 100 yrs or so...
+Gabriella Borbély I visited my grandfather's grave this past Veteran's Day, (he was a WW2 vet)and the song came on in my car while looking for the site. Was not expecting to be hit so hard about visiting the grave of a man i'd never met. This song is legendary.
From the day I first heard this in 3rd grade to this day as I'm 25, I still can't help but have a tear in my eye for the sheer masterpiece this song is.... Beautiful. The sudden stop after "..and that's how the high command took my daddy from me".... Powerful.
In July 2013 i took my 16 year old Son from England to Rome to see Roger Waters perform this great concert live at Rome`s Olympic Stadium. It was a fantastic night.A fantastic performance!! But NEVER FORGET - This would never have been possible without the thousands of people who gave their lives for our freedom in WW2. Without them THIS would never have happened. WE OWE EVERYTHING TO THEM!! THE FALLEN - WHO DIED FOR OUR FREEDOM! We will/MUST never forget!
***** Well then its more a matter of prespective. now your talking, reality and philosophy. if i see dragons flying around in the sky due to schizophrenia does that mean they are real because that is my state of mind? i mean TRUE freedom, not mental freedom.
the problem with this song is that it's so perfect that you can't hear any other song after this... they're all spoiled by its perfection Edit 4 years later 😅 I think many people didn't get my comment... Obviously it hasn't a literal meaning, and you can listen to other songs! But this particular one makes me feel emotions only a few songs can, and right after I listen to it I like to stay in silence for a while, to let the emotions in. So don't act pressed, it's my personal preference 😊
Actually... "Goodbye blue Sky" is not bad after it.... although i'd rather listen to "Mother" instead as Tigers Broke Free always meant "Father" to me.
A personal song no doubt. That's why it hits you in the feels because its about his dad. My grandfather was there at Salerno and Anzio (36th Texas Infantry).
When I first watched The Wall, and finished watching it, I immediately looked up this song. Great song, one of my favorite films. And also one of my favorite albums.
When I heard this song for the first time, around 83 or so, I was floored. My father served in WWII, as had an uncle who returned home a quadriplegic, so I was very much aware of the sacrifices made by others.so that I could live in a democracy, relatively unmolested by government and free from oppression I had already done one tour in the Navy when I heard this song, so I had some idea of the sacrifices “high command” sometimes imposes on others under desperate circumstances. Despite all that, when I listen to this song, I think about how terrible it must have been to have in in Lt. Waters’ company that night, ordered to hold in place, knowing they were being sacrificed to buy time for their comrades-in-arms to withdraw in relatively good order. None survived. Amazing. I was in Rome last year and made it a point to visit the monument erected to commemorate that tragic action. It was a moving, wrenching experience.
I find it weird this wasn't included in the Wall, even though canonically, it IS part of the album. Nevertheless, this is one of my favorite war songs of all time. The feels are real :'(
It was only left out due to the maximum length of Vinyl records at the time. If you listen to the DVD commentary of The Wall, Roger Waters remembers the song while watching the film, as though he hadn't thought about it in ages. He talks with the director about how good the song was/is, and laments that it had to be left off of the album. Personally, I can't listen to the song with my full attention without crying my fucking eyes out. I don't even have any personal ties to the tragedy of the war. It's just so raw and emotional that it destroys me.
The Wiki page says: The song was written at the same time as The Wall, hence its copyright date of 1979, and was originally intended to be part of that album, but was rejected by the other members of the band on the grounds that it was too personal.
Roger Walters lost his father that's what this song is a bout I lost my great uncle at the some may you all rest in peace you brave men thank you for your service but we have learnt nothing respect to every service personnel out there thank you ❤
When I was a kid I had to do sleep deprivation for an MRI. My best friend and i stayed up watching the wall and some other stuff. But this song and those opening moments have always stuck with me.
My grandfather fought at Anzio. I can't tell you how choked up this song makes me. He went through hell and broke his body at the same place and for the same insanity that took Rogers father away. It makes me angry that he and so many others had to live through that. Had my grandpa fell to the same fate as rogers dad did I wouldn't even exist...those guys were all truly heroes.
You know how some songs bring a tear to your eye? Well, between watching The Wall and listening to this song again here, I had to pause the video, stand up and walk into the bathroom - and just *bawl* like an infant for 5 whole minutes. I don't think any other song has ever made me cry *that* hard...
With its great music & lyrics what impressed me most on "The Final Cut," was when during "The Gunner's Dream" Roger Waters hits a vocal note intercepted perfectly by the same note on the sax. Pure genius. Earlier in my own career I alluded to doing something similar & was told it couldn't be done. Leave it to Pink Floyd to pull it off brilliantly. "Final Cut" just may be one of Floyd's best. This was Waters' respectable account of his father's days during WWII. A wonderful tribute.
Makes me cry everytime, and steels my resolve against the ghouls who still advocate for invading troops overseas. Roger NAILED it on this song, his hatred for the military, "Fletcher Memorial.." as a beautiful coda.
Listening to this is quite moving and, more importantly, you can see the roots of the disillusionment of an entire generation with not just war, but the people who lead us into it.
This always grabs my heart strings for some unknown reason, soon as he says,it was dark all around, there was frost in the ground, when the Tigers broke free,that Welsh choir sounds absolutely amazing, proud to be Welsh
It was just before dawn One miserable morning in black '44. When the forward commander was told to sit tight When he asked that his men be withdrawn. And the generals gave thanks To the other ranks who held back the enemy tanks For a while. And the Anzio Bridgehead was held at the price of a few hundred ordinary lives. And kind old King George Sent mother a note when he heard that father was gone. It was, I recall, in the form of a scroll With a gold leaf and all. I found it one day With a draw of old photographs in the way. And my eyes still grow damp to recall His Majesty's sign with his old rubber stamp. It was dark all around There was frost in the ground When the tigers broke free. And no one survived From the Royal Fusiliers, company C! They were all left behind, Most of them dead and the rest of them dying. And that's how the high command took my daddy from me.
It's definitely not "Company Z" because us limeys say "zed" instead of "zee." We also have terrible teeth, drink tea five times a day and all live in castles.
I really wish the band could have agreed to include this on the wall. Maybe it’s personal to Roger but it is so meaningful and powerful to it just him but everyone who has lost family to war
as an ex serving soldier i have never heard an album thats about personal loss and all war takes with it as the final cut in a strange way this album gives me personal relief and understanding that no shrink on civie street could thank you pink floyd
It was just before dawn One miserable morning in black '44 When the forward commander Was told to sit tight When he asked that his men be withdrawn And the generals gave thanks As the other ranks Held back the enemy tanks for a while And the Anzio bridghead was held for the price Of a few hundred ordinary lives And kind old King George sent mother a note When he heard that father was gone It was, I recall, in the form of a scroll With gold leaf and all And I found it one day In a drawer of old photographs, hidden away And my eyes still grow damp To remember That his majesty signed With his own rubber stamp It was dark all around There was frost in the ground When the tigers broke free And no one survived from the Royal Fusiliers, Company see They were all left behind Most of them dead The rest of them dying And that's how the high command Took my daddy from me
It was dark all around when I found this song, and it sent shivers down my spine, and that's how I learned to love this band. And I think you should too
"when he heard that father has gone.... Signed with his own rubber stamp." The flippant attitude he says these lines go right through my heart. The reason I dreamed of joining the army but couldn't bring myself to putting my life in the hands of these idiots.
Too bad in a way this one didn't make it onto The Wall - it would have set the character of Pink in a different light. Certainly fits the bill for The Final Cut, though. Powerful lyrics and a smoking orchestration make for one helluva piece of music.
ben row That's my understanding of the situation. Understandable, I reckon: the band likely didn't want the album to be perceived as being just about Roger, even though there's likely a hell of a lot of him in it regardless.
+ben row EVERYTHING became about Roger....the guy is a great lyricist, but, jeez, Roger wasnt the only human who lost a parent to war, some to wars initiated by do-gooding socialists like Roger himself.
Even as an American, this is a most compelling and evocative song. I was born very late in my parent's lives...my mother was 43 and my father 45 when I was born in 1960. Neither of my parents dwelled on the war, but my father was an Annapolis graduate and career naval aviator who was commissioned in June of 1940. What I remember most was the occasional, oblique references made in muted voices at the dinner table about so-and-so and what's-his name. Many names, far too many names, including those of cousins and uncles whom I would never know, but whom were dear and loved by my parents, died in '44. That was the year when the bloodshed really came on in earnest. Uncle Bill's submarine came under air attack by the Japanese and he came home a paraplegic (he had been a lookout who was caught on deck). Hugh Wood was shot down in the Pacific. Ted Heckler crashed while landing on a carrier deck....'44 was the year, from Italy to the Philippines, when thousands died, like leaves falling from trees in an autumn wind.
James Finley During WW2, Submarines could have decks (Uboats) however, those were German, and not used by the American Navy (just wanted to point that out) Otherwise, you are completely correct.
I don't quite understand you. The main deck of a US submarine (and as far as know, the submarines of all navies) is called just that, the main deck. By the way, I'm speaking of the deck where the main gun sits.
+James Finley Firstly, your ignorance and assumption-based, error-strewn conclusions are more to be pitied than reviled. Every word I wrote was true. My uncle served on the USS Queenfish, a Balao-class fleet submarine launched in 43, as a torpedoman. You are correct that submarines don't have lookout decks then or now, which is why, in those days, they stood watch in the PERISCOPE SHEERS. Secondly, while Mussolini was ousted in 43, the war in Italy (against the Nazis) continued until Germany's capitulation. Thirdly, a man who calls another a liar while hiding behind the convenient anonymity of the Internet's skirts isn't much of a man at all. So why don't you give me your address so you can have the opportunity to be a man by calling me a liar to my face....and I can have the satisfaction of beating the living fuck out of a worthless piece of shit such as yourself.
+James Finley You should take your own advice before attempting a rebuttal, feeble excuse for one as it was, but that would be too much for a consummate, condescending hypocrite such as yourself, wouldn't it?
Really ? Why didn't they sit at home, why were they eager to fight in a war ? ?...they could have survived if they stayed home and spent their time screwing their girls. Thy did not have to go.
You can feel ALL of the emotions from everything regarding WW 2 in this one song its almost terrifying. Like all the souls lost during the war were in the studio at once
This albums is a fucking rollercoaster of emotions when your on mescaline... I don't remember much other than midway through I was curled up in a fetal position on the edge of tears
Yeah. The Song its fantastic, the album is, well, poorly thought out and just spectacularly racist. Seriously, I'd be ok with this album if they left out the stuff about the japanese, but, since the DIDN'T leave that stuff out, I can't even look at this album without sneering.
Luke Freet It was written in a way that reflected the opinion of the times. It was a statement about the reality of the situation. To have changed things and made them less accurate would have been uncharacteristic of Waters. Racism is racism, build up or no. But the point is that he isn't actually displaying real racism. It's like saying that a movie is racist because it was written about the south in the 1800's when slavery existed.
So how come it was never heard on the radio? By definition, an under-rated piece is one that never received popular acclaim. This would be one. And by the way, try attacking what is said, not the person..
"...for the price of a few hundred ordinary lives..." As an ordinary serviceman I try my hardest not to be resentful of those who brand us "War Mongers", "Baby Killers" and other such vile adjectives/adverbs, etc... I do however ask everyone, regardless of where they live, to consider we are ALL surrounded by evil of such enormity as to render Hitler & Stalin cub-scouts. The actions of ordinary soldiers, airmen, marines, sailors and so forth have spared the world such horrors as the holocaust, thereby permitting the formulation of such opinions. Make no mistake, those horrors wait right around the corner if we ordinary service people lapse in even the slightest way in the execution of our'e mandated duties. We don't always get it right nor do the governments who issue the orders/directives. We're ordinary people, all of us. Though often called upon to do extraordinary things. The kind of things that permanently alter lives and create global nightmares. It's been over 70 years since a nightmare of such epic proportions as this song reminds us of. That would seem to indicate we flawed, ordinary people, for all our'e mistakes, are doing something right. Now please don't get me wrong. I'm no hero and if you call me that to my face we're gonna have a serious problem. I did have the honor of serving in the company of heroes. We did our best to send what was left of them back home so their families could have closure. I'm just an ordinary man who did his best. It probably wasn't enough and definitely wasn't always correct. When you listen to songs / poems like this; on behalf of my brothers & sisters, I ask you remember we're only ordinary people who did the best we could.
Thank you so much for your service and I am so sorry for your loss. I am so happy you have found peace and my wife and I are forever grateful for the sacrifices you have made.
Like others, each time I play this song it reminds me of my father who we lost when I was seven. 50 years later, the memories of him are like flashes from a photo album, but each time I play this song it seems to bring those memories to life once more.
I lost family during WWII. I never saw my grandfather who was tortured to death. Only a hand drawn picture from a retouched negative remained. I lost both grandmothers. Only one picture of my maternal and nothing but a blank of my paternal in a frame in the gallery of my mind. My mother lived under Fascism, while my father fought Fascism and an uncivil war. I lost many relatives.and in some ways, I lost a father, his ptsd remained, and now I am dad, and my son won't go to war, he has seen it in his father, ptsd remains. Bless you, Roger Waters💜
Just had to turn this into a story about you....
Waters is not anti-war. Some wars he supports. All depends on who is the enemy in his mind.
Crazy talented tough. Truly unique.
"And that's how the high command, took my Daddy... from me." The bitterness in his voice there. This song is profoundly sad.
It's the bitterest line I've ever heard.
Or Alan Turing.
I can never get through this song without choking up.
Those are the words that choke me up every single time I hear them.
@@tripwire99 me too. Just been driving on the A127 and damp eyes at the sodding traffic lights.
the transition of roger's voice from gloom to dispair is truly heartbreaking.
Think Bob Geldof is actually singing. He sang all the songs for the film
@@dominicbrown8935 no you are wrong
@@dominicbrown8935 no he did not. He sang both of In the Fleshs, and he sang-spoke Stop. That's it.
Agreed one of the heart breaking things my ears heard in music but my mind has heard much worse enough to drive anyone into madness.
@@dominicbrown8935 no he did not!
This album in its raw form is so much heavier than most people can handle. This song is a missing link.
A kid that grew up during WWII, whose father died before he ever knew him. Grows up with an overly protective, highly religious mother.. 'Mother' builds a wall around him to protect from the atrocities of man. Only to result in an adolescent so disconnected from reality that he becomes obsessed with fame, drugs, and sex. The casual listener doesn't understand that the entire album is about human decent into insanity. The album ends in a padded cell....
This song is so incredibly powerful if you understand the context... Why it was omitted from the original album fascinates me. You take the only song that gives any context to Pink's father.. and choose to ignore it. Heavy S**
This song is so powerful. I love the visuals that were coupled with it in the movie with the boy dressing up in his dad’s clothes with a sense of pride. I believe the loss of his father was the first brick of the wall.
Except it was, actually. Like, literally, Another Brick In The Wall part 1 is about his father.
@@TheAnomaly00 except like ... that’s what I said ... like literally and figuratively at the same time
Or the last brick
@@billybuvala6253 no it was definitely the first brick
My Grandfather was at Anzio. 36th Texas. One of the best tributes ever. So many brave boys lost.
Adam, give me a hoy on facebook, my father fought there too.
God bless them
My great uncle was a Major in the 1st Bn. The London Scottish, Gordon Highlanders and was killed by a sniper at Anzio.
@@duffbeer76 RIP to your great uncle.
RIP to all those brave fallen men... We'll not see their like again.
Lest we forget.
This song was my grandfather's favorite song, my father's favorite song and mine; I heard it first, listened to it after the first time my dad let me drive in a Parking lot. That summer we took a road trip visiting major civil war battle sites. Instead of heading home after the trip we drove back to our home town and stopped by grandpa's. we listened to this song again, grandpa had never heard it, he cried said he'd never heard a more beautiful song, I gave him the copy Of the album I made for the car. We visited for awhile then headed back home.
I never saw grandpa again, at his funeral they played this song off the copy of the album I gave him, grandma said he listened to it every day those last few weeks while drinking his morning coffee, then he'd stand up, kiss her on the cheek, tell her he loved her and go about his day, just like he had for thirty years. His last day he did all that, but as he went to go about his day he told grandma he felt tired and she was glowing.
Years later I was looking into my dads military records for 'this is your life' thing for his 50th. During an archive search I found a record I quickly noticed was wrong. Same name, home town, a few next of kin names I knew from the family tree, but this man died in Anzio Italy during operation shingle. Grandpa wasn't the kind of man that talked about the past in specifics. I don't even know if he had siblings let alone named my father after one.
I've always wondered if grandpa cried because that stray name I found by accident that died at Anzio was his kin, my kin.
I had a bit of trouble reading the second paragraph as someone decided it was now a good time to cut onions.
6 years later and I’m blessed to find your comment in a song I’d never heard before today. How lucky am I to have heard your story.
Lyrics
It was just before dawn
One miserable morning in black '44
When the forward commander
Was told to sit tight
When he asked that his men be withdrawn
And the generals gave thanks
As the other ranks
Held back the enemy tanks for a while
And the Anzio bridghead was held for the price
Of a few hundred ordinary lives
And kind old King George sent mother a note
When he heard that father was gone
It was, I recall, in the form of a scroll
With gold leaf and all
And I found it one day
In a drawer of old photographs, hidden away
And my eyes still grow damp
To remember
That his majesty signed
With his own rubber stamp
It was dark all around
There was frost in the ground
When the tigers broke free
And no one survived from the Royal Fusiliers, Company see
They were all left behind
Most of them dead
The rest of them dying
And that's how the high command
Took my daddy from me
Dogstar 74 the Royal Fusiliers was an infantry regiment that had several smaller units called battalions (I think that most of the troops were from the London area and the Home Counties in South East England).
Like all of the other British army infantry battalions, the particular battalion that this song refers to, would have had several smaller units called companies including a HQ company/support company/fire support company and 3-4 rifle companies (the infantry companies were usually referred to as 1st/2nd/3rd or A/B/C or X/Y/Z rifle companies).
The two rifle companies (X and Z) that were decimated in this battle ended up with 1 officer and 10 other ranks each (22 survivors from a total of two companies that started with 250-300 soldiers).
In the UK 'Z' is pronounced as 'zed' but in the song it's pronounced as 'zee', which is the American pronounciation.
Company Z
Company C was a Nazi company, Roger's father was a British field medic who happened to be killed in the attack.
as for Pink's Father imo it's open to opinion on what side of the war he was on.
@@bentramer682 every battalion has a Company C.
Omg this is one of the stupidest things I ever done seen. So stupid this is literally my SECOND youtube comment left EVER in 10 years lol. So thanks. Duh he was british. Did the germans also use the name "royal" before naming their battalions? No. England did tho. cuz it has a monarchy? Yknow? They had "royal grenadiers" shit like that? Also: "Tigers" as used in this song, obv. refers to the Germans newly developed mainstay WWII tank the "Tiger". That's just easy history. So since the song clearly states how his father died after the tiger tanks broke thru their lines, why tf would the parent of an Englishman, who went to war for England, and is on record as honorably killed in battle, be fighting for the nazis exactly? What about the song infers this? Like there's two great tragedies here: One is calling a soldier who died fighting nazis a traitor n therefore a nazi. Fuck that. Two: your grasp of the deeper meanings of pink floyd, n your flummoxed state of understanding is woefully lacking, which is a shame, cuz that's...most of the band. as any pink floyd fan would tell you....you are....not getting it. Get it?
I was on a tank leading 18th abn corps into Iraq during desert Storm, this song is something I listen to from Feb 22 to Mar 2 every year. Makes me remember the horrors of war and how hopeless infantry vs tanks are.
Honestly I feel like you might have had it worse. Waters' dad was fighting to stop the Nazis from crushing Europe. You were being sent to die for an oil company's paycheck
Dude, I wish there is a more people like you in the world. If someone think war is funny he should go and feel it on his own skin. War should never get repeat. And still world leaders, incited by corporations, is driving at full speed to another bloody massacre.
Hopeless. Bob Hope. "Tanks, for the memories."
@@TooMuchSascha And Ford funded the Nazis so...
@@TooMuchSascha my grandfather drove a tank in stalingrad,6 army..wehrmacht..and for god sake.iam proud of him.Of course,like many others his remains are still there.
One of my favorite Pink Floyd songs. My father fought on the other side. Not in Anzio, but on the Eastern Front and was almost killed by Russian artillery. War always gives birth to dramatic events between life and death. And it is always the common soldiers who have to pay the price. This song expresses that well.
My grandfather and his 2 brothers from Hungary 🇭🇺 were also in the war on the eastern front. He was captured and was in the gulag salt mines for 10 years. He was told that he deserved to go back since he survived that long. Tough old man. Came back with 7 fingers, blind in one eye and shrapnel still stuck in his leg and back. He lived into his 90's. His 2 brothers didn't make it home. He told me it was so cold that his piss froze before it hit the ground. Wow!
Do you remember what unit he was in ? My grandfather fought in the battle of Kursk, 5. Kompanie, II. Bataillon, Panzergrenadier-Regiment 74, 19. Panzer-Division.
@@jamesrobertson2712
No I don't, all I know is that he was Hungarian of Austrian decent and surname. He was educated, made an officer when he was conscripted into the German army. We have a very handsome picture of him in his uniform but I don't know the details but I'm sure someone does. My family was not happy about the whole thing, especially my mother, because they said they knew the turnout but were totally loyal until the end. They all said that Hitler moved way too fast and couldn't possibly win that war. Many good lives were lost and led to the Russians moving in afterwards which didn't make life in Hungary all that good. You know the rest of the story.
@@Candyman. the brother of my grandfather told the same, the piss frozen before It hit the ground, he was in the spanish blue division in the eastern front (leningrado)
@dražen zagreb no unfortunately, same thing happened to my great-uncle. He was caught by the soviets and was sent to the salt mines in Siberia never to be heard from again..
Sir Roger Waters.
May you please accept our deepest gratitude for making us not feel so alone in this world.
Watterson does just as well.
I made the comment because of burf urple's avatar.
burf urple I don't think Roger's been knighted. That's quite disrespectful.
AMEN
Dave is a CBE, Roger is a sir.
First time I heard this I cried :(
+John Bartley Me too, and today... still happen
+Swedish Chef i’ve heard this thirty-some times and hurt each time
+Swedish Chef All people with feelings do that
+Petros Leivadas same here
It hurts every time. :(
The silent reproach of a million tear stained eyes, put into words.
"And that's how the high command took my daddy, From me" brings tears to my eye's.that sudden silence at the end of the song drives the feelings home inside you.powerful song,
One of the best Pink Floyd songs ever...
I agree
imo the worst but thats my view if you like it good for you
This is FAR, FAR from their best
Roger Waters only, not Pink Floyd's. Like the most of both albums The Wall & The Final Cut.
But for this one specially.
@@cliff1634 to each their own. I think it's one of the most personal, emotional and beautiful songs under the PF banner, but it's definitely Roger's baby, not the band's.
SIR ROGER WATERS, EVEN THOUGH I WASN'T EVEN BORN UNTIL THE LATE SIXTIES !!!!... & I CAN NOW UNDERSTAND !!!!... SOME OF THE SHOCK & EMOTIONS !!!!... THAT YOU MUST HAVE EXPERIENCED AS THAT YOUNG SCHOOLBOY !!!!... I FOR ONE !!!!... OWE YOU !!!!... & YOUR REALLY BRAVE FATHER !!!!... A DEPT OF GRATITUDE !!!!... & THANKS OF YOUR BRAVE DAD !!!!... GIVING HIS TOMORROWS !!!!... & FAMILY LIFE WITH YOU & YOUR MUM !!!!... THAT I COULDN'T EVER REPAY IN MANY LIFETIMES !!!!... & EVERYTIME I LISTEN TO" WHEN THE TIGERS BROKE FREE !!!!... " I ALWAYS SAY A PRAYER FOR YOUR BRAVE DAD & HIS MEN !!!!... WHILST ALSO TRYING NOT TO CRY UNCONTROLLABLY !!!!... BECAUSE OF THE TREATMENT YOU RECEIVED FROM YOU SCHOOL TEACHERS !!!!... AS YOUR SONG - " WHEN THE TIGERS BROKE FREE !!!!... " ALSO GAVE ME THE COURAGE !!!!... TO OVERCOME THE DIFFICULTIES IN MY PERSONAL LIFE !!!!... THANKS FOR YOUR SONG !!!!...
This is the saddest song ever written. I' hold back tears every time I listen
I cry every time.
Why hold back?
@@michaelfagan9620 Men are not supposed to cry. Ever.
This is the answer I give when the question occasionally comes up: what's the saddest song you know?
@@ihavefallenandicantreachmy2113 what is wrong with you
God bless you Mr. Waters. I bought The Wall, first time in 11/79. Its been my favorite! I bought 2 albums, 2, 8 tracks, at least 4 cassettes, and 1 CD. I have this movie on video tape but no tape player. I'm 58 now, listened to this song for the first time in a long time, and I cant stop crying. Thanks is all I can say!!
Best Pink Floyd song, and it's an unwanted bastard.
its not unwanted, it was way too emotional for roger waters to put in the album. In my opinion I am happy it wasn't in the album. Why? because I do not think it should be apart of any albums. The song is already a story itself.
+AmigoBarto its crazy to me that so many people love this song but have never heard 'final cut' the whole album is like this. Amazing and underrated album
+AmigoBarto It wasnt put in the album because the other members said it was to personal for the album
+Biltospill Thanks for this, I had never heard The Final Cut and now thanks to you, it's my favorite Pink Floyd album. Roger Waters is such an amazing artist.
Allan Davis omg really? that is so cool. thank you for sharing that with me. my top 2 albums all time are Built to Spill - Perfect from now on and Radiohead - in rainbow - The guitar on both albums is just amazing, please share your top 2 albums of all time? Smashing Pumpkins - Gish is up there - Janes Addiction - Nothing Shocking/Ritual De la Habitual to me are great albums, so powerful. I would like to find or stumble upon new music. Thanks Allan
Came home from Afghanistan ( helmand ) in 2008, my freind did not, died on the battleground.
I live in Peace now, my war is over...but it all makes no sense.
" there has never been a good war or a bad Peace ".
This is a very good song !
This is my dad's favourite Pink Floyd song. He heard when he was a little boy when it was released, he said to me it reminded him of my great grandfather who fought in World War II. It brings a tear to my father's eye.
This song always makes me cry.
this song hurts.
If Rodger never lost his dad in the war we would of never had brilliant songs like this and albums like the wall & the final cut
That means it's working.
@@joedicicco6124 Good answer!
The best album ever written and produced ever, it'll never be surpassed
Definitely one of
Not the, but one of. I've been a fan of The Wall since high school, but there are too many truly great albums/CDs/recordings that get put in second place or less if you call this the best/greatest, etc. If this is *the* best, which is second? Which is third, fourth and so on? Too bad so many of us think in such black and white terms.
@@augustusbetucius8279 he thinks it’s the best album so in his mind it’s #1. There’s no best album, music is subjective
Agree - The Final Cut is an absolute treasure.
But without Sgt. Pepper's, it would not exist at all.
I can sort of understand PF's reasoning to keep this off of the album because of how personal it was to Waters, but it has to be admired as one of PF's most touching songs.
100% I think it's my favorite of everything they did. It's so raw and personal and everything about it is absolutely perfect.
ROGER WATERS GENIO
"how personal it was to Waters"
all of the wall was basically personal to waters
Thats not the reason. It was left off because nobody released triple vinyls back then and they couldn't fit it on.
@@turniue Regardless of the actual reasoning behind keeping it out,
The Wall can be interpreted in more ways than one, as by the admission of Waters himself. Yes, it absolutely is about himself, but the themes that the album touches on are universal. It's about totalitarianism and hate speech, it's about drug abuse and escapism, it's about sex, it's about injustice, it's about brainwashing, etc...
While Waters uses his personal experiences, and turns them into a poetic and musical experiences, those themes can be interpreted in different ways, and used in a broader sense than merely his own personal life. After all, if this was nothing but a vanity project or an album of self-pity, nobody would really care other than Waters himself. Clearly, that isn't the case.
Great song with so much meaning and feeling ..so sad.
This still brings me to tears... literally... after hearing it for at least 30 years. Now, as a father, I see this as a song about a child losing their own father.
Lost mine right after my 11th birthday. Mom passed the previous Xmas day, 1972. I was 11 so I know how it feels to lose parents.
The final cut is not a perfect album, but I think most floyd fans can agree that this song is incredible.
Nothing to do with the final cut.
The thing I love about Water's role in Pink Floyd is the way he sings in many of the songs. The perfect example is at about 2:10 mark in the song. It's really intense, almost insane sounding. That's what was one of the major things missing from their post-Waters albums, IMO.
Roger's lyrics, thoughts, ideas absolutely amazing, attitude and his voice- not so much
@@jackgbowman6688 I can see Gilmour delivering the vocal style used in a lot of the wall. But I cant imagine anyone else in the world singing anything from meddle. /edit Except the parts Gilmour sang lol.
Pink Floyd needed all four original members (sorry Syd!) For that band to sound like Pink Floyd. Remove just one and it's not Pink Floyd. Now that Rick Wright is gone, a reunion is *not* possible. Just like Rush performing as Rush without Neil Peart. Not the same band at all.
my favorite song by pink floyd. I tear up everytime. "music moves" to me that means, music moves "me"
Today I was in Anzio for the Eric Fletcher ceremony at the presence of Roger.
When this song broke the silence of the city it was one of the most emotional moment ever felt.
a few days ago my family visited my father's grave and we listened to this song on my smartphone... the most beautiful mourning song ever written in any genre of music... by the greatest composer & lyricist of the past 100 yrs or so...
+Gabriella Borbély I visited my grandfather's grave this past Veteran's Day, (he was a WW2 vet)and the song came on in my car while looking for the site. Was not expecting to be hit so hard about visiting the grave of a man i'd never met. This song is legendary.
+Gabriella Borbély your father probably chewed bubble gum
+Supakoopa7roopa what the fuck are you talking about
From the day I first heard this in 3rd grade to this day as I'm 25, I still can't help but have a tear in my eye for the sheer masterpiece this song is.... Beautiful.
The sudden stop after "..and that's how the high command took my daddy from me".... Powerful.
In July 2013 i took my 16 year old Son from England to Rome to see Roger Waters perform this great concert live at Rome`s Olympic Stadium. It was a fantastic night.A fantastic performance!! But NEVER FORGET - This would never have been possible without the thousands of people who gave their lives for our freedom in WW2. Without them THIS would never have happened. WE OWE EVERYTHING TO THEM!! THE FALLEN - WHO DIED FOR OUR FREEDOM! We will/MUST never forget!
so true
you completely missed the absolute anti war point of this song.
we aren't free anyways.
*****
freedom can only exust withou\t governments
*****
Well then its more a matter of prespective. now your talking, reality and philosophy.
if i see dragons flying around in the sky due to schizophrenia does that mean they are real because that is my state of mind?
i mean TRUE freedom, not mental freedom.
+Imabeatyouman that's Deep man
Sad if you know its about Roger's dad who was killed in World War Two.
That's why they didn't use this song in The Wall because it was too personal
FLETCHER WATERS.
Anzio to be precise
@@mygirlkara1 Eric Fletcher Waters
geee u think 🤔
I bawled listening to this like 20 times so hard .
Chilling and Stirring.
This is why Pink Floyd is Pink Floyd.
Outstanding!
+Raymond Shutt Just when I think I "knew" Pink Floyd, my husband asks me to play this; I'm at a loss for words.....
the problem with this song is that it's so perfect that you can't hear any other song after this... they're all spoiled by its perfection
Edit 4 years later 😅
I think many people didn't get my comment... Obviously it hasn't a literal meaning, and you can listen to other songs! But this particular one makes me feel emotions only a few songs can, and right after I listen to it I like to stay in silence for a while, to let the emotions in. So don't act pressed, it's my personal preference 😊
Actually... "Goodbye blue Sky" is not bad after it.... although i'd rather listen to "Mother" instead as Tigers Broke Free always meant "Father" to me.
I love me some dat floyd, but I personally cant really dig the wall , I like a few songs but I prefer albums like obscured by clouds or meddle
Yeah! I know what you mean.... Personally... my favorite Floyd album is "Atom Heart Mother" ;)
A personal song no doubt. That's why it hits you in the feels because its about his dad. My grandfather was there at Salerno and Anzio (36th Texas Infantry).
Dan G.R. Animals for me
"And my eyes still grow damp to remember, His Majesty signed with his own rubber stamp."
"Bring The Boys Back Home"!!
When I first watched The Wall, and finished watching it, I immediately looked up this song. Great song, one of my favorite films. And also one of my favorite albums.
I literally paused the movie just to find the song XD
My god this is a powerful song
When I heard this song for the first time, around 83 or so, I was floored. My father served in WWII, as had an uncle who returned home a quadriplegic, so I was very much aware of the sacrifices made by others.so that I could live in a democracy, relatively unmolested by government and free from oppression I had already done one tour in the Navy when I heard this song, so I had some idea of the sacrifices “high command” sometimes
imposes on others under desperate circumstances. Despite all that, when I listen to this song, I think about how terrible it must have been to have in in Lt. Waters’ company that night, ordered to hold in place, knowing they were being sacrificed to buy time for their comrades-in-arms to withdraw in relatively good order. None survived. Amazing. I was in Rome last year and made it a point to visit the monument erected to commemorate that tragic action. It was a moving, wrenching experience.
Amazing how he fits the words to the music
yep pretty amazing, despite the fact he probably wrote both?!
@@ChrisLeion He is talking about how the lyrics follow along with the music in pitch.
One of the most heartbreaking songs ever recorded. Brilliant
Heartbreaking . Incredibly well written . Never fails to make the hair on my arms stand on end . Just blows me away every time .
This song has been going through my head for days and I have NO EARTHLY IDEA WHY
I find it weird this wasn't included in the Wall, even though canonically, it IS part of the album.
Nevertheless, this is one of my favorite war songs of all time. The feels are real :'(
In the most recent of The Final Cut has that song(sory my bad English)
It was only left out due to the maximum length of Vinyl records at the time. If you listen to the DVD commentary of The Wall, Roger Waters remembers the song while watching the film, as though he hadn't thought about it in ages. He talks with the director about how good the song was/is, and laments that it had to be left off of the album.
Personally, I can't listen to the song with my full attention without crying my fucking eyes out. I don't even have any personal ties to the tragedy of the war. It's just so raw and emotional that it destroys me.
verdatum Was already aware of that, but I agree, the song is amazing.
The reason they choose this one in particular to exclude due to the length issue was because of they found it too personal
The Wiki page says: The song was written at the same time as The Wall, hence its copyright date of 1979, and was originally intended to be part of that album, but was rejected by the other members of the band on the grounds that it was too personal.
Roger Walters lost his father that's what this song is a bout I lost my great uncle at the some may you all rest in peace you brave men thank you for your service but we have learnt nothing respect to every service personnel out there thank you ❤
When I was a kid I had to do sleep deprivation for an MRI. My best friend and i stayed up watching the wall and some other stuff. But this song and those opening moments have always stuck with me.
when the tigers broke free imediatelly followed by bring the boys back home, which in opinion, should have been 1 single song
He wanted it on the wall, not sure why it wasn't but it did make the movie.
Everyone said it was too personal to Waters, so it wasn’t included.
It was a single I bought it as a single
@@dr.jacksonbright5723 isn't that ironic, many of the songs in the wall are too personal to waters
Loved this as a kid but never knew the meaning until I saw Saving Private Ryan and the Tiger Tanks.
chills everytime i listen to this masterpiece... it was dark all around, there was frost on the ground, when the ......
My grandfather fought at Anzio. I can't tell you how choked up this song makes me. He went through hell and broke his body at the same place and for the same insanity that took Rogers father away. It makes me angry that he and so many others had to live through that. Had my grandpa fell to the same fate as rogers dad did I wouldn't even exist...those guys were all truly heroes.
I feel the emotion and it's a beautiful song.
You know how some songs bring a tear to your eye?
Well, between watching The Wall and listening to this song again here, I had to pause the video, stand up and walk into the bathroom - and just *bawl* like an infant for 5 whole minutes.
I don't think any other song has ever made me cry *that* hard...
This is the most epic war song I have ever heard.
One of Roger's most powerful songs. Those lyrics move me to tears every time.
With its great music & lyrics what impressed me most on "The Final Cut," was when during "The Gunner's Dream" Roger Waters hits a vocal note intercepted perfectly by the same note on the sax. Pure genius. Earlier in my own career I alluded to doing something similar & was told it couldn't be done. Leave it to Pink Floyd to pull it off brilliantly. "Final Cut" just may be one of Floyd's best. This was Waters' respectable account of his father's days during WWII. A wonderful tribute.
Something Roger will never get over. RIP EFW
Makes me cry everytime, and steels my resolve against the ghouls who still advocate for invading troops overseas.
Roger NAILED it on this song, his hatred for the military, "Fletcher Memorial.." as a beautiful coda.
Gives me goosebumps every time. One of their best songs ever.
Listening to this is quite moving and, more importantly, you can see the roots of the disillusionment of an entire generation with not just war, but the people who lead us into it.
This always grabs my heart strings for some unknown reason, soon as he says,it was dark all around, there was frost in the ground, when the Tigers broke free,that Welsh choir sounds absolutely amazing, proud to be Welsh
The Pontarddulais male voice choir of which I'm proudly a member
This song is a befitting tribute to many a fathers who didn't return from the Second World War and from active duty in general, in other times too.
80 Years Ago Today.
The Anzio Bridgehead...
NO ☆ MORE ☆ WAR ☆ PLEASE
It was just before dawn
One miserable morning in black '44.
When the forward commander was told to sit tight
When he asked that his men be withdrawn.
And the generals gave thanks
To the other ranks who held back the enemy tanks
For a while.
And the Anzio Bridgehead was held at the price of a few hundred ordinary lives.
And kind old King George
Sent mother a note when he heard that father was gone.
It was, I recall, in the form of a scroll
With a gold leaf and all.
I found it one day
With a draw of old photographs in the way.
And my eyes still grow damp to recall
His Majesty's sign with his old rubber stamp.
It was dark all around
There was frost in the ground
When the tigers broke free.
And no one survived
From the Royal Fusiliers, company C!
They were all left behind,
Most of them dead and the rest of them dying.
And that's how the high command took my daddy from me.
Company Z
Z. It’s Company Z.
With gold leaf adorned, I think
Thank God you were here to badly write the words...
It's definitely not "Company Z" because us limeys say "zed" instead of "zee." We also have terrible teeth, drink tea five times a day and all live in castles.
Every song of Pink Floyd is a masterpiece!
This song is the definition of war
I also wrote a war song guys. It's silent there are no sounds at all.
Pantera is the definition of war Pink Floyd is the definition of peace
The closest you can get to war with music is Nine inch nails Ghosts
Sends a shiver down my spine around the all the goosebumps right to the tear in my eye. Haunting and timeless.
tears. period.
Period tears? That’s blood.
@@dr.jacksonbright5723 Tears are just filtered blood whitout hemoglobin.
@@szylu6960 found the biochemist
@@thinginground5179 nah. im more of a humanist
@@szylu6960 okay
Wow awesome orchestra!... very rare absolutely beautiful thank you for sharing!!
I really wish the band could have agreed to include this on the wall. Maybe it’s personal to Roger but it is so meaningful and powerful to it just him but everyone who has lost family to war
as an ex serving soldier i have never heard an album thats about personal loss and all war takes with it as the final cut in a strange way this album gives me personal relief and understanding that no shrink on civie street could thank you pink floyd
It was just before dawn
One miserable morning in black '44
When the forward commander
Was told to sit tight
When he asked that his men be withdrawn
And the generals gave thanks
As the other ranks
Held back the enemy tanks for a while
And the Anzio bridghead was held for the price
Of a few hundred ordinary lives
And kind old King George sent mother a note
When he heard that father was gone
It was, I recall, in the form of a scroll
With gold leaf and all
And I found it one day
In a drawer of old photographs, hidden away
And my eyes still grow damp
To remember
That his majesty signed
With his own rubber stamp
It was dark all around
There was frost in the ground
When the tigers broke free
And no one survived from the Royal Fusiliers, Company see
They were all left behind
Most of them dead
The rest of them dying
And that's how the high command
Took my daddy from me
It was dark all around when I found this song, and it sent shivers down my spine, and that's how I learned to love this band. And I think you should too
"when he heard that father has gone.... Signed with his own rubber stamp." The flippant attitude he says these lines go right through my heart. The reason I dreamed of joining the army but couldn't bring myself to putting my life in the hands of these idiots.
this song drives me to tears!!
Too bad in a way this one didn't make it onto The Wall - it would have set the character of Pink in a different light. Certainly fits the bill for The Final Cut, though. Powerful lyrics and a smoking orchestration make for one helluva piece of music.
Paul Madryga this could not make the Wall, its too personal to Roger Waters. however its a great tune
ben row That's my understanding of the situation. Understandable, I reckon: the band likely didn't want the album to be perceived as being just about Roger, even though there's likely a hell of a lot of him in it regardless.
It's not on the album, but it's in the movie, isn't it?
Patrick Johanneson Correct. So it wasn't forsaken altogether.
+ben row EVERYTHING became about Roger....the guy is a great lyricist, but, jeez, Roger wasnt the only human who lost a parent to war, some to wars initiated by do-gooding socialists like Roger himself.
Even as an American, this is a most compelling and evocative song. I was born very late in my parent's lives...my mother was 43 and my father 45 when I was born in 1960. Neither of my parents dwelled on the war, but my father was an Annapolis graduate and career naval aviator who was commissioned in June of 1940. What I remember most was the occasional, oblique references made in muted voices at the dinner table about so-and-so and what's-his name. Many names, far too many names, including those of cousins and uncles whom I would never know, but whom were dear and loved by my parents, died in '44. That was the year when the bloodshed really came on in earnest. Uncle Bill's submarine came under air attack by the Japanese and he came home a paraplegic (he had been a lookout who was caught on deck). Hugh Wood was shot down in the Pacific. Ted Heckler crashed while landing on a carrier deck....'44 was the year, from Italy to the Philippines, when thousands died, like leaves falling from trees in an autumn wind.
+James Finley Really? He was feeling sorrow, and you criticized it because of grammer?
James Finley During WW2, Submarines could have decks (Uboats) however, those were German, and not used by the American Navy (just wanted to point that out)
Otherwise, you are completely correct.
I don't quite understand you. The main deck of a US submarine (and as far as know, the submarines of all navies) is called just that, the main deck. By the way, I'm speaking of the deck where the main gun sits.
+James Finley Firstly, your ignorance and assumption-based, error-strewn conclusions are more to be pitied than reviled. Every word I wrote was true. My uncle served on the USS Queenfish, a Balao-class fleet submarine launched in 43, as a torpedoman. You are correct that submarines don't have lookout decks then or now, which is why, in those days, they stood watch in the PERISCOPE SHEERS. Secondly, while Mussolini was ousted in 43, the war in Italy (against the Nazis) continued until Germany's capitulation. Thirdly, a man who calls another a liar while hiding behind the convenient anonymity of the Internet's skirts isn't much of a man at all. So why don't you give me your address so you can have the opportunity to be a man by calling me a liar to my face....and I can have the satisfaction of beating the living fuck out of a worthless piece of shit such as yourself.
+James Finley You should take your own advice before attempting a rebuttal, feeble excuse for one as it was, but that would be too much for a consummate, condescending hypocrite such as yourself, wouldn't it?
A masterpiece of sad music chilling to so many.
Roger Waters is one remarkable and talented man.
Makes you want to listen again and again with it's beauty. But almost impossible to listen to with it's sadness and bitterness.
A masterpiece.
100 years ago the brave men of the british army whent over the top for what we have today we must be thankfull to them we remember the brave
Really ? Why didn't they sit at home, why were they eager to fight in a war ? ?...they could have survived if they stayed home and spent their time screwing their girls. Thy did not have to go.
sszorin You have no idea how war works do you? Men sacrifice themselves for the good of others and to defend what they believe, and love.
You can feel ALL of the emotions from everything regarding WW 2 in this one song its almost terrifying. Like all the souls lost during the war were in the studio at once
Profound and so sad.
This albums is a fucking rollercoaster of emotions when your on mescaline... I don't remember much other than midway through I was curled up in a fetal position on the edge of tears
I had this rare single , on the sleeve it said taken from the album the final cut
Every time I listen to this song I get goosebumps
i come here to listen this song,but its impossible not ear the rest of the album.
Yeah. The Song its fantastic, the album is, well, poorly thought out and just spectacularly racist. Seriously, I'd be ok with this album if they left out the stuff about the japanese, but, since the DIDN'T leave that stuff out, I can't even look at this album without sneering.
It's not 'racist'. It's about racism, yes, but the album itself is not racist.
Well, Waters should have known better than to just leave it in the background in a song that otherwise wasn't about racism.
SynsityGW The day Pink Floyd becomes 'politically correct' is the day Syd Barrett rolls over in his grave.
Luke Freet It was written in a way that reflected the opinion of the times. It was a statement about the reality of the situation. To have changed things and made them less accurate would have been uncharacteristic of Waters. Racism is racism, build up or no. But the point is that he isn't actually displaying real racism. It's like saying that a movie is racist because it was written about the south in the 1800's when slavery existed.
Grandeur, vintage, should be preserved for all ages to come.
A highly underrated album
As far as I've heard critics agree that this is a masterpiece. Which it is.
Pretty sure it's not..
DerMortos Pretty sure I don't give a fuck what you think.
You're stupid. This isn't underrated you dip shit... Millions of people claim this as a masterpiece
So how come it was never heard on the radio? By definition, an under-rated piece is one that never received popular acclaim. This would be one. And by the way, try attacking what is said, not the person..
Awesome! Thanks for uploading the original vinyl single version!
where's Vera lynn
This song will always leave me sobbing.
"...for the price of a few hundred ordinary lives..."
As an ordinary serviceman I try my hardest not to be resentful of those who brand us "War Mongers", "Baby Killers" and other such vile adjectives/adverbs, etc...
I do however ask everyone, regardless of where they live, to consider we are ALL surrounded by evil of such enormity as to render Hitler & Stalin cub-scouts.
The actions of ordinary soldiers, airmen, marines, sailors and so forth have spared the world such horrors as the holocaust, thereby permitting the formulation of such opinions. Make no mistake, those horrors wait right around the corner if we ordinary service people lapse in even the slightest way in the execution of our'e mandated duties. We don't always get it right nor do the governments who issue the orders/directives. We're ordinary people, all of us. Though often called upon to do extraordinary things. The kind of things that permanently alter lives and create global nightmares. It's been over 70 years since a nightmare of such epic proportions as this song reminds us of. That would seem to indicate we flawed, ordinary people, for all our'e mistakes, are doing something right.
Now please don't get me wrong. I'm no hero and if you call me that to my face we're gonna have a serious problem. I did have the honor of serving in the company of heroes. We did our best to send what was left of them back home so their families could have closure.
I'm just an ordinary man who did his best. It probably wasn't enough and definitely wasn't always correct. When you listen to songs / poems like this; on behalf of my brothers & sisters, I ask you remember we're only ordinary people who did the best we could.
One of the most beautiful song that have been written!!!!
This is a song about true Honor and a true battle in Europe. Like if you agree.
4 years later and I say Fuck you and your stupid "Like if you agree"
goosebumps. everytime i listen to this..... goosebumps.
brilliance
Thtat's how he took my daddy from me.
Thank you so much for your service and I am so sorry for your loss.
I am so happy you have found peace and my wife and I are forever grateful for the sacrifices you have made.
Like others, each time I play this song it reminds me of my father who we lost when I was seven. 50 years later, the memories of him are like flashes from a photo album, but each time I play this song it seems to bring those memories to life once more.
I think we can all agree that this is probably the saddest song from the movie.