The song lyrics were written by the band Van Halen, as they were asked to write a song for the 1979 movie "Over the Edge" starring Matt Dillon. The movie (and the lyrics, although more obliquely) are about bored, rebellious youth with nothing better to do than get into trouble. If you see the movie, these lyrics will make more sense. It's a great movie if you grew up in the 70s/80s you'll definitely remember some of these characters from your own life. Fun fact, after writing the song, Van Halen decided not to let the movie use it.
They disembarked in 45
And no-one spoke and no-one smiled
There were to many spaces in the line.
Gathered at the cenotaph
All agreed with the hand on heart
To sheath the sacrificial Knifes.
But now
She stands upon Southampton dock
With her handkerchief
And her summer frock clings
To her wet body in the rain.
In quiet desperation knuckles
White upon the slippery reins
She bravely waves the boys Goodbye again.
And still the dark stain spreads between
His shoulder blades.
A mute reminder of the poppy fields and graves.
And when the fight was over
We spent what they had made.
But in the bottom of our hearts
We felt the final cut.
And no-one spoke and no-one smiled
There were to many spaces in the line.
Gathered at the cenotaph
All agreed with the hand on heart
To sheath the sacrificial Knifes.
But now
She stands upon Southampton dock
With her handkerchief
And her summer frock clings
To her wet body in the rain.
In quiet desperation knuckles
White upon the slippery reins
She bravely waves the boys Goodbye again.
And still the dark stain spreads between
His shoulder blades.
A mute reminder of the poppy fields and graves.
And when the fight was over
We spent what they had made.
But in the bottom of our hearts
We felt the final cut.
Lyrics submitted by Demau Senae
Southampton Dock Lyrics as written by Roger Waters
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management
Lyrics powered by LyricFind
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Before a live performance on the EP Five Stories Falling, Geoff states “It’s about the last time I went to visit my grandmother in Columbus, and I saw that she was dying and it was the last time I was going to see her. It is about realizing how young you are, but how quickly you can go.”
That’s the thing about Geoff and his sublime poetry, you think it’s about one thing, but really it’s about something entirely different. But the lyrics are still universal and omnipresent, ubiquitous, even. So relatable. That’s one thing I love about this band. I also love their live performances, raw energy and Geoff’s beautiful, imperfectly perfect vocals. His voice soothes my aching soul.
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This is a hauntingly beautiful song about introspection, specifically about looking back at a relationship that started bad and ended so poorly, that the narrator wants to go back to the very beginning and tell himself to not even travel down that road. I believe that the relationship started poorly because of the lines:
"Take me back to the night we met:When the night was full of terrors: And your eyes were filled with tears: When you had not touched me yet"
So, the first night was not a great start, but the narrator pursued the relationship and eventually both overcame the rough start to fall in love with each other:
"I had all and then most of you"
Like many relationships that turn sour, it was not a quick decline, but a gradual one where the narrator and their partner fall out of love and gradually grow apart
"Some and now none of you"
Losing someone who was once everything in your world, who you could confide in, tell your secrets to, share all the most intimate parts of your life, to being strangers with that person is probably one of the most painful experiences a person can go through. So Painful, the narrator wants to go back in time and tell himself to not even pursue the relationship.
This was the perfect song for "13 Reasons Why"
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From what I understand, this song, in its entirity, is about how the Western Powers, particularly the U.S. and the U.K., squandered the peace and prosperity that the soldiers of World War II - like Eric Fletcher Waters - fought and died to achieve for future generations.
The first stanza is about the bittersweet return of British soldiers to London, "gathering at the Cenotaph" (the memorial to the Glorious Dead in the middle of town) and agreeing to "sheath the sacrificial knives" (ie: never take up arms again).
The second stanza is a severe indictment of Margaret Thatcher, holding her accountable for the breaking of this sacred trust forged between the noble generation that sacrificed their lives to fight Fascism, and our own, by "waving the boys goodbye again" as they go to fight to retain the Falklands for Queen and Country.
Her condition of "quiet desperation / knuckles white upon the slippery reins" (ie: reins of power) evokes an image of a Chief Executive willing to go to war and sacrifice many lives and many billions of dollars in order to keep in power.
Ah, but I do not think it is Thatcher that is in "quiet desperation" - it is Britannia. Thatcher would not be desperate, it was something she was looking forward to.
It all makes sense, Antedeus seems to get it. But saying she's in "quiet desperation" (referencing the dark side of the moon lyric) makes her seem like a more sympathetic figure. Could just be an innocent women whose witnessed too many wars. Does anyone know what the meaning of "and still the dark stain spreads between his shoulder blades" is?
"and still the dark stain spreads between his shoulder blades" is figurative: the blood stain that comes from being stabbed in the back. Another reference to the betrayal of those who served in WWII only to have the dream of a better, more peaceful world, betrayed by neo-cons like Thatcher. The cover art for the album included a photograph of a British soldier (in what appears to be a WWII-era uniform) standing at attention with a knife in his back. Click the last thumbnail here to see: megapinkfloyd.com/overview-the-final-cut.asp<br /> <br />
I always assumed "and still the dark stain spreads between his shoulder blades" was blood spreading out on the back of somebody shot in the chest in battle. A loved one not coming home to that young woman standing on a dock waiting for his return.
The "dark stain" line is an allusion to blood soaking through clothes after the man in the song has been stabbed in the back - mainly metaphorically, but possibly literally too. Waters is saying that the soldiers have been betrayed (stabbed in the back) by the leaders who should have found an alternative to sending them off to die.<br /> <br /> If you look at the original album artwork, there is a direct reference to this line - you can see a soldier standing up, with his back facing us, and a knife sticking out between his shoulder blades.
In agreement with Antedeus on the meaning behind the song. One had a question of what "still the dark stain spreads between his shoulder blades" meant. My thought is that if you look at the next line it makes it more obvious. The dark stain could be blood from carrying the dead on their shoulders before they bury them. It is also a possibility that is sweat from having to dig the graves. In accordance with Antedeus' definition of the song, the line says "still" which means even though they didn't want to fight and didn't want to bear witness to anymore dying, they are still having to carry or bury their dead.
about sending a loved boy/husband off to war... the woman/family is not willing for them to leave but has to do their duty helping and giving their part to the war.. this album is a very TOUCHING album... one of PINK FLOYDS greatests!
At least someone (Antedeus) seems to know what they're talking about.
yep. im pretty sure Antedeus knows whats going on.
Anyway, its a great song
This song competes with A New Machine for the worst vocals of any PF song. Easily the worst on the album (one of PF's worst, though not at all bad, which is saying something) except for Not Now John, which was just unnecessary.
Antedeus understands the song.
That's just a ridiculous post. The Final Cut is a lyrical masterpiece. And I will concede, Not Now John seemed a right album waster for many years, but you'll eventually get it if you listen to the whole album for long enough :). A masterful, moving and beautiful song.
i think this song is ok, fits the theme of the Final Cut well but not my favorite off the album, Wouldnt say it has the worst vocals though. Id give it a 7/10...meh!
ithis song gives me goosebumps
The live version that Roger does on In the Flesh is so anthemic. Better than the studio one by far.