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.
It was just before dawn
One miserable morning in black 'forty four
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When he asked that his men be withdrawn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 bridgehead
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 adorned
And I found it one day
In a drawer of old photographs, hidden away
And my eyes still grow damp to remember
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 Z
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
One miserable morning in black 'forty four
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When he asked that his men be withdrawn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 bridgehead
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 adorned
And I found it one day
In a drawer of old photographs, hidden away
And my eyes still grow damp to remember
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 Z
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
Lyrics submitted by Demau Senae, edited by Mellow_Harsher, 23Tonality, spisani, rickytbird, irae
When The Tigers Broke Free Lyrics as written by Roger Waters
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management
Lyrics powered by LyricFind
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This is one of my favorite songs. https://fnfgo.io
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This is the TRUE story of Roger Waters father. His father was in the invasion of anzio. His father died."And that's how the High Command Took my daddy from me." Then, his father was just common infantry "And the Anzio bridgehead Was held for the price Of a few hundred ordinary lives."
"His Majesty signed With his own rubber stamp." The British governemnt doesn't care about everyone that dies, they are just a number, not worth their time.
It's an amazing TRUE song. The last line always sends chills down my spine.
@OrionDartanyu The biggest shame of The Wall album is that "When the tigers broke free " is not on the album just included in the film when it basically sets the narrative of the album and the album and why Roger wrote it, aswell as alienation..!! From what I've heard it was because the record label and production reasons had to cut short some of the songs as it would have made the album to long..?? WTF it's a double album and an extra minute or so I'm pretty sure wouldn't have made that much difference ???? I'm sure less important moments in the album could have been shortened to keep the whole of "The tigers broke free" on the album as it is major narrative of Roger's story and the idea/concept behind The Wall....⚒️????????????☮️????
this song practically drives me to tears whenever i hear it.... damn that album is depressing...
For those interested, there's a re-release of The Final Cut which includes this track.
AMAZING SONG. One of the best. Nothing else needs to be said. Im just glad Syd flipped out and went insane so that Water's could take over and direct the band.
I always get goosebumps when I hear this song. An absolute masterpiece by Roger Waters. The man is amazing at lyrics!!!!
A masterpiece. Absolutely brilliant lyrics indicating class and the sheer futility of war, while recognising the individual and personal bravery of the guys and women that did the fighting. Very moving and beautiful and a song that will stand the test of time for sure.
I'll never understand why this didn't make it onto the CD (same with the song that actually follows "The Empty Spaces"). The only album I've found it on, as BassGirl 69 said above, "Orchestral Maneuvers", the London Philharmonic's performance of classic Pink Floyd songs. A lot of that album is just so-so, but "Tigers" is almost exactly the same as it is in the movie.
This song got put on the second pressing of "The Final Cut" I have a 45 that I found with this song on it because I loved it so much.
Pardon me on the 2004 CD Remaster of "The Final Cut"<br />
When the tigers broke free. This song is just so sad. I feel so sorry for Roger, he has lived through a tragedy. What hell war truly is. I first saw Roger's The Wall when I was about 20 (I'm 35 now) with some dopers I met. To us back then it was just a movie to trip out on under the influence of cannabis for us. Spectacular film - I also saw it in a cinema (Valhalla, Melbourne, mid 1990s) which was amazing (not to mention LOUD). Of course we smoked heaps of dope before we went in but that's all The Wall was to me / us back then - a mad trip. I bought the DVD just recently. Roger's commentary is terrific - interesting, funny (his outragous impersonations of Bob Geldof had me rolling on the floor) and of course sad. Message to all the dopers: Watch this film straight and get in touch. The words in this song ought to be sent to all world 'leaders'. How cocky and full of heavy metal music these American soldiers in Iraq today are. Are they there for thier children I wonder or just to 'kick some commie ass' and keep Ms Spears comfy and clean and vent the side effects of testosterone while they're at it? So anyway to summise I really feel awfull for Roger after watching this in a sane state (sober). To BassGirl69 Hi - I'm glad your grandfather survived that nightmare, you are lucky. What a terrible, terrible disaster a war is... Kate Volkova.
Roger ,wether wrong or wright has poored out his heart in this song. "Took my daddy from me" In just how he says these five words He has taken his heart as a man, cut it open and shown us the mad and hurt child inside and the very thing that drives him. His pain is what makes him the tormented genius he is . This is where real true music comes from ,THE HEART
i luv the part "And my eyes still grow damp to remember his Majesty signed with his own rubber stamp." this song gives me goosebumps. its soo sad, its my anti-army