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.
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.
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.
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.