Actually, I believe that this song has a lot more meaning than their other psychedellic work (mostly because Waters is beginning to dominate his role as songwriter and realize his later style). This song, is the most jolly fashion, forebears Waters' later ominous, nihilistic and darkly sarcastic themes that appear most strongly throughout '77-'83.
Waters' sarcasm and disdain can be seem immediatly in the start of this song.
"Corporal Clegg had a wooden leg /
he won it in the war in nineteen forty four"
'Winning' a wooden leg in a war makes it all seem like a big game, furthered by the kazoo implementation.
While I somewhat agree with the insanity theory, I think Waters is just demonstrating the frivoulousness of medals and awards.
"Corporal Clegg had a medal too /
in orange and blue, he found it in the zoo"
"Corporal Clegg received his medal in a dream
from Her Majesty the Queen, his boots were very clean"
Clean boots obviously signify that Corporal Clegg actually did very little fighting, and was awarded this medal instead of the many whole truly lived through hell in WWII and received no recognition.
Now that I think about it, these last lines remind me a lot of Forest Gump... I'll let you compare than one yourself.
"Corporal Clegg, umbrella in the rain /
he's never been the same but no one is to blame "
All in all, this may be truly the first brick in the Wall.
Actually, I believe that this song has a lot more meaning than their other psychedellic work (mostly because Waters is beginning to dominate his role as songwriter and realize his later style). This song, is the most jolly fashion, forebears Waters' later ominous, nihilistic and darkly sarcastic themes that appear most strongly throughout '77-'83.
Waters' sarcasm and disdain can be seem immediatly in the start of this song. "Corporal Clegg had a wooden leg / he won it in the war in nineteen forty four" 'Winning' a wooden leg in a war makes it all seem like a big game, furthered by the kazoo implementation.
While I somewhat agree with the insanity theory, I think Waters is just demonstrating the frivoulousness of medals and awards. "Corporal Clegg had a medal too / in orange and blue, he found it in the zoo" "Corporal Clegg received his medal in a dream from Her Majesty the Queen, his boots were very clean" Clean boots obviously signify that Corporal Clegg actually did very little fighting, and was awarded this medal instead of the many whole truly lived through hell in WWII and received no recognition.
Now that I think about it, these last lines remind me a lot of Forest Gump... I'll let you compare than one yourself. "Corporal Clegg, umbrella in the rain / he's never been the same but no one is to blame "
All in all, this may be truly the first brick in the Wall.
Shine on and be careful with that axe