Southampton Dock

Pink Floyd

About Southampton Dock

"Southampton Dock" is a song from Pink Floyd's 1983 album, The Final Cut. In World War II, many soldiers departed from Southampton to fight against the Germans. In the eighties, Southampton was again used as a departure base, this time for the Falklands War. The song describes a woman who waves the soldiers "Goodbye again". The song includes a snippet of the theme from the track "It's Never Too Late", a song originally written and recorded for The Wall but was cut before the final band production demo of August 12, 1979. "It's Never Too Late" was later reworked and the melody was incorporated into the second section of "Southampton Dock". 


Year:
1983
2:12
23 

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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.

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Pink Floyd

Pink Floyd were an English rock band formed in London. They achieved international acclaim with their progressive and psychedelic music. more »

59 fans

Written by: ROGER WATERS

Lyrics © BMG Rights Management

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind


10 facts about this song

Band Creation
"Southampton Dock" is a song by the English rock band Pink Floyd from their 12th studio album, "The Final Cut", which was released in 1983.
Song Inspiration
The song was inspired by the World War II memories of Roger Waters’ father and references the soldiers who left from the Southampton Dock to fight in the Falklands War.
Album Theme
The song is part of a larger concept explored in the album, where it deals with the themes of war and its impact, especially the psychological scars it leaves on the survivors.
Song Length
"Southampton Dock" is one of the shortest songs in the album, "The Final Cut", running only for 2 minutes and 10 seconds. This brevity helps to spotlight the melancholic lyrics.
Song Lyrics
The song does not follow the typical verse-chorus structure. The lyrics are written like a poem, with Roger Waters reflecting on the cost of war.
Regional References
The song references specific locations in England, like Southampton and Sheffield. It also talks about 'the Anzio bridgehead' during World War II.
Musical Style
Unlike many Pink Floyd songs, which are known for their progressive rock elements, the song "Southampton Dock" leans more towards folk genre making it unique in the band's repertoire.
Instrumentation
The song features a prominent acoustic guitar part, played by Roger Waters, and it is known for its haunting saxophone solo by Raphael Ravenscroft.
Live Performances
"Southampton Dock" was played live by Roger Waters during his In The Flesh - Tour between 1999-2002, and the subsequent DVD.
Song Reception
It may not have achieved the iconic status of some other Pink Floyd songs, but it has been recognized for its poignant lyricism and Waters' emotive vocal delivery.

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