Corporal Clegg
Pink Floyd Lyrics


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Corporal Clegg had a wooden leg
He won it in the war, in 1944
Corporal Clegg had a medal too
In orange, red, and blue
He found it in the zoo

Dear, dear, were they really sad for me?
Dear, dear, will they really laugh at me?

Mrs. Clegg, you must be proud of him
Mrs. Clegg, another drop of gin

Corporal Clegg, umbrella in the rain
He's never been the same
No one is to blame
Corporal Clegg received his medal in a dream
From Her Majesty the queen
His boots were very clean





Mrs. Clegg, you must be proud of him
Mrs. Clegg, another drop of gin

Overall Meaning

"Corporal Clegg" is a song by Pink Floyd that was released in 1968 on the album "A Saucerful of Secrets." The song tells the story of Corporal Clegg, who lost one of his legs in World War II and now has a prosthetic wooden leg, and also has a distinguished medal in orange, red, and blue, which he found in a zoo.


The song is said to be a commentary on the way society views veterans who have returned from war. The first verse highlights Corporal Clegg's physical disability, making a point that he is a hero but still seen as different or even odd. The second verse focuses on the medal that Clegg received, demonstrating that while he was once celebrated, he is now largely ignored. The pre-chorus speaks to Clegg's possible insecurities, questioning whether people will be sad or laugh at him because of his disability. The chorus then switches to a political satire directed to the soldiers who drink away their lives, and their wives who drink gin to numb their problematic existence.


Line by Line Meaning

Corporal Clegg had a wooden leg
Corporal Clegg lost a leg in the war and now has a wooden replacement


He won it in the war, in 1944
He lost his leg in combat during World War II on 1944


Corporal Clegg had a medal too
He was decorated with a medal for his services in the war


In orange, red, and blue
The medal was made of three colors


He found it in the zoo
The medal was found by Corporal Clegg in a random location (the zoo)


Dear, dear, were they really sad for me?
Clegg is lamenting not being able to tell whether his comrades really care for him


Dear, dear, will they really laugh at me?
Clegg wonders if his comrades would ridicule him because of his wooden leg


Mrs. Clegg, you must be proud of him
Clegg's wife is expected to feel pride for her decorated husband


Mrs. Clegg, another drop of gin
Mrs. Clegg is offered another drink to celebrate Clegg's success


Corporal Clegg, umbrella in the rain
Clegg is now seen as vulnerable, needing protection from the elements


He's never been the same
Clegg's changed after losing his leg and fighting in the war


No one is to blame
Nobody is responsible for Corporal Clegg's situation


Corporal Clegg received his medal in a dream
Clegg's dream suggests that he sees the medal as a symbol of achievement, aspirations, and recognition


From Her Majesty the queen
The medal he receives is from the British monarch


His boots were very clean
Clegg is a disciplined soldier and takes care of his appearance




Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: ROGER WATERS

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
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Most interesting comments from YouTube:

@jimmydefoy2104

Corporal Clegg

Year: 1968
Music: Roger Waters
Lyrics: Roger Water

Corporal Clegg had a wooden leg
He won it in the war, in 1944
Corporal Clegg had a medal too
In orange, red, and blue
He found it in the zoo
Dear, dear, were they really sad for me?
Dear, dear, will they really laugh at me?

Mrs. Clegg, you must be proud of him
Mrs. Clegg, another drop of gin

Corporal Clegg, umbrella in the rain
He's never been the same
No one is to blame
Corporal Clegg received his medal in a dream
From Her Majesty the queen
His boots were very clean

Mrs. Clegg, you must be proud of him
Mrs. Clegg, another drop of gin..



@ehaltar4694

Corporal Clegg had a wooden leg
He won it in the war, in 1944.
Corporal Clegg had a medal too

In orange, red, and blue
He found it in the zoo.
Dear, dear were they really sad for me ?
Dear, dear will they really laugh at me ?
Mrs. Clegg, you must be proud of him.
Mrs. Clegg, another drop of gin.
Corporal Clegg umbrella in the rain
He's never been the same
No one is to blame
Corporal Clegg received his medal in a dream
From Her Majesty the queen
His boots were very clean.
Mrs. Clegg, you must be proud of him
Mrs. Clegg, another drop of gin.



All comments from YouTube:

@RCAvhstape

This is what The Wall would've sounded like if Roger had gotten started 12 years earlier on it.

@hickorymccay2994

Woulda been cool. SF Sorrow is kinda like Syd Barret- The Wall, but none of Pink Floyd was involved.

@johnmenanno2152

Wish the wall sounded like this

@zotron9228

@@johnmenanno2152 Welp people's sound and style change as they grow and the younger Roger's sound is much different from older Roger's. This is much more like Take Up Thy Stethoscope and Walk while The Wall is more like The Final Cut lol

@swansonjoe7121

Gosh I'd love more kazoo sounding instruments

@myfinalcut

Awful? 😂

15 More Replies...

@Yuriy-lk3tb

Pink Floyd is my favorite band. Their song is Corporal Clegg, this true about war and human emotion. Pink Floyd is not only music, it is philosophy.

@JDog4976

That kazoo touched my soul

@eastonmartin629

Would you please show us on the doll where it touched your soul.

@thetwins0350

Every orphyixsic of his body

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