Gunners Dream The
Pink Floyd Lyrics


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Floating down, through the clouds
Memories come rushing up to meet me now
But in the space between the heavens
And the corner of some foreign field
I had a dream
I had a dream

Goodbye Max, goodbye Ma
After the service, when you're walking slowly to the car
And the silver in her hair shines in the cold November air
You hear the tolling bell and touch the silk in your lapel
And as the teardrops rise to meet the comfort of the band
You take her frail hand
And hold on to the dream

A place to stay, enough to eat
Somewhere, old heroes shuffle safely down the street
Where you can speak out loud about your doubts and fears
And what's more, no one ever disappears
You never hear their standard issue kicking in your door
You can relax on both sides of the tracks
And maniacs don't blow holes in bandsmen by remote control
And everyone has recourse to the law
And no one kills the children anymore
No one kills the children anymore

Night after night, going 'round and 'round my brain
His dream is driving me insane

In the corner of some foreign field
The gunner sleeps tonight
What's done is done
We cannot just write off his final scene




Take heed of the dream
Take heed

Overall Meaning

"The Gunner's Dream" is a song by Pink Floyd that reflects the singer's dream of a world without war and violence. The opening lines depict a dream of floating in the clouds as memories come rushing up to meet him. The dream takes him to a foreign field where he sees the aftermath of war that has left many soldiers dead. The singer then proceeds to bid farewell to a man and a woman, possibly his parents or relatives, who have passed away. He describes the solemn moment after their funeral, with the silver in the woman's hair shining in the cold November air. He hears the tolling bell and touches the silk in his lapel, taking comfort in the fact that they are both still alive in his dreams.


The song then turns to the singer's dream of a peaceful world where people can live in safety without fear of violence or war. The dream includes a place to stay, enough to eat, and old war heroes shuffling safely down the street. He longs for a world where people can speak out loud about their doubts and fears, and no one disappears. The dream also includes a world with a reliable legal system where everyone has recourse to the law. In the final verse, the singer highlights the gunner who is left sleeping in a foreign field. He acknowledges that what is done is done, and we cannot write off his final scene. He urges us to take heed of the dream and strive towards a world without war and violence.


Line by Line Meaning

Floating down, through the clouds
I feel like I'm drifting aimlessly


Memories come rushing up to meet me now
I'm reminded of the past


But in the space between the heavens
This is an unreal moment


And the corner of some foreign field
I'm in an unfamiliar place


I had a dream
I imagined what could be


Goodbye Max, goodbye Ma
Farewell to loved ones


After the service, when you're walking slowly to the car
Leaving a funeral


And the silver in her hair shines in the cold November air
Reflecting on the beauty of age


You hear the tolling bell and touch the silk in your lapel
Acting formal as part of tradition


And as the teardrops rise to meet the comfort of the band
Finding solace in music


You take her frail hand
Holding on to the memory of a loved one


And hold on to the dream
Holding on to hope


A place to stay, enough to eat
Basic needs being met


Somewhere, old heroes shuffle safely down the street
Feeling secure around respected figures


Where you can speak out loud about your doubts and fears
Having the freedom to express oneself


And what's more, no one ever disappears
No fear of being silenced or vanished


You never hear their standard issue kicking in your door
No police state interventions


You can relax on both sides of the tracks
Equality and lack of societal division


And maniacs don't blow holes in bandsmen by remote control
No terrorist attacks


And everyone has recourse to the law
The legal system functions properly


And no one kills the children anymore
The ultimate sign of peace


Night after night, going 'round and 'round my brain
This hopeful dream replays in my head


His dream is driving me insane
Aspiring for a better world can be torturous


In the corner of some foreign field
This hopeful dream remains even in dark corners


The gunner sleeps tonight
Even those who've seen war can find peace


What's done is done
The past is irreversible


We cannot just write off his final scene
We must remember the sacrifices made in war


Take heed of the dream
Let's work towards making this ideal world a reality




Lyrics © BMG Rights Management
Written by: George Roger Waters

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

@laacolombebs6340

------- lyrics -----
Floating down, through the clouds
Memories come rushing up to meet me now
But in the space between the heavens
And in the corner of some foreign field
I had a dream
I had a dream
Good-bye Max
Good-bye Ma
After the service, when you’re walking slowly to the car
And the silver in her hair shines in the cold November air
You hear the tolling bell
And touch the silk in your lapel
And as the tear drops rise to meet the comfort of the band
You take her frail hand
And hold on to the dream!

A place to stay
“Oi! A real one …”
Enough to eat
Somewhere old heroes shuffle safely down the street
Where you can speak out loud
About your doubts and fears
And what’s more no-one ever disappears
You never hear their standard issue kicking in your door
You can relax on both sides of the tracks
And maniacs don’t blow holes in bandsmen by remote control
And everyone has recourse to the law
And no one kills the children anymore
And no one kills the children anymore

Night after night
Going round and round my brain
His dream is driving me insane
In the corner of some foreign field
The gunner sleeps tonight
What’s done is done
We cannot just write off his final scene
Take heed of the dream
Take heed



All comments from YouTube:

@nickcapozio7134

This album is criminally underrated

@eliudzelaya45

Totally agree, I especially love 'Paranoid Eyes'

@trikkerman1

You do know that these songs are just rejected from the wall?

@oris247

@@trikkerman1 incorrect; that was the plan. The Falklands war changed direction. RW did reuse some ideas but it's not an album of rejected music.

@trikkerman1

@@oris247 Wrong.

@slimmatman7731

Hear, hear.

111 More Replies...

@escapatementalslavery8345

Love how Rogers voice is the same note as the saxophone “hold on to the dreeeamm!”🎷

@garx0

reminds me of voice-synth morph in Sheep

@Elias-no9fy

Gives me chills every time man

@northvilletunnels

When he did this live the scream started in the rear of the auditorium wrapped around the sides then came to the front center speaker of his quadrophonic sound system. Eric Clapton on guitar with a solo that ripped through me.

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