The extended version of Outside the Wall, as used in the movie The Wall (during the end credits), has an instrumental bridge similar to the bridge used in this song.
Southampton Dock
Pink Floyd Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
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
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.
Southampton Dock is a song that explores the after-effects of war and the emotional trauma, loss, and suffering that individuals and families endure. The opening lines, 'They disembarked in 45, And no-one spoke and no-one smiled, there were to many spaces in the line' immediately set the somber tone of the song. The line refers to the soldiers returning from World War II and their emotional state. The fact that no one spoke and no one smiled suggests that the soldiers' experiences have marked them for life, making them distant and disengaged from society. The emphasis on too many spaces in the line suggests the casualties and the loss of life in war.
The lyrics that follow describe the gathering of the soldiers' families at the cenotaph, memorializing the lives lost during the war. The line 'To sheath the sacrificial knives' can be interpreted as a call to put an end to the violence and sacrifice ushered in by war. However, the lyrics then switch focus to a woman on Southampton Dock, saying goodbye to loved ones departing for battle. The imagery of the woman standing in the rain with her summer frock clinging to her wet body emphasizes her vulnerability, and her bravery in waving goodbye again suggests the emotional toll of war on families.
The final lines refer to the aftermath of war, suggesting that the pain and trauma still reverberate through society. The line 'And when the fight was over, We spent what they had made' suggests the exploitation of the soldiers and their sacrifice by those in power. Overall, the lyrics of Southampton Dock are a poignant exploration of the toll of war on individuals and society as a whole.
Line by Line Meaning
They disembarked in 45
The soldiers got off the boat in 1945
And no-one spoke and no-one smiled
It was a solemn and serious moment, so no one showed any signs of joy
There were to many spaces in the line.
The soldiers who should have been there were gone, leaving empty spaces in the line
Gathered at the cenotaph
The soldiers were assembled at the war memorial
All agreed with the hand on heart
Everyone was in agreement and showed their respect by placing their hand on their heart
To sheath the sacrificial Knifes.
To put an end to the senseless killing and bloodshed
But now
Years later, after the war
She stands upon Southampton dock
A woman is standing on the dock, waiting for someone
With her handkerchief
She has a handkerchief, ready to wave as a sign of farewell
And her summer frock clings
She's wearing a dress that's soaking wet from the rain
To her wet body in the rain.
The rain is pouring down on her, making her clothes wet and uncomfortable
In quiet desperation knuckles
Her hands are clenched tightly in desperation
White upon the slippery reins
The reins are slippery in her wet hands
She bravely waves the boys Goodbye again.
She is saying goodbye to the soldiers, who are leaving to go to war
And still the dark stain spreads between
There is a physical scar, a reminder of what they went through
His shoulder blades.
The scar is on his back, between his shoulder blades
A mute reminder of the poppy fields and graves.
The scar is a silent reminder of the battles fought and the people lost
And when the fight was over
After the war had ended
We spent what they had made.
We used up all the resources that were gained from the war
But in the bottom of our hearts
Despite the excitement and celebration, deep down
We felt the final cut.
We felt the pain and loss that came with war, even after it was over
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management
Written by: ROGER WATERS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Aadi
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.
Bitter Iowa State fan
Through the fish eyed lens or tear stained eyes,
I can barely define the shape of this moment in time.
I’m far from flying high in clear blue skies,
I’m spiraling down to the hole in the ground where I hide.
If you negotiate the minefield in the drive,
And beat the dogs and cheat the cold electronic eyes.
And if you make it past the shotguns in my hall,
Dial the combination,
Open the priesthole,
And if I’m in I’ll tell you what’s behind the wall.
There’s a kid who had a big hallucination,
Making love to girls in magazines.
He wonders if you’re sleeping with your newfound faith.
Could anybody love him?
Or is it just a crazy dream?
And if I show you my Dark side,
Will you still hold me tonight?
And if I open my heart to you,
And show you my weak side,
What would you do?
Would you send your story to Rolling Stone?
Would you take the children away,
And leave me alone?!
And smile in reassurance as you whisper down the phone?
Would you send me packing?
Or would you take me home?
Thought I outta bare my naked feelings!
Thought I outta tear the curtain down!
I held the blade in trembling hands,
Prepared to make it!
But just then the phone rang,
I never had the nerve to make the Final Cut.
Never have I related to a song so much as I do to this one!
David soto nya
Lirycs:
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.
Through the fish-eyed lens of tear stained eyes
I can barely define the shape of this moment in time
And far from flying high in clear blue skies
I'm spiraling down to the hole in the ground where I hide
If you negotiate the minefield in the drive
And beat the dogs and cheat the cold electronic eyes
And if you make it past the shotgun in the hall
Dial the combination, open the priest hole
And if I'm in I'll tell you (what's behind the wall)
There's a kid who had a big hallucination
Making love to girls in magazines
He wonders if you're sleeping with your new found faith
Could anybody love him
Or is it just a crazy dream?
And if I show you my dark side
Will you still hold me tonight?
And if I open my heart to you
And show you my weak side
What would you do?
Would you sell your story to Rolling Stone?
Would you take the children away
And leave me alone?
And smile in reassurance
As you whisper down the phone?
Would you send me packing?
Or would you take me home?
Thought I oughta bare my naked feelings
Thought I oughta tear the curtain down
I held the blade in trembling hands
Prepared to make it but just then the phone rang
I never had the nerve to make the final cut.
Howie Duwit
I’ll never understand why most people hated this album when it came out. It’s always been one of my favorites. And I’m an old-school Floyd fan.
Vic Godinet
I have always thought that this was a grt album..brilliant..
Des Swan
It's my favourite Floyd album.❤❤❤
Gonzalo Riquelme
This is my refuge from the modern world, and my reconnection with the emotions and feelings of the darkest depths of the soul. I can't imagine my life without The Final Cut ...
Damian Rodriguez
Que buen comentario hermano, me pasa lo mismo, saludos desde Buenos Aires.
robert quick
Pretty deep thought. Pretty great album. Pretty great memories. The Great PINK FLOYD....
TruthSeeker205
I completely agree, so so good!
Teobaldo Representações
Perfect, I'll see you in somewhere in time
იოანე რამიშვილი
Your life would be with final cut, even without "pink floyd", son
Bobby Cox
Through the fish eye lens of tear stained eyes. I can barely define the shape of this moment in time...Pure gold. They just don't write them like that anymore.