I think much like another song “Anti-Matter” (that's also on the same album as this song), this one is also is inspired by a horrifying van crash the band experienced on Nov 3, 2022. This, much like the other track, sounds like it's an extension what they shared while huddled in the wreckage, as they helped frontman Garrett Russell stem the bleeding from his head wound while he was under the temporary effects of a concussion. The track speaks of where the mind goes at the most desperate & desolate of times, when it just about slips away to all but disconnect itself, and the aftermath.
It was just before dawn
One miserable morning in black 'forty four
When the forward commander
Was told to sit tight
When he asked that his men be withdrawn
And the Generals gave thanks
As the other ranks held back
The enemy tanks for a while
And the Anzio bridgehead
Was held for the price
Of a few hundred ordinary lives
And kind old King George
Sent mother a note
When he heard that father was gone
It was, I recall
In the form of a scroll
With gold leaf adorned
And I found it one day
In a drawer of old photographs, hidden away
And my eyes still grow damp to remember
His Majesty signed
With his own rubber stamp
It was dark all around
There was frost in the ground
When the tigers broke free
And no one survived
From the Royal Fusiliers Company Z
They were all left behind
Most of them dead
The rest of them dying
And that's how the High Command
Took my daddy from me
One miserable morning in black 'forty four
When the forward commander
Was told to sit tight
When he asked that his men be withdrawn
And the Generals gave thanks
As the other ranks held back
The enemy tanks for a while
And the Anzio bridgehead
Was held for the price
Of a few hundred ordinary lives
And kind old King George
Sent mother a note
When he heard that father was gone
It was, I recall
In the form of a scroll
With gold leaf adorned
And I found it one day
In a drawer of old photographs, hidden away
And my eyes still grow damp to remember
His Majesty signed
With his own rubber stamp
It was dark all around
There was frost in the ground
When the tigers broke free
And no one survived
From the Royal Fusiliers Company Z
They were all left behind
Most of them dead
The rest of them dying
And that's how the High Command
Took my daddy from me
Lyrics submitted by Demau Senae, edited by Mellow_Harsher, 23Tonality, spisani, rickytbird, irae
When The Tigers Broke Free Lyrics as written by Roger Waters
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management
Lyrics powered by LyricFind
Add your thoughts
Log in now to tell us what you think this song means.
Don’t have an account? Create an account with SongMeanings to post comments, submit lyrics, and more. It’s super easy, we promise!
More Featured Meanings
Dreamwalker
Silent Planet
Silent Planet
Mountain Song
Jane's Addiction
Jane's Addiction
Jane's Addiction vocalist Perry Farrell gives Adam Reader some heartfelt insight into Jane’s Addiction's hard rock manifesto "Mountain Song", which was the second single from their revolutionary album Nothing's Shocking. Mountain song was first recorded in 1986 and appeared on the soundtrack to the film Dudes starring Jon Cryer. The version on Nothing's Shocking was re-recorded in 1988.
"'Mountain Song' was actually about... I hate to say it but... drugs. Climbing this mountain and getting as high as you can, and then coming down that mountain," reveals Farrell. "What it feels to descend from the mountain top... not easy at all. The ascension is tough but exhilarating. Getting down is... it's a real bummer. Drugs is not for everybody obviously. For me, I wanted to experience the heights, and the lows come along with it."
"There's a part - 'Cash in now honey, cash in Miss Smith.' Miss Smith is my Mother; our last name was Smith. Cashing in when she cashed in her life. So... she decided that, to her... at that time, she was desperate. Life wasn't worth it for her, that was her opinion. Some people think, never take your life, and some people find that their life isn't worth living. She was in love with my Dad, and my Dad was not faithful to her, and it broke her heart. She was very desperate and she did something that I know she regrets."
Mountain Song
Jane's Addiction
Jane's Addiction
Jane's Addiction vocalist Perry Farrell gives Adam Reader some heartfelt insight into Jane’s Addiction's hard rock manifesto "Mountain Song", which was the second single from their revolutionary album Nothing's Shocking. Mountain song was first recorded in 1986 and appeared on the soundtrack to the film Dudes starring Jon Cryer. The version on Nothing's Shocking was re-recorded in 1988.
"'Mountain Song' was actually about... I hate to say it but... drugs. Climbing this mountain and getting as high as you can, and then coming down that mountain," reveals Farrell. "What it feels to descend from the mountain top... not easy at all. The ascension is tough but exhilarating. Getting down is... it's a real bummer. Drugs is not for everybody obviously. For me, I wanted to experience the heights, and the lows come along with it."
"There's a part - 'Cash in now honey, cash in Miss Smith.' Miss Smith is my Mother; our last name was Smith. Cashing in when she cashed in her life. So... she decided that, to her... at that time, she was desperate. Life wasn't worth it for her, that was her opinion. Some people think, never take your life, and some people find that their life isn't worth living. She was in love with my Dad, and my Dad was not faithful to her, and it broke her heart. She was very desperate and she did something that I know she regrets."
Head > Heels
Ed Sheeran
Ed Sheeran
“Head > Heels” is a track that aims to capture what it feels like to experience romance that exceeds expectations. Ed Sheeran dedicates his album outro to a lover who has blessed him with a unique experience that he seeks to describe through the song’s nuanced lyrics.
Plastic Bag
Ed Sheeran
Ed Sheeran
“Plastic Bag” is a song about searching for an escape from personal problems and hoping to find it in the lively atmosphere of a Saturday night party. Ed Sheeran tells the story of his friend and the myriad of troubles he is going through. Unable to find any solutions, this friend seeks a last resort in a party and the vanity that comes with it.
“I overthink and have trouble sleepin’ / All purpose gone and don’t have a reason / And there’s no doctor to stop this bleedin’ / So I left home and jumped in the deep end,” Ed Sheeran sings in verse one. He continues by adding that this person is feeling the weight of having disappointed his father and doesn’t have any friends to rely on in this difficult moment. In the second verse, Ed sings about the role of grief in his friend’s plight and his dwindling faith in prayer. “Saturday night is givin’ me a reason to rely on the strobe lights / The lifeline of a promise in a shot glass, and I’ll take that / If you’re givin’ out love from a plastic bag,” Ed sings on the chorus, as his friend turns to new vices in hopes of feeling better.
This is the TRUE story of Roger Waters father. His father was in the invasion of anzio. His father died."And that's how the High Command Took my daddy from me." Then, his father was just common infantry "And the Anzio bridgehead Was held for the price Of a few hundred ordinary lives."
"His Majesty signed With his own rubber stamp." The British governemnt doesn't care about everyone that dies, they are just a number, not worth their time.
It's an amazing TRUE song. The last line always sends chills down my spine.
@OrionDartanyu The biggest shame of The Wall album is that "When the tigers broke free " is not on the album just included in the film when it basically sets the narrative of the album and the album and why Roger wrote it, aswell as alienation..!! From what I've heard it was because the record label and production reasons had to cut short some of the songs as it would have made the album to long..?? WTF it's a double album and an extra minute or so I'm pretty sure wouldn't have made that much difference ???? I'm sure less important moments in the album could have been shortened to keep the whole of "The tigers broke free" on the album as it is major narrative of Roger's story and the idea/concept behind The Wall....⚒️????????????☮️????
this song practically drives me to tears whenever i hear it.... damn that album is depressing...
For those interested, there's a re-release of The Final Cut which includes this track.
AMAZING SONG. One of the best. Nothing else needs to be said. Im just glad Syd flipped out and went insane so that Water's could take over and direct the band.
I always get goosebumps when I hear this song. An absolute masterpiece by Roger Waters. The man is amazing at lyrics!!!!
A masterpiece. Absolutely brilliant lyrics indicating class and the sheer futility of war, while recognising the individual and personal bravery of the guys and women that did the fighting. Very moving and beautiful and a song that will stand the test of time for sure.
I'll never understand why this didn't make it onto the CD (same with the song that actually follows "The Empty Spaces"). The only album I've found it on, as BassGirl 69 said above, "Orchestral Maneuvers", the London Philharmonic's performance of classic Pink Floyd songs. A lot of that album is just so-so, but "Tigers" is almost exactly the same as it is in the movie.
This song got put on the second pressing of "The Final Cut" I have a 45 that I found with this song on it because I loved it so much.
Pardon me on the 2004 CD Remaster of "The Final Cut"<br />
When the tigers broke free. This song is just so sad. I feel so sorry for Roger, he has lived through a tragedy. What hell war truly is. I first saw Roger's The Wall when I was about 20 (I'm 35 now) with some dopers I met. To us back then it was just a movie to trip out on under the influence of cannabis for us. Spectacular film - I also saw it in a cinema (Valhalla, Melbourne, mid 1990s) which was amazing (not to mention LOUD). Of course we smoked heaps of dope before we went in but that's all The Wall was to me / us back then - a mad trip. I bought the DVD just recently. Roger's commentary is terrific - interesting, funny (his outragous impersonations of Bob Geldof had me rolling on the floor) and of course sad. Message to all the dopers: Watch this film straight and get in touch. The words in this song ought to be sent to all world 'leaders'. How cocky and full of heavy metal music these American soldiers in Iraq today are. Are they there for thier children I wonder or just to 'kick some commie ass' and keep Ms Spears comfy and clean and vent the side effects of testosterone while they're at it? So anyway to summise I really feel awfull for Roger after watching this in a sane state (sober). To BassGirl69 Hi - I'm glad your grandfather survived that nightmare, you are lucky. What a terrible, terrible disaster a war is... Kate Volkova.
Roger ,wether wrong or wright has poored out his heart in this song. "Took my daddy from me" In just how he says these five words He has taken his heart as a man, cut it open and shown us the mad and hurt child inside and the very thing that drives him. His pain is what makes him the tormented genius he is . This is where real true music comes from ,THE HEART
i luv the part "And my eyes still grow damp to remember his Majesty signed with his own rubber stamp." this song gives me goosebumps. its soo sad, its my anti-army