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This song is about a soldier who lost his leg in World War II, and his apparently alcoholic wife. It is the first mention of war in a Pink Floyd song. (thanks, adri - zadar, Croatia)
Pink Floyd drummer Nick Mason sang the lines, "He won it in the war... in orange red and blue... he's never been the same... and from her majesty the queen." It was Mason's only vocal contribution until Pink Floyd's sixth album, Meddle, in 1971.
The title "Corporal Clegg" was chosen as a reference to Thaddeus Von Clegg, the inventor of the kazoo, hence the section where kazoos are played. (thanks, alex - Dublin, Ireland)
Roger Waters told Mojo magazine December 2009 that this song is autobiographical. He explained: "Corporal Clegg is about my father and his sacrifice in World War II. It's somewhat sarcastic - the idea of the wooden leg being something you won in the war, like a trophy."
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Amazing chord structure. It's just something I come back to whenever I'm listening to Pink Floyd.
The lines credited to Nick were actually sung by Roger.
It's a great song, albeit jarring and not for the faint of heart.
It is also definitely Roger's first foray into political commentary.
I thought Mrs Clegg was his mother. Now I'm not sure.