# The 1971 Pink Floyd song that contains a sincere moment of sacrilege: “It’s very powerful”

- URL: https://talkfuse.com/story/the-1971-pink-floyd-song-that-contains-a-sincere-moment-of-sacrilege-its-very-powerful/
- Published: 2026-08-02T14:32:55+00:00
- Updated: 2026-08-25T19:32:29+00:00
- Original publisher: Far Out
- Original article: https://faroutmagazine.co.uk/the-1971-pink-floyd-song-that-contains-a-sincere-moment-of-sacrilege/
- Topics: Entertainment, Music

## Key points

- "Fearless" features Liverpool fans' "You'll Never Walk Alone" chant, not Arsenal's
- Bassist Roger Waters was a devoted Arsenal supporter
- The song reflected Pink Floyd's growing confidence after Syd Barrett's exit

## Summary

Pink Floyd's 1971 track "Fearless," from the album Meddle, opens and closes with a recording of Liverpool FC's Kop Choir singing "You'll Never Walk Alone" – a choice drummer Nick Mason later described as feeling like "sacrilege" given bassist Roger Waters' devotion to rival club Arsenal. Despite the tension, the band judged the chant too powerful to leave out, and it became a defining touch on a song made during a transitional period as Pink Floyd worked to establish their identity after the departure of Syd Barrett.

Mason told Songfacts in 2022 that using an opposing team's chant felt wrong for the "north London guys" in the band, but that the raw power of the Kop Choir's sound won out. The chant has since become widely read as a symbol of unity beyond football tribalism, reflecting the band's growing confidence in blending real-world sound effects with their music. Meddle marked a turning point for Pink Floyd, who entered 1972 with fresh assurance, going on to record the La Vallée soundtrack before beginning work on The Dark Side of the Moon.

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Summarised by TalkFuse (https://talkfuse.com/). Quote the original publisher for the reporting and link this page for the summary and discussion.