“Fearless” and the Liverpool Chant: Why Pink Floyd Snuck “You’ll Never Walk Alone” Into Meddle

The football chant that closes “Fearless” is none other than Liverpool F.C.’s anthem “You’ll Never Walk Alone,” originally from the musical Carousel. Roger Waters had the idea to include it after the band heard a recording of the Anfield crowd singing it — he thought the raucous, unpolished terrace noise would contrast beautifully with the song’s serene, windswept feel. No one objected; in fact, the band loved the absurdity of dropping a football crowd into a dreamy folk-rock track. The band just went to a Liverpool match, recorded the crowd, and spliced it in.

The main lyrics — about standing your ground, not needing to prove anything, and leading a fearless life — were mostly written by Roger Waters, though David Gilmour contributed the music and some phrasing. The line “I’ll climb that hill in my own way” was Waters’ nod to stubborn individuality. The song’s theme of quiet defiance fit the everyday heroism of the fans belting out their club song, which is why the chant doesn’t feel forced — it’s the same emotion, just with more scarves and Scouse accents.