Well, personally speaking, considering this song shone on the very day he wrote it, up until this day, and most likely onwards from now for at least some time (since it only seems to grow further for followers all over the world), I’d barely call it momentarily!
I've been trying for years now to get my teenage son to learn the guitar. I tried Beatle songs, the Stones, the Kinks, Coldplay, Nirvana, Blur, and the list goes on. And a little over a month ago I was playing Syd's Dark Globe and Opel and, suddenly, my son comes downstairs and asks, "Dad, can you teach me to play those songs?" There is something about Syd's songs. Simple, yet complex. And people of any age can connect to them.
Yes, his acoustic playing is deceptive. I just wish someone could have helped him - this is a song from a very desperate person. David Gilmour always made such he got decent royalties from Floyd compilations.
He didn't really need a band, not even a staggeringly great band like Pink Floyd. Just his voice, his words, and his guitar. This song proves that more than adequately.
Yes, he is. But if we’re talking about Russian songwriters, you have to remember Alexandr Bashlachev, cause his lyrics and melodies are just mind blowing
There's nothing underrated about him. He had a short commercial career over 50 years ago and millions of people become or still are huge fans 19 years after his death.
Syd's rock star car in the background: he gave up driving, it sat in the street in the same spot until they towed it away. The council notice is stuck to the windshield on the drivers side...
"On a distant shore miles from land..." After listening to this for over a decade, I only now realized that makes no sense at all. If there's no land it's not a shore, so I guess he's describing an esoteric shore in the middle of the ocean. Genius.
Yes I noticed this error( ?) in this great song. If you are on a shore how can you be far from land? Maybe it means the land where Syd is.Yet it sounds good. Reminds me of “4 am in the morning” on Moonlight Shadow by Mike Oldfield.
+Sahajatara Blake Yer beautiful babe, yer the boss :) Give ole Langhorne Slim a shot.. my music's revolving between he, Syd and Ben Harper right now... they all "get" me, Slimboy is actually a personal pal
From that source of creativity where the lyrics come from nowhere, Barrett in his short time as a songwriter is ahead of anyone. Even Dylan, Lennon, Cohen, Waits, that combination of abstract, simple, surrealistic, extraordinary, found, elementary, enigmatic, that powerful fragility and that elegance. Thanks to Gilmour to make it work with all his efforts and all the difficulties in his solo records, they sound today better than ever
Henry Krinkle you're absolutely right, mate. Imagine if it was finished, maybe a subtle melotron at the end? But then it would lose this very personal feel...
I remember being really disappointed when I found out that the Opel release didn't have either Vegetable Man or Scream Thy Last Scream, in spite of the rumors that they would be on it. It should have also included Bob Dylan's Blues and Rhamadan. But songs like this and the others I had never heard at the time (Dolly Rocker, Let's Split, Lanky (Part One), etc.) made it worthwhile.
If, from now until the end of my days, I could only listen to one song from Pink Floyd or any solo projects from the members I would pick this one. The chord progression of this song and Syd's lonely, floating melodies are pure Pink Floyd. It's certainly not the most polished song, but the composition hits the heart of everything that made the band transcendent. None of the other members could create that nearly as well as Syd, and I don't think ever would have came close had he not shown them the way. They just rode the ripples of Syd's soul exploding.
im a huge syd barrett fan. i try to listen to, and watch the post syd stuff and its lacking. the wall, dark side of the moon, its ok. nothing more. Syd had something truly special. He made some music then took it away with himself. To me there are 3: Brian Wilson, Roky Erikson and Syd. A holy triology of crazy genius..
+Monkey Man animals is a good album. but yeah none of it comes close to piper, saucerful, or solo barrett. im surprised u left peter green out of ur trilogy of batshit musical geniuses
This song was such a huge influence on me, particularly the central part where he doesn't sing. It epitomized the idea of having an odd yet beautiful chord progression for me, and also convinced me that one doesn't need a melody or an arrangement as long as your chord progression is good enough, original enough, and changes fast enough. I ended up practically imitating the style of this song in my own attempts to make music as a teenager. I still think it's his best solo song by far.
Here I stand in a box of black choked by nothing On a distant shore, miles from land Stands the ebony totem in ebony sand A dream in a mist of grey... On a far distant shore... The pebble that stood alone And driftwood lies half buried Warm shallow waters sweep shells So the cockles shine... A bare winding carcase, stark Shimmers as flies scoop up meat, an empty way... Dry tears... Crisp flax squeaks tall reeds Make a circle of grey in a summer way, around man Stood on ground... I'm trying I'm trying to find you! To find you I'm living, I'm giving To find you, To find you I'm living, I'm living I'm trying, I'm giving
Trying to find "you" i.e. find himself- that's why it's so sad and haunting - but also beautiful the way he captures this in the music like a direct picture of his inner soul - this is a universal human struggle and great artists reflect this for us all
I agree this sounds like the work of someone completely in control. Of course hindsight is always 2020 and there are other recordings which to my untrained ear have him sounding definitely unhinged. But not this one. As the years have passed I'm leaning towards believing that Barrett's real illness was having to surrender his band to tour managers and record executives, being reduced to some kind of performing monkey. Of course, being a tad introverted and ingesting nations' supplies of barbiturates on a daily basis probably won't have helped.
i just realise by listening to his strumming that each guitarist has his own rhythmic clock and its like a signature or a footprint its very singular and personal and that's what makes us drawn to specific player some of them has a universal clock or the quartz stone in them so the rest of us calibrate our time and life according to their call "im living im tryyying im giving"
I'm trying too syd. Update(3years later). I have tried and almost succeeded never will i give up trying. Thank you for this music, it helped me when life was unbearable.
This isn't music, it's someone's soul exposed for all. Wish I could go back in time and listen again for the 1st time again. Gorgeous, haunting and hollow. Hope he found peace on the other side. An epic love song to no one...or maybe everyone that had that desolate feeling of being alone, empty. We will never know, God bless you brother, we will meet in the great unkown.
For me there is magic in Syd's music and singing/lyrics. It's magical qualities which drew me to music as a child, and what keeps me wanting to make more of it, and what I listen out for in the music of others.
l bought this album many years ago and found it very hard to get into.But know listening to this song all these years later I get what Syd was trying to say and it brings tears to my eyes.
Apologies for my tedious pedantry, but "Opel" does not appear to have been recorded in one take: "The first [recording] we made (the engineer was Peter Mew) was 'Opel', at Syd's request. We both felt at the time that it was one of his best new songs. It took Syd nine runs at it to get a complete take, and even that was not perfect. (I was nevertheless very sad that 'Opel' was left out [of 'The Madcap Laughs']... I assume it was Syd's decision.)" -Malcolm Jones, "The Making of 'The Madcap Laughs'"
I don't think there's a better, more incisive portrait of Syd's post-Floyd mindset than this song. I believe it is an intensely personal statement, akin to a cry for help. The poetry of the lyrics, the sparse, ethereal quality of the chord progression and his chilling vocal delivery is a revelation.
Syd's music is such a good anchor; it's so raw, open and vulnerable but witty and honest at the same time, and it's so good for when you want an embrace from a friend and for when you need to be reminded that you're not alone. Shine on, Syd! I hope you're happy up there.
@@vertyisprobablydead woah there buddy, that was uncalled for - and well, maybe you should grow up a little and learn to respect things which matter to other people. Cheers!
@@allisonchainz82surely because he used syds ideas after kicking him out and also made a whole album directed to and for him. He's always expressed how syd influenced him and the rest.
I'm not sure that discarded is the right word. Regardless of anything else, Syd absolutely had some severe mental struggles, and later in life didn't even want to be reminded of his past. While Waters may have regrets about the way the situation shook out, I don't think it's fair to say he discarded Syd.
@@tomshotdogs6645 Discarded probably is the right word though... there is Pink Floyd's "Crying Song", which is a blatant ripoff of this one, except nowhere near as good... there is a reason why Roger prevented this one on being on "Madcap Laughs"... also, I'm guessing he was the one responsible for not letting "Vegetable Man" or "Scream Thy Last Scream" being on "Saucerful of Secrets", cause they would have overshadowed his own songs Nothing against Roger, he is an amazing musician and I saw him live last year, but I have been in a band with a Roger type myself, so have been through that
Very grateful for Syd and that I gave him time. Some people's songs are good at first and drive you mad as time passes. Syd's drove me mad at first and now I see.
Syd was friggin genius, this is Dylan,Lou Reed,The Beatles&Bowie all rolled in2 1,awesome,brilliant,hauntung&very sad,I'm trying 2find u as well Syd,thank u so much 4what u gave all of us,pure raw talent!!!RIP Syd!!!😢♥️💥
Wow... I’m so glad I discovered Pink Floyd I know this is Syd Barret but if I never discovered Pink Floyd I would have never gotten into as many good bands as I’m into right now... Like my music taste was ass before I discovered them and I would have never loved amazing songs like this... Rest In Peace Syd Barret
Indeed @Charlie Renick. Neither his voice nor the guitar cue each other. They seem totally independent from one another and highlight themselves. It is absolutely brilliant and musical genius. No wonder RW was so thoroughly intimidated by Syd's talent. My god, how could other musicians, lyricists, composers not be....
As an artist, he thought mathematically. The rest of Pink Floyd were mean to hold back Opel for years. Jealous. They copied Syd's style for years. Young people don't even know Syd was the founder of the band. I saw one idiot talking about how "kind" those guys were to keep paying royalties to Syd all the years. He wrote the songs!
On a distant shore, miles from land Stands the ebony totem in ebony sand A dream in a mist of gray.... On a far distant shore.... RIP Madcap You tower above the rest.
Roger Barrett was a brilliant songwriter. He was obviously very ill and I struggled to listen to his stuff because I have issues to. David Gilmour who replaced him in the Floyd did loads to help him - respect !
I am a new Syd fan but I became a huge one really fast it just happened that I wasn't feeling too well so I decided to finally give it a rest and stop trying but I survived that and then I discovered this song and now I am trying as well greetings from Jordan
la primera vez que escuché esta canción estuve a punto de cambiarla, a punto: la miré y dije, syd barret, démosle una oportunidad. Sigue eternamente con ese guitarreo que no sabes si es improvisado y mal tocado a propósito o que weá, hasta que lo entiendes todo, hasta que llega a la parte final. Todo ese interludio medio infernal no era más que un desafío que nos conduce al premio que hay después de todo ese camino tortuoso, un premio que te hace llorar raja porque no te lo esperabas, por toda esa preparación previa. simplemente es hermosa esta canción y agradezco cada segundo cada vez que la escucho por no haberla cambiado. gracias syd.
@Hootiebird61-mainly because they weren't there and had nothing to do with this song which was recorded on the11th april 1969 and produced by malcolm jones
I love the interplay between some of the real funky, almost disquieting minor chords, and then the more melodic, almost pop-sounding chords. It is also fascinating to listen to these lyrics. Flies scooping up meat... this really brings home the distasteful reality of an animal decomposing, rather than just conveying the imagery of it, which most more conventional songs might do. It’s like he is trying to connect with or convey the sad reality of the situation in an direct, uncompromising way. He’s not letting us off the hook here. It’s mad genius for sure. And that’s why I love it so much. It’s the blues on hyperdrive; a direct plug in with no filter.
When even the saddest and bleakest of depressing songs won't do There's always this to turn to I think the key to this track's resonance, as with much of Syd's music, is the way that it contrasts the bleak and harsh ugliness of mental illness with this beautiful childlike lyrical imagery, and it's this unique combination that makes it sound so sad
Syd is the seed of the strange music that I love. Surrealism, disturbing feelings, unusual tempo and harmony, Bowie, protopunk, Pixies, Nirvana, I see Syd in all of then. Later Pink Floyd transformed Syd's legacy into cups and t-shirt prints that will alleviate the frustration of the cowards who personify the death of rock: pasteurized rebellion sold in packages,
These kind of people, like S. Barrett, in these moments of... transformation their mind explodes into million pieces, and parts of it reaches some of us like a drop in our still isolated souls. I was born 1973, and I got a drop of this bliss on my head. It is growing to that same ozean of... wonder - and i´m not on drugs right know. The music bears a witness.
This song will echo through the cosmos forever. Every strum is a revelation. As the decades become centuries more will discover this is music far beyond anyone’s definitions or judgements.
I wish you could see how your legend lives on,all these people on social media, telling their own stories about how your music affected people's lives,all the best Syd
This song... just... kills...me. I recently played it for a friend who has no interest in this sort of thing after explaining the backstory and she actually started crying.
As I have listened to Barrett's work and lyrics pre and post Floyd I have realized the value of a recording artists. My opinion is Syd was a recording artist at heart and he just wanted to make great music once in the studio and move on to other concepts. Gig/tour/fame was too much mentally. Dealing with depression, I get this as depression and schizophrenia have been linked . I play the drums, not in a band, but as a hobby, it's my way of unwinding after I do my professional work and I don't think I have the mental fortitude required (or youth) to perform on that level. So now that I think about this, I get how people say the the demands of the recording industry broke him down and exasperated his mental illness. I wish we lived in a world that more accepting of the Syds of the world. But I guess we must all have our Have a Cigar realizations.
Still better than anything in the top 40 today. May sound crappy to some, but when you realise that part of the art was to do it in one take, no matter the outcome, you gain a better understanding of the musical genius of the legend.
An incredibly beautiful song and, as we all agree, no one but Syd could have written it. Inexplicably left off The Madcap Laughs and had to wait 18 years to see the light of day.
Yes, been trying for over 8 years and i feel im almost there ! keep trying! There arent many interviews of Syd but there are a LOT of books about him. If you want to know more about him, there's a group on facebook with people who knows a lot about Syd. You can search for "Birdie hop - The Syd Barrett Group
Syd was like a break in the clouds where the sun shines momentarily.
Yeah, I think so.
Bcause he Is there
Well, personally speaking, considering this song shone on the very day he wrote it, up until this day, and most likely onwards from now for at least some time (since it only seems to grow further for followers all over the world), I’d barely call it momentarily!
Because the sun was eclipsed by Rodger Waters
Yeah, veryyyy momentarily.
Unlike Waters, Barrett didn’t need a band. He was a true genius.
Facts!!!
Syd was definitely the genius of the band, after that it all felt somewhat performative. Syd was a mystical and ethereal poet.
she said a big band's far better than you... he may not have needed the band to make good songs, but he most certainly needed friends and company
I've been trying for years now to get my teenage son to learn the guitar. I tried Beatle songs, the Stones, the Kinks, Coldplay, Nirvana, Blur, and the list goes on. And a little over a month ago I was playing Syd's Dark Globe and Opel and, suddenly, my son comes downstairs and asks, "Dad, can you teach me to play those songs?" There is something about Syd's songs. Simple, yet complex. And people of any age can connect to them.
I love this post. I tweeted it.
I bet he can play Terrapin seamlessly now 🎸👍
You're tryyyyyyyyyyyiiiiiiinnnnnnngggg???? You're giiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiivvvvvvvvinnnnnnnng???
Is that what you're saying?
An admirable accolade and analysis
Yes, his acoustic playing is deceptive. I just wish someone could have helped him - this is a song from a very desperate person. David Gilmour always made such he got decent royalties from Floyd compilations.
He didn't really need a band, not even a staggeringly great band like Pink Floyd. Just his voice, his words, and his guitar. This song proves that more than adequately.
“I’m trying…to find you.” It’s always given me chills since the day I first heard it…
me too !!!
I wonder if he was talking about himself 😢
Difficult to know. The secret died with Syd in 2006, and truth be told, long before that.
beautiful sadness
Without finding ourselves first we are all lost..
If the collective all has no soul then we are all doomed.
Syd was 20th century's most underrated singer/songwriter/musician. R.I.P. Roger Keith Barrett.
Yes, he is. But if we’re talking about Russian songwriters, you have to remember Alexandr Bashlachev, cause his lyrics and melodies are just mind blowing
There's nothing underrated about him. He had a short commercial career over 50 years ago and millions of people become or still are huge fans 19 years after his death.
Realize this is whined about for EVERY musician on the planet.
What I most like about his tunes are the 'homemade in a split second' feel on them.
They all sound really natural, spontaneous and wonderful.
Because they were. It's called art.
Most of the songs on his 1st two albums were done in 1 or 2 takes. I don’t know about Opel because someone ‘borrowed’ it years ago ✌️
Syd's rock star car in the background: he gave up driving, it sat in the street in the same spot until they towed it away. The council notice is stuck to the windshield on the drivers side...
what an amazing voice. it just cuts through all the bullsh*t and hits you square in the heart.
good ol' Syd
"On a distant shore miles from land..." After listening to this for over a decade, I only now realized that makes no sense at all. If there's no land it's not a shore, so I guess he's describing an esoteric shore in the middle of the ocean. Genius.
Yes I noticed this error( ?) in this great song. If you are on a shore how can you be far from land? Maybe it means the land where Syd is.Yet it sounds good. Reminds me of “4 am in the morning” on Moonlight Shadow by Mike Oldfield.
Knowing Syd it could be his funny way of describing his isolation
@@congokjt4025easy tiger , you're getting "carried away".
Im sending Love to everyone else who's here coz theyre having a bit of a mental ill day and Syd is the only thing that is helping x x x
finally someone who gets it thank you for you
+Sahajatara Blake It's a Syd day
+Sahajatara Blake Yer beautiful babe, yer the boss :)
Give ole Langhorne Slim a shot.. my music's revolving between he, Syd and Ben Harper right now... they all "get" me, Slimboy is actually a personal pal
yes x
Thank you. I am having one of those days.
From that source of creativity where the lyrics come from nowhere, Barrett in his short time as a songwriter is ahead of anyone. Even Dylan, Lennon, Cohen, Waits, that combination of abstract, simple, surrealistic, extraordinary, found, elementary, enigmatic, that powerful fragility and that elegance.
Thanks to Gilmour to make it work with all his efforts and all the difficulties in his solo records, they sound today better than ever
Perfect pick sound for one of the most hauntingly beautiful songs ever recorded. Shows that syd still knew what he was doing
I have to remind myself quite often that this recording is just one man and a guitar. Unreal. Arguably his best recording.
Listen to "Effervescing Elephant" and get back to me.
Dark Globe might argue with you.
Is it just me, or is this literally one of the greatest songs ever made?
Henry Krinkle you're absolutely right, mate. Imagine if it was finished, maybe a subtle melotron at the end? But then it would lose this very personal feel...
I think so too.
It's one of the most beautiful songs I've heard
No henry-it's not just you,for me this is, and will always be his greatest and most compassionate song.
It’s the latter Travis... ⚡️
Hmm - I remember the Opel album coming out and thinking "Yay, new Syd material!", but now I realise that was 29 years ago and I'm no longer nineteen
I remember being really disappointed when I found out that the Opel release didn't have either Vegetable Man or Scream Thy Last Scream, in spite of the rumors that they would be on it. It should have also included Bob Dylan's Blues and Rhamadan. But songs like this and the others I had never heard at the time (Dolly Rocker, Let's Split, Lanky (Part One), etc.) made it worthwhile.
I was eighteen. So far away now.
He sits back and smiles everytime we enjoy his songs.
❤️
I hope so
I hope so too
If, from now until the end of my days, I could only listen to one song from Pink Floyd or any solo projects from the members I would pick this one. The chord progression of this song and Syd's lonely, floating melodies are pure Pink Floyd. It's certainly not the most polished song, but the composition hits the heart of everything that made the band transcendent. None of the other members could create that nearly as well as Syd, and I don't think ever would have came close had he not shown them the way. They just rode the ripples of Syd's soul exploding.
im a huge syd barrett fan. i try to listen to, and watch the post syd stuff and its lacking. the wall, dark side of the moon, its ok. nothing more. Syd had something truly special. He made some music then took it away with himself. To me there are 3: Brian Wilson, Roky Erikson and Syd. A holy triology of crazy genius..
100 % agree with you. This is Syd, this is the real Pink Floyd. All that cat food from DSOTM on to to-day, crap !!!
give Skip Spence a listen - some pretty good stuff - riding the line between sanity and creativity is always interesting . . .
+Monkey Man animals is a good album. but yeah none of it comes close to piper, saucerful, or solo barrett. im surprised u left peter green out of ur trilogy of batshit musical geniuses
gsxrkz haha meddle
This song was such a huge influence on me, particularly the central part where he doesn't sing. It epitomized the idea of having an odd yet beautiful chord progression for me, and also convinced me that one doesn't need a melody or an arrangement as long as your chord progression is good enough, original enough, and changes fast enough. I ended up practically imitating the style of this song in my own attempts to make music as a teenager. I still think it's his best solo song by far.
It certainly is in a class of its own. I'm so grateful that it's Syd and his guitar, that spareness gives it great power.
It’s on the top five of his tunes for sure
It really is something else. You think "ok he's about to sing" and then you get a twist into another direction.
@@Valientlink I feel all the same. Because it's Syd ))
As for me ! A reference !
There's no more perfect voice of both a peaceful and tortured soul than Syd B. I want to hug him to life.
no more perfect example of that than the refrain of this song too
Here I stand in a box of black choked by nothing
On a distant shore, miles from land
Stands the ebony totem in ebony sand
A dream in a mist of grey...
On a far distant shore...
The pebble that stood alone
And driftwood lies half buried
Warm shallow waters sweep shells
So the cockles shine...
A bare winding carcase, stark
Shimmers as flies scoop up meat, an empty way...
Dry tears...
Crisp flax squeaks tall reeds
Make a circle of grey in a summer way, around man
Stood on ground...
I'm trying
I'm trying to find you!
To find you
I'm living, I'm giving
To find you, To find you
I'm living, I'm living
I'm trying, I'm giving
Trying to find "you" i.e. find himself- that's why it's so sad and haunting - but also beautiful the way he captures this in the music like a direct picture of his inner soul - this is a universal human struggle and great artists reflect this for us all
It's the way Syd is singing that line that pulls at your heart. It's ghostly and incredibly naked and pure. I can imagine it makes you very emotional.
This track is an outstanding piece of work by a world weary genius artist...I find nothing mad here at all.
Exactly ❤️❤️❤️
I agree this sounds like the work of someone completely in control. Of course hindsight is always 2020 and there are other recordings which to my untrained ear have him sounding definitely unhinged. But not this one. As the years have passed I'm leaning towards believing that Barrett's real illness was having to surrender his band to tour managers and record executives, being reduced to some kind of performing monkey. Of course, being a tad introverted and ingesting nations' supplies of barbiturates on a daily basis probably won't have helped.
It's fucking brilliant
That’s an amazing plectrum sound
@@deekaye9403 I've listened to the song trying to find out what makes that sound on the strings.
i just realise by listening to his strumming that each guitarist has his own rhythmic clock and its like a signature or a footprint its very singular and personal and that's what makes us drawn to specific player some of them has a universal clock or the quartz stone in them so the rest of us calibrate our time and life according to their call
"im living im tryyying im giving"
I'm trying too syd.
Update(3years later). I have tried and almost succeeded never will i give up trying. Thank you for this music, it helped me when life was unbearable.
Me too man.
as with i
+Jeff Stewart I'm right there tryin w/ yinz cats..
DmAssOu Yup. He tried and he really did try in fact. He was used in the long run. People. $
I'm trying
This isn't music, it's someone's soul exposed for all. Wish I could go back in time and listen again for the 1st time again. Gorgeous, haunting and hollow. Hope he found peace on the other side. An epic love song to no one...or maybe everyone that had that desolate feeling of being alone, empty. We will never know, God bless you brother, we will meet in the great unkown.
Possibly the most genuine and raw song ever made... RIP Syd
The pebble that stood alone. Thank god he managed to record during this period. The painter, the piper.. the prisoner.
Hold on to the steel rail my friend. Hold on.
For me there is magic in Syd's music and singing/lyrics.
It's magical qualities which drew me to music as a child, and what keeps me wanting to make more of it, and what I listen out for in the music of others.
Damn that ending is sad...ughhh. I had to immediately listen to Octopus to cheer myself up.
effervescing elephant does the trick for me
The love for this song and Syd in this comment section is exceptional. So much appreciation. Man, such a good song and beautiful man.
this is the only artist who makes me want to go back and live in his era
Me too, mate
Well Hendrix too
George Harrison And Mutantes for me too
Yessss
Haunting.
Shine on you, Crazy Diamond.
such a haunting and haunted song, really individual, hypnotic, completely unique
l bought this album many years ago and found it very hard to get into.But know listening to this song all these years later I get what Syd was trying to say and it brings tears to my eyes.
Love how you can actually hear the pick strumming against the slightly out-of-tune strings! This is all ONE TAKE....music in its purist form!
The "washboard" sound (the loud pick) is done on purpose, by putting a microphone on it.
It's also in 'Terrapin'.
@@Ratelzwatel I also borrowed this technique from Syd for my upcoming album, but then again, I borrowed a lot from Syd...
Apologies for my tedious pedantry, but "Opel" does not appear to have been recorded in one take: "The first [recording] we made (the engineer was Peter Mew) was 'Opel', at Syd's request. We both felt at the time that it was one of his best new songs. It took Syd nine runs at it to get a complete take, and even that was not perfect. (I was nevertheless very sad that 'Opel' was left out [of 'The Madcap Laughs']... I assume it was Syd's decision.)" -Malcolm Jones, "The Making of 'The Madcap Laughs'"
I don't think there's a better, more incisive portrait of Syd's post-Floyd mindset than this song. I believe it is an intensely personal statement, akin to a cry for help. The poetry of the lyrics, the sparse, ethereal quality of the chord progression and his chilling vocal delivery is a revelation.
Beautiful man, beautiful song, beautiful words, beautiful music....
Syd's music is such a good anchor; it's so raw, open and vulnerable but witty and honest at the same time, and it's so good for when you want an embrace from a friend and for when you need to be reminded that you're not alone.
Shine on, Syd! I hope you're happy up there.
Naruto sucks.
@@vertyisprobablydead woah there buddy, that was uncalled for - and well, maybe you should grow up a little and learn to respect things which matter to other people. Cheers!
@@ughsirius Woah there buddy, why don't you grow up and quit living in 2002 because last time I checked, that was 20 years ago kid.
@@vertyisprobablydead woah there bestie, why the hate? Lmao let me love naruto :( life sucks as is
Syd I used to see you in the Newsagents across the rd you are the genius of music so terribly missed Belinda xxxx
Newsagent is such an English word.
Not as English as toffy-nosed git, though.
@@HerringTreeWeird agreeing with a comment one wrote eight years earlier using a different username.
My mother is passing right now and I don’t know what else to do but sit here and listen to this because I can’t be near her, my heart is so isolated
The genius that Waters discarded. Always in my heart Syd.
I think waters definitely has regrets.
@@allisonchainz82surely because he used syds ideas after kicking him out and also made a whole album directed to and for him. He's always expressed how syd influenced him and the rest.
I'm not sure that discarded is the right word. Regardless of anything else, Syd absolutely had some severe mental struggles, and later in life didn't even want to be reminded of his past. While Waters may have regrets about the way the situation shook out, I don't think it's fair to say he discarded Syd.
@tomshotdogs6645 right, would it not have been immoral to keep pushing someone to perform and work who is so unwell.
@@tomshotdogs6645 Discarded probably is the right word though... there is Pink Floyd's "Crying Song", which is a blatant ripoff of this one, except nowhere near as good... there is a reason why Roger prevented this one on being on "Madcap Laughs"... also, I'm guessing he was the one responsible for not letting "Vegetable Man" or "Scream Thy Last Scream" being on "Saucerful of Secrets", cause they would have overshadowed his own songs
Nothing against Roger, he is an amazing musician and I saw him live last year, but I have been in a band with a Roger type myself, so have been through that
Very grateful for Syd and that I gave him time. Some people's songs are good at first and drive you mad as time passes. Syd's drove me mad at first and now I see.
This can only be played imperfectly. He has such an irregular swing would be almost impossible to replicate.
Shine on your crazy diamond..!
Nobody compares to Syd...one of a kind..🙃🌧️
Syd was friggin genius, this is Dylan,Lou Reed,The Beatles&Bowie all rolled in2 1,awesome,brilliant,hauntung&very sad,I'm trying 2find u as well Syd,thank u so much 4what u gave all of us,pure raw talent!!!RIP Syd!!!😢♥️💥
Wow... I’m so glad I discovered Pink Floyd I know this is Syd Barret but if I never discovered Pink Floyd I would have never gotten into as many good bands as I’m into right now... Like my music taste was ass before I discovered them and I would have never loved amazing songs like this... Rest In Peace Syd Barret
Impossible not to cry. It's been a while since the last time I heard this song.
It's crazy how this song even exists, from someone forgotten and disregarded lies here an absolutely unique and incomparable song
he had such great ideas with progression and timing with voice and rythem. all thought out so originally.
Indeed @Charlie Renick. Neither his voice nor the guitar cue each other. They seem totally independent from one another and highlight themselves. It is absolutely brilliant and musical genius. No wonder RW was so thoroughly intimidated by Syd's talent. My god, how could other musicians, lyricists, composers not be....
Yeah very original it was all playing in his mind
@@Hootiebird61 How could he be intimidated if he's just as good
@@Syfoll well, could be if the person who's imitating is just as good.
As an artist, he thought mathematically. The rest of Pink Floyd were mean to hold back Opel for years. Jealous. They copied Syd's style for years. Young people don't even know Syd was the founder of the band. I saw one idiot talking about how "kind" those guys were to keep paying royalties to Syd all the years. He wrote the songs!
On a distant shore, miles from land
Stands the ebony totem in ebony sand
A dream in a mist of gray....
On a far distant shore....
RIP Madcap
You tower above the rest.
My favorite Syd Barrett song.
Syd was a great hero of mine since buying the Piper album in 1971. I have mental health issues so sometimes his stuff is hard to listen to.
You can listen to music from the late 60's and some of dates so bad, but this is extraordinary and truly timeless.
@alwaysknow3356..well put
love the sound of his flimsy guitar pick strumming his electric guitar with no distortion !
Roger Barrett was a brilliant songwriter. He was obviously very ill and I struggled to listen to his stuff because I have issues to. David Gilmour who replaced him in the Floyd did loads to help him - respect !
Wow... This is just amazing...
Sad to know some pink floyd fans dont like Syd's Work.
They are so dumb they don't even know Syd founded Pink Floyd. I always read about bands I like. Education is dead.
@Google Account They tried to copy him on Dark Side of the Moon. Then Roger Waters got a swelled head.
A lot of Syd's fans don't think much of Pink Floyd's later works.
@@mikesaunders4775 because most of the PF discography is about Syd anyways so.....
@@mikesaunders4775 I'm one of them! Anything past perhaps the Final Cut isn't worth listening to in my opinion.
Thank you Syd for everything, never forget, my childhood with your music and of course the music of The Pink Floyd. So personally thing...
This is some obscure beautiful shit right here.
god bless you syd and thanks for the songs
Happy Birthday Syd Barrett! Wish You Were Here.
I am a new Syd fan but I became a huge one really fast
it just happened that I wasn't feeling too well
so I decided to finally give it a rest and stop trying
but I survived that
and then I discovered this song
and now I am trying as well
greetings from Jordan
Greetings from the U.S.A.!!
Wow!! Syd!!! Roll the tape. One take. Done! Pure magic! Beautiful!!
this was take 9
la primera vez que escuché esta canción estuve a punto de cambiarla, a punto: la miré y dije, syd barret, démosle una oportunidad. Sigue eternamente con ese guitarreo que no sabes si es improvisado y mal tocado a propósito o que weá, hasta que lo entiendes todo, hasta que llega a la parte final. Todo ese interludio medio infernal no era más que un desafío que nos conduce al premio que hay después de todo ese camino tortuoso, un premio que te hace llorar raja porque no te lo esperabas, por toda esa preparación previa.
simplemente es hermosa esta canción y agradezco cada segundo cada vez que la escucho por no haberla cambiado.
gracias syd.
Warm shallow water sweeps shells so the cockles shine. Just beautiful.
Absolutely.
What a delight.... I can't get enough of good music. Ethereal Syd
My god how could Waters and Gilmour hear this brilliant gem coming out of the sound room and not bow very low to the man making it?!!!???
Yet,they used it,writing "crying song..."
@@marinam3607 Yup
@Hootiebird61-mainly because they weren't there and had nothing to do with this song which was recorded on the11th april 1969 and produced by malcolm jones
@@damiensuil2183 But they certainly heard the track yet left it off the album.
@@damiensuil2183 They also took over production of the album and certainly heard it.
What a beautiful mind!
I love the interplay between some of the real funky, almost disquieting minor chords, and then the more melodic, almost pop-sounding chords. It is also fascinating to listen to these lyrics. Flies scooping up meat... this really brings home the distasteful reality of an animal decomposing, rather than just conveying the imagery of it, which most more conventional songs might do. It’s like he is trying to connect with or convey the sad reality of the situation in an direct, uncompromising way. He’s not letting us off the hook here. It’s mad genius for sure. And that’s why I love it so much. It’s the blues on hyperdrive; a direct plug in with no filter.
When even the saddest and bleakest of depressing songs won't do
There's always this to turn to
I think the key to this track's resonance, as with much of Syd's music, is the way that it contrasts the bleak and harsh ugliness of mental illness with this beautiful childlike lyrical imagery, and it's this unique combination that makes it sound so sad
Syd is the seed of the strange music that I love. Surrealism, disturbing feelings, unusual tempo and harmony, Bowie, protopunk, Pixies, Nirvana, I see Syd in all of then.
Later Pink Floyd transformed Syd's legacy into cups and t-shirt prints that will alleviate the frustration of the cowards who personify the death of rock: pasteurized rebellion sold in packages,
Exactly!
These kind of people, like S. Barrett, in these moments of... transformation their mind explodes into million pieces, and parts of it reaches some of us like a drop in our still isolated souls. I was born 1973, and I got a drop of this bliss on my head. It is growing to that same ozean of... wonder - and i´m not on drugs right know.
The music bears a witness.
hauntingly beautiful-I love it stark and bare with his brutally honest vocal coda...and yet whenever I listen somehow an imaginary orchestra joins in.
damien suil true the chords sound like horn sections
God.............😢
The last part is so hauntingly achingly beautifuly touching...sigh...oh Syd
Just beautiful
It can take a long time to appreciate the genius of Syd
Lucky for me it was the first song
If the long melancholy outro chord progression doesn't evoke strong emotions, you're probably already dead.
This song will echo through the cosmos forever. Every strum is a revelation. As the decades become centuries more will discover this is music far beyond anyone’s definitions or judgements.
From 3:47 I still to this day picture him singing this part to himself, for himself.
he did!
Sounds like crying song from more
I feel Exactly the same
@@diogopaiva6662 cause Waters stole the idea from exactly this song
syd makes me feel confident abt myself, that i can be happy, that i can be who i am and that is ok..
Whenever my mental health has been poor, I’ve found solace in Syd’s music.
Thank you Syd.
Beautiful. Nothing touches this ! So strange but stunning
I embraced Syd's music in one of the darker moments of my life, thank you so much Syd!
I kept trying because of this song and I'm almost there!
Excellent song. One of the best of Syd. The legacy of a great artist.....
I wish you could see how your legend lives on,all these people on social media, telling their own stories about how your music affected people's lives,all the best Syd
This song... just... kills...me. I recently played it for a friend who has no interest in this sort of thing after explaining the backstory and she actually started crying.
As I have listened to Barrett's work and lyrics pre and post Floyd I have realized the value of a recording artists. My opinion is Syd was a recording artist at heart and he just wanted to make great music once in the studio and move on to other concepts. Gig/tour/fame was too much mentally. Dealing with depression, I get this as depression and schizophrenia have been linked . I play the drums, not in a band, but as a hobby, it's my way of unwinding after I do my professional work and I don't think I have the mental fortitude required (or youth) to perform on that level. So now that I think about this, I get how people say the the demands of the recording industry broke him down and exasperated his mental illness. I wish we lived in a world that more accepting of the Syds of the world. But I guess we must all have our Have a Cigar realizations.
It is one of the most unbelievable and perfect songs ever written.
What a surprise! Syd created something called Pink Floyd.
Still better than anything in the top 40 today. May sound crappy to some, but when you realise that part of the art was to do it in one take, no matter the outcome, you gain a better understanding of the musical genius of the legend.
james i agree u get to understand that genuis slowly
james oh yeah what an artist
Missed terribly
Ri syd
Ok , I did not know about the one take thing . That helps .
@@guitarhole this released version of opel is actually take 9
Linda e tristíssima!
Adoro essa canção.
Syd me deixa emocionado!
So mesmerising
An incredibly beautiful song and, as we all agree, no one but Syd could have written it. Inexplicably left off The Madcap Laughs and had to wait 18 years to see the light of day.
I dont think ive ever heard such a loud plectrum, but it works.
The "washboard" sound (the loud plectrum/pick) is done on purpose, by putting a microphone on it.
It's also in 'Terrapin'.
Look here future self!
this is pure genious
Is everyone trying like me?
Wish this guy had more interviews, or a book, what a interesting musical influencie he is, god bless Syd
Yes, been trying for over 8 years and i feel im almost there ! keep trying!
There arent many interviews of Syd but there are a LOT of books about him.
If you want to know more about him, there's a group on facebook with people who knows a lot about Syd.
You can search for "Birdie hop - The Syd Barrett Group
brilliant...how many musicians influenced by his music..particularly on this one I julian Cope comes to my mind
almost all of them at that time, and many many more afterwards, i reckon. but who knows, how to quantify influence, who knows
Early David bowie
I hope Syd will never be forgotten!
When I was an emotional young lad of 17, loved this song tripping you know
How can this sound like it's from the past AND the future simultaneously?? Genius.