Dark Side of the Moon
Pink Floyd Lyrics


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The lunatic is on the grass.
The lunatic is on the grass.
Remembering games and daisy chains and laughs.
Got to keep the loonies on the path.

The lunatic is in the hall.
The lunatics are in my hall.
The paper holds their folded faces to the floor
And every day the paper boy brings more.

And if the dam breaks open many years too soon
And if there is no room upon the hill
And if your head explodes with dark forebodings too
I'll see you on the dark side of the moon.

The lunatic is in my head.
The lunatic is in my head
You raise the blade, you make the change
You re-arrange me 'til I'm sane.
You lock the door
And throw away the key
There's someone in my head but it's not me.

And if the cloud bursts, thunder in your ear
You shout and no one seems to hear.




And if the band you're in starts playing different tunes
I'll see you on the dark side of the moon.

Overall Meaning

The lyrics to Pink Floyd's "Dark Side of the Moon" are a commentary on mental health and the ways that society alienates and stigmatizes those struggling with mental illness. The repeated line "The lunatic is on the grass" is a reference to the way that people with mental illness are often dismissed as crazy or unstable. The lyrics continue to describe the ways that these individuals are marginalized and isolated from society, forced to stay on "the path" and kept locked away like prisoners.


The second verse further emphasizes this point, with the metaphor of the "folded faces" of the paper representing the way that society tries to keep mental illness hidden from view. The reference to the dam breaking and the head exploding with dark forebodings is a warning that mental illness should not be ignored or pushed to the side, as it has the potential to cause catastrophic damage.


The final verse is a commentary on how mental illness can change a person, with the suggestion that those struggling with it need to be "re-arranged" until they are "sane." However, the line "There's someone in my head but it's not me" suggests that the true nature of mental illness is not fully understood, and that those who suffer from it may feel like they are separate from their own thoughts and feelings.


Overall, the lyrics to "Dark Side of the Moon" are a poignant commentary on mental health and the need for society to better understand and treat those who suffer from mental illness.


Line by Line Meaning

The lunatic is on the grass.
Someone is breaking societal norms and behaving erratically.


Remembering games and daisy chains and laughs.
The person is reminiscing about simpler times and activities associated with childhood.


Got to keep the loonies on the path.
It is important to steer those who are behaving irrationally towards normalcy and stability.


The lunatics are in my hall.
The artist is surrounded by unstable individuals who have lost their grip on reality.


The paper holds their folded faces to the floor
The people who are unstable and unpredictable are contained in one way or another, and their faces are hidden from public view.


And every day the paper boy brings more.
The number of unstable individuals continues to grow, and their stories are continuously circulated in the media.


And if the dam breaks open many years too soon
If disaster strikes unexpectedly and earlier than anticipated.


And if there is no room upon the hill
If there is no place to go to escape or seek safety.


And if your head explodes with dark forebodings too
If you are overwhelmed with negative thoughts and emotions that are difficult to control.


I'll see you on the dark side of the moon.
I will be there to support and understand you during difficult times.


The lunatic is in my head.
The singer is struggling with their own instability and irrational behavior.


You raise the blade, you make the change
Someone is making a dramatic and permanent alteration to the artist or their environment


You re-arrange me 'til I'm sane.
The singer is being manipulated to behave in a more rational and stable manner.


You lock the door
The singer is trapped, either physically or mentally, and is unable to escape their circumstances.


And throw away the key
There is no way to undo the situation or regain control.


There's someone in my head but it's not me.
The artist is unable to control their own thoughts or behaviors and may feel like they are losing their sense of self.


And if the cloud bursts, thunder in your ear
If something unexpected and unsettling happens, causing intense emotional reactions.


You shout and no one seems to hear.
The singer is trying to communicate or seek help but feels ignored and alone.


And if the band you're in starts playing different tunes
If your environment or circumstances change unexpectedly and in ways that you may not agree with or understand.


I'll see you on the dark side of the moon.
I will be there for you during times of turmoil and instability.




Contributed by Riley T. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
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