Pink Floyd was an English rock band formed in London in 1965. Gaining an ea… Read Full Bio ↴Pink Floyd was an English rock band formed in London in 1965. Gaining an early following as one of the first British psychedelic groups, they were distinguished by their extended compositions, sonic experimentation, philosophical lyrics and elaborate live shows. They became a leading band of the progressive rock genre, cited by some as the greatest progressive rock band of all time.

Pink Floyd were founded in 1965 by Syd Barrett (guitar, lead vocals), Nick Mason (drums), Roger Waters (bass guitar, vocals), and Richard Wright (keyboards, vocals). Under Barrett's leadership, they released two charting singles and the successful debut album The Piper at the Gates of Dawn (1967). Guitarist and vocalist David Gilmour joined in December 1967; Barrett left in April 1968 due to deteriorating mental health. Waters became the primary lyricist and thematic leader, devising the concepts behind the band's peak success with the albums The Dark Side of the Moon (1973), Wish You Were Here (1975), Animals (1977) and The Wall (1979). The musical film based on The Wall, Pink Floyd – The Wall (1982), won two BAFTA Awards. Pink Floyd also composed several film scores.

Following personal tensions, Wright left Pink Floyd in 1979, followed by Waters in 1985. Gilmour and Mason continued as Pink Floyd, rejoined later by Wright. They produced two more albums—A Momentary Lapse of Reason (1987) and The Division Bell (1994)—and toured in support of both before entering a long hiatus. In 2005, all but Barrett reunited for a one-off performance at the global awareness event Live 8. Barrett died in 2006, and Wright in 2008. The last Pink Floyd studio album, The Endless River (2014), was based on unreleased material from the Division Bell recording sessions. In 2022, Gilmour and Mason reformed Pink Floyd to release the song "Hey, Hey, Rise Up!" in protest of the Russo-Ukrainian War.

By 2013, Pink Floyd had sold more than 250 million records worldwide, making them one of the best-selling music artists of all time. The Dark Side of the Moon and The Wall were inducted into the Grammy Hall of Fame, and these albums and Wish You Were Here are among the best-selling albums of all time. Four Pink Floyd albums topped the US Billboard 200, and five topped the UK Album Chart. Pink Floyd's hit singles include "See Emily Play" (1967), "Money" (1973), "Another Brick in the Wall, Part 2" (1979), "Not Now John" (1983), "On the Turning Away" (1987) and "High Hopes" (1994). They were inducted into the US Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1996 and the UK Music Hall of Fame in 2005. In 2008, Pink Floyd were awarded the Polar Music Prize in Sweden for their contribution to modern music.

Full Wikipedia article: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pink_Floyd

Studio albums
The Piper at the Gates of Dawn (1967)
A Saucerful of Secrets (1968)
More (1969)
Ummagumma (1969)
Atom Heart Mother (1970)
Meddle (1971)
Obscured by Clouds (1972)
The Dark Side of the Moon (1973)
Wish You Were Here (1975)
Animals (1977)
The Wall (1979)
The Final Cut (1983)
A Momentary Lapse of Reason (1987)
The Division Bell (1994)
The Endless River (2014)

F. Take Up Thy Stethoscope An
Pink Floyd Lyrics

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Doctor doctor!
I'm in bed
Achin' head
Gold is lead
Choke on bread
Underfed
Gold is lead
Jesus bled

Pain is red
Are goon
Grow go
Greasy spoon
You swoon
June bloom

Music seems to help the pain
Seems to cultivate the brain
Doctor kindly tell your wife that

I'm alive, flowers thrive, real eyes, realize
Real lies

Overall Meaning

The lyrics of "Take Up Thy Stethoscope And Walk" are an irate expression of resentment towards the medical profession. The singer is a patient who has been condemned to their bed with an excruciating headache. They question the worthiness of their doctor and whether he was even of any help, referencing the physician's stereotypical love for gold and the usual underfeeding of their patients. The singer uses grim and poetic images to describe the pain, indicating that even Jesus has suffered such agony. The reference to "Greasy Spoon" represents an allusion to a cheap diner often frequented by workers and low-income earners who may not have access to proper healthcare. He sarcastically states that the diner causes people to swoon in delight.

However, the singer finds solace in music, which acts as a painkiller and enhances their mind. The final message in the song is directed towards the doctor's wife. The singer asks the physician to tell their wife that they are alive and well, and despite the pain, flowers thrive. They also remind the Doctor’s wife to realize real lies and not fall for the self-serving lies of the medical profession.

Line by Line Meaning

Doctor doctor!
Addressing a doctor for help.

I'm in bed
Suffering from an illness and lying in bed.

Achin' head
Experiencing pain and discomfort in the head.

Gold is lead
The pursuit of wealth can lead to negative consequences.

Choke on bread
Experiencing difficulty swallowing food.

Underfed
Being malnourished and lacking proper nutrition.

Jesus bled
Making a reference to the crucifixion of Jesus.

Pain is red
Associating the color red with pain.

Are goon
Using nonsensical language and associating with the word 'goon.'

Grow go
Encouraging growth and progression.

Greasy spoon
A disparaging term for a rundown or unsanitary diner.