-- Alan Walsh, "HITS ? THE FLOYD COULDN'T CARE LESS" Melody Maker December 9, 1967.
Jugband Blues is a poignant coda to Syd's tenure as leader of Pink Floyd, the final track on Saucerful Of Secrets, recorded long before work began on the second album in October 1967. When Andrew King heard Syd play it for the first time he was awestruck. An extraordinary hybrid, part jaunty singalong, part melancholic love song, part insane Dadaist freefall, it was, in his view, one of the finest things Syd had ever produced and petitioned for its release as the next single.
It was recorded in two sections at De Lane Lea Studios, the first with the Floyd, the latter just Syd alone with an acoustic guitar. In a moment of sublime clarity he encapsulated the pain of his own deteriorating mental condition in lines like, "I'm most obliged to you for making it clear that I'm not here/And I'm wondering who could be writing this song." Though each line seems to be a non sequitur, they come together into an impression of Syd's advancing illness....
The two parts of the song are bridged by a collage which features the Salvation Army Band of North London who recorded their albums at Abbey Road. Syd had asked Norman Smith for a brass section to play through the bridge and wanted them to play spontaneously, without music. Smith felt the bewilded musicians should be properly scored. It was the only time Syd had a vociferous disagreement with Smith, who finally agreed to record two versions, one with his scored section and one with Syd's instruction to "play whatever you want". Syd, tired of arguing, walked out, leaving Smith to finish the track his way. EMI rejected Jugband Blues as too downbeat to be a single.
-- Jones, "Wish You Were Here".
Jugband Blues
Pink Floyd Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
And I'm much obliged to you for making it clear
That I'm not here
And I never knew we could be so thick
And I never knew the moon could be so blue
And I'm grateful that you threw away my old shoes
And brought me here instead dressed in red
And I'm wondering who could be writing this song
I don't care if the sun don't shine
And I don't care if nothing is mine
And I don't care if I'm nervous with you
I'll do my loving in the winter
And the sea isn't green
And I love the queen
And what exactly is a dream
And what exactly is a joke
Pink Floyd’s “Jugband Blues” is a surreal and introspective song that portrays the singer's confusion about their identity and place in the world. The opening lines convey a tone of gratitude but also confusion, as the singer acknowledges the efforts of someone looking out for them but also affirms that they feel invisible and detached from the world around them. The lines "I never knew we could be so thick/ And I never knew the moon could be so blue," evoke a sense of surprise and disorientation, as the singer becomes aware of details about the world that they had never noticed before.
The next lines are equally mysterious as they describe someone discarding their old shoes and dressing them in red. The line "And I'm wondering who could be writing this song" is a meta-commentary on the creative process of songwriting, highlighting the confusion and disorientation that artists may feel during the process of creating.
The second half of the song is a series of disconnected phrases that further reveal the singer's state of mind. The line "I'll do my loving in the winter" can be interpreted as a reference to seasonal depression, while the line "And what exactly is a dream/ And what exactly is a joke" reflects a broader existential confusion. Overall, "Jugband Blues" is a vivid and introspective portrayal of the emotions and experiences of a person struggling with their identity and place in the world.
Line by Line Meaning
It's awfully considerate of you to think of me here
Thank you for considering my presence here.
And I'm much obliged to you for making it clear
Thanks for making it clear that I'm not present.
That I'm not here
I am not present.
And I never knew we could be so thick
I never knew we could have such a close relationship.
And I never knew the moon could be so blue
I have never seen the moon as blue as it is now.
And I'm grateful that you threw away my old shoes
I appreciate that you got rid of my worn out shoes.
And brought me here instead dressed in red
Thank you for bringing me here dressed in red.
And I'm wondering who could be writing this song
I am curious about the person who wrote this song.
I don't care if the sun don't shine
I am indifferent if the sun does not shine.
And I don't care if nothing is mine
I do not mind if I do not have anything for myself.
And I don't care if I'm nervous with you
I am not worried about feeling nervous with you.
I'll do my loving in the winter
I will express my love during the winter season.
And the sea isn't green
The sea is not colored green.
And I love the queen
I have admiration and respect for the queen.
And what exactly is a dream
I am questioning the definition of a dream.
And what exactly is a joke
I am questioning the definition of a joke.
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: Syd Barrett
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@the.official.vision.company
Jugband Blues - Pink Floyd - Lyrics
[Verse 1]
It’s awfully considerate of you to think of me here
And I’m most obliged to you for making it clear
That I’m not here
And I never knew the moon could be so big
And I never knew the moon could be so blue
And I’m grateful that you threw away my old shoes
And brought me here instead dressed in red
And I’m wondering who could be writing this song
[Verse 2]
I don’t care if the sun don’t shine
And I don’t care if nothing is mine
And I don’t care if I’m nervous with you
I’ll do my loving in the winter
La, la, la, la,
la, la, la, la, la, la, la, la,
la, la, la, la, la, la, la, la, la, la, la, la
[Verse 3]
And the sea isn’t green
And I love the Queen
And what exactly is a dream?
And what exactly is a joke?
@kennylowe7775
It’s awfully considerate of you to think of me here
And I’m most obliged to you for making it clear that I’m not here
And I never knew the moon could be so big
And I never knew the moon could be so blue
And I’m grateful that you threw away my old shoes
And brought me here instead dressed in red
And I’m wondering who could be writing this song
[Verse 2]
I don’t care if the sun don’t shine
And I don’t care if nothing is mine
And I don’t care if I’m nervous with you
I’ll do my loving in the winter
[Verse 3]
And the sea isn’t green
And I love the Queen
And what exactly is a dream?
And what exactly is a joke?
@apratim1998
It's awfully considerate of you to think of me here
And I'm most obliged to you for making it clear
That I'm not here
And I never knew the moon could be so big
And I never knew the moon could be so blue
And I'm grateful that you threw away my old shoes
And brought me here instead dressed in red
And I'm wondering who could be writing this song
I don't care if the sun don't shine
And I don't care if nothing is mine
And I don't care if I'm nervous with you
I'll do my loving in the winter
And the sea isn't green
And I love the queen
And what exactly is a dream
And what exactly is a joke
@Ratelzwatel
0:33 Some new editing during the close-up of Barrett singing "writing this".
The unrestored transfer shows severe frame damage at this point.
They've repeated (reversed?) an undamaged part. As a result, Barrett's eyes blink more than they already did. And also the timing of the background colours stutters.
Despite the severe frame damage, more can be done to restore it (instead of cutting it). And if repeating an undamaged part really is needed, use some digital reworking to keep the flow of Barrett's facial expression and the background lighting.
The footage itself is easy to rework digitally. Luckily, it's just a steady close-up with background colours.
Barrett singing "I'm wondering who could be writing this song" is a very important part of the video and the song.
So, I hope someone will make a better restoration of this part of the footage.
@somedumbass3198
Everything gangsta until Roger pulls out a tuba
@RaisinBran1312
Everyone gangsta till Rick whips out the trombone
@jefffraley7094
Or til Sid dawns a majorette hat and struts with his baton
@atomiccommunistsmedia9424
Ahhh I love Reddit
@alien6812
Everyone gangsta till Roger kicks you out
@B0bCat11
Pink Floyd circle of jerks never fails to us
@blackwing1996
Imagine writing a song about the band slowly phasing you out and playing it alongside that very same band.
This is art.
@EAGLESROCK136
This is definitely one of the most surreal songs ever written. And the song gets more and more bizarre as it goes on, true poetry.
@jimhjortsberg2990
Not even the best one. He also tried to record another song with them around this time called "have you got it yet?". And everytime they would start he changed something in it and threw the rest of the band of track.
They eventually realised he was just trolling them and Waters later did admit that, had he done it a few years prior, he would have laughed at it as a great joke.
@EAGLESROCK136
@Jim Hjortsberg yea as “crazy” as syd was, he was very intelligent and very aware. I would say that he never truly lost his mind but his perception was heavily altered through taking all that acid. It made him seem strange to those closest to him.