The track consists of several minutes of noises resembling rodents and birds simulated by Waters' voice and other techniques, such as tapping the microphone played at different speeds, followed by Waters providing a few stanzas of spoken word in an exaggerated Scottish burr.
The Picts were the indigenous people of what is now Scotland who merged with the Scots.
There is a hidden message in the song at approximately 4:32. If played at half speed, Waters can be heard to say, "That was pretty avant-garde, wasn't it?". Also, at the very end of the rant, Waters is heard to say, "Thank you."
Several Species of Small Furry Animals Gathered Together in a Cave Grooving with a Pict
Pink Floyd Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Ran it down by the home, and I flew
Well, it slapped me and I flopped it down in the shade
And I cried, cried, cried
The tear had fallen down he had taken, never back to raise
And then cried Mary, and took out wi' your Claymore
Right outta a' pocket, I ran down, down by the mountain side
"Never!," he cried, "Never shall ye get me alive
Ye rotten hound of the burnie crew!"
Well I snatched fer the blade and a Claymore cut and thrust
And I fell down before him round his feet
Aye, a roar he cried fray the bottom of 'is heart
That I would nay fall but as dead
Dead as I can by why' feet, d'ya ken?
And the wind cried back
Pink Floyd's song "Several Species of Small Furry Animals Gathered Together in a Cave and Grooving With a Pict" is a bizarre and surreal track that features disjointed lyrics and bizarre sound effects. The song appears on the album "Ummagumma" and is often viewed as an experimental piece, with nonsensical lyrics that offer little in terms of traditional meaning. However, some have attempted to interpret the lyrics and find meaning in them.
The opening lines of the song describe a person running into a mackerel, slapping it down in the shade, and crying. The next lines introduce "Mary" and "Claymore," suggesting a Scottish setting. The lyrics then describe a battle against a "fiery horde" and the singer's defeat at the hands of an enemy. The song then ends with a mysterious line about the wind.
One interpretation of the song is that it is a metaphor for the human experience, with the singer representing a person struggling against the odds and ultimately failing. The Scottish references may add an extra layer of meaning, potentially suggesting a struggle against a larger force that has overtaken the singer's homeland.
Line by Line Meaning
Aye an' a bit of mackerel, settler rack and down
I found a small fish and brought it home.
Ran it down by the home, and I flew
I ran home quickly.
Well, it slapped me and I flopped it down in the shade
The fish hit me, so I put it in the shade.
And I cried, cried, cried
I cried over the fish.
The tear had fallen down he had taken, never back to raise
I lost the fish and could not bring it back.
And then cried Mary, and took out wi' your Claymore
Mary cried and pulled out her sword.
Right outta a' pocket, I ran down, down by the mountain side
I ran down the mountain with my sword.
Battlin' the fiery horde that was falling around the feet
I fought against a group of enemies at my feet.
"Never!", he cried, "Never shall ye get me alive
The enemy refused to surrender.
Ye rotten hound of the burnie crew!"
The enemy insulted me.
Well I snatched fer the blade and a Claymore cut and thrust
I attacked the enemy with my sword.
And I fell down before him round his feet
I was defeated and fell at the enemy's feet.
Aye, a roar he cried fray the bottom of 'is heart
The enemy let out a fierce roar.
That I would nay fall but as dead
The enemy refused to surrender or be defeated.
Dead as I can by why' feet, d'ya ken?
I will be dead at your feet, do you understand?
And the wind cried back
The wind echoed the enemy's words.
Lyrics © OBO APRA/AMCOS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
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