Part 1 of the song was called "Baby Blues Shuffle in D minor" when played by the band on a BBC broadcast on December 2, 1968; it also strongly resembles the tracks "Rain in the Country (take 1)" and "Unknown Song" recorded (but eventually not used) for the soundtrack of Michelangelo Antonioni's film Zabriskie Point in November/December 1969. This portion features layered acoustic guitar with some spacey effects overtop.
The Narrow Way: Part I
Pink Floyd Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
The darkness in the north
Weary stranger's faces show their sympathy
They've seen that hope before
And if you want to stay for a little bit
Rest your aching limbs for a little bit
For you the night is beckoning
You hear the night birds calling you
But you can't catch the words they say
And you must you realize be on your way
Mystery swelling, creatures crawling
Hear the roar Jer louder in your ears
You know the folly was your own
But the force behind can't conquer all you fears
And if you want to stay for a little bit
Rest your aching limbs for a little bit
For you the night is beckoning and you know
And now you can't delay
You hear the night birds calling you
But you can't catch the words they say
And you must you realize be on your way
Throw your thoughts back many years
To the time when love was life with every morning
Perhaps a day will come when the match
For me the curlers past warning
And if you want to stay for a little bit
Rest your aching limbs for a little bit
For you the night is beckoning
And now you can't delay
You hear the night birds calling you
But you can't catch the words they say
And you must you realize be on your way
The lyrics to Pink Floyd's "The Narrow Way Part I" are shrouded in ambiguity and it could be interpreted in many ways. However, it seems like the song is a narrative about a person walking through a dark and dangerous place. The traveler is guided through the darkness by strangers who have traveled the same path before. The lyrics suggest that the traveler is on his way to confront something and that he cannot afford to delay. He hears the night birds calling him, but he cannot understand what they are saying.
The verses are full of vivid imagery that seems to reflect the traveler's psychological state. The creatures crawling and the loud roar in his ears suggest that the traveler is feeling overwhelmed by his surroundings. The phrase "the folly was your own" hints that whatever the traveler is seeking may have been the result of his own mistakes.
The song ends on a nostalgic note with the traveler remembering the time when love was life, but he knows that he must continue on his journey. The lyrics of the song are powerful and touching, leaving the interpretation up to the listener's own imagination.
Line by Line Meaning
Following the path as it leads toward
Moving forward in life as it takes us towards unknown and scary situations
The darkness in the north
An ominous and unknown destination that lies ahead
Weary stranger's faces show their sympathy
The faces of those who have been through similar situations empathize with the struggle
They've seen that hope before
They have been in similar situations before and have had their hopes dashed, leading to sadness and weariness
And if you want to stay for a little bit
If it is necessary to pause and rest before continuing the journey
Rest your aching limbs for a little bit
Take a break to soothe your tired body and replenish your strength
For you the night is beckoning
The unknown and scary future is calling out to you
And now you can't delay
You cannot put off the journey any longer
You hear the night birds calling you
The unknown and ominous future is speaking to you
But you can't catch the words they say
The message of the future is unclear and difficult to understand
And you must you realize be on your way
It is time to continue on with the journey, despite the uncertainty and fear
Mystery swelling, creatures crawling
The unknown future is beginning to emerge and reveal itself, though it is still vague and frightening
Hear the roar Jer louder in your ears
The ominous sound of the future is growing louder and more scary
You know the folly was your own
The mistakes of the past are haunting you and causing distress
But the force behind can't conquer all you fears
Despite the unknown and scary future, the strength of will is helping to resist and overcome fear
Throw your thoughts back many years
Reflecting on the past and how love was a central element of life
To the time when love was life with every morning
Remembering a time in life when love was the driving force behind everything we did
Perhaps a day will come when the match
Hoping that someday in the future we can find a way to return to the love and purity of the past
For me the curlers past warning
Finding guidance from the past, warning us of the mistakes we have made in the past so that we can avoid them in the future
Lyrics © OBO APRA/AMCOS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@asamax64
Who needs words when you got David
@bluemoon-20
Lol, words may have ruined it! This into The Narrow Way Part 2 (also an instrumental) are mind blowing.
@nsgobbi
I’m 64 this week. Every time I listen to this album I’m time transported to my 11s in 1969. Incredibly remarkable, incredibly fantastic, a scenery from their recording environment materializes before me in all senses. Genius thing.
@bluemoon-20
I hear ya buddy
@finddeniro
I am 66 ..a 1957 model...
Stay strong and Flexible..
@nsgobbi
@@finddeniro 🙏🏼👍👏🏼
@Bellathebear777
@@finddeniro God bless you. ...🙏💖💪🎶🎵✌️🏜️✨
@michelguerinel9692
I'm sixty nine, soon seventy...And the same feeling and emotion. Never find, heard something like this ! We were lucky ...
@moonwind6303
After all these years Ummagumma is still a brilliant album much in it's own class. There is nothing like it.
@anthonyangelis1094
Sysyphus That’s pretty amazing piece of work part 123 and four. Amazing how dark it gets towards the very end. Rick Wright! 🎹❤️👍👍