Personnel
David Gilmour - guitar and vocals
Richard Wright - piano and organ
Roger Waters - bass
Nick Mason - percussion
Wots ... Uh The Deal
Pink Floyd Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Looks alright from where I stand
'Cause I'm the man on the outside looking in
Waiting on the first step
Show where the key is kept
Point me down the right line because it's time
Turn my lead into gold
'Cause there's chill wind blowing in my soul
And I think I'm growing old
Flash the readies
Wot's, uh the deal?
Got to make to the next meal
Try to keep up with the turning of the wheel.
Mile after mile
Stone after stone
Turn to speak but you're alone
Million mile from home you're on your own
So let me in from the cold
Turn my lead into gold
'Cause there's chill wind blowing in my soul
And I think I'm growing old
Fire bright by candlelight
And her by my side
And if she prefers we will never stir again
Someone said the promised land
And I grabbed it with both hands
Now I'm the man on the inside looking out
Hear me shout "Come on in,
What's the news and where you been?"
'Cause there's no wind left in my soul
And I've grown old
The song Wots ... Uh The Deal is a poignant reflection on the human condition, conveying a sense of longing and disconnection from the world, as well as a desire for acceptance and meaning. In the opening lines, we're presented with an idyllic image of the promised land, which the singer views from outside, hinting at a sense of exclusion and loneliness. This is reinforced by the image of the man on the outside looking in, who's waiting for someone to show him the way and let him in from the cold.
The theme of transformation is central to the song, as the singer expresses a desire to turn his lead into gold, which can be interpreted as a metaphor for alchemy, or the process of personal growth and change. The image of a chill wind blowing in his soul adds to the sense of unease and restlessness, indicating a search for something deeper and more meaningful. The singer also recognizes his mortality when he says he thinks he's growing old, further underscoring the fleeting nature of life and the importance of finding purpose and fulfillment.
As the song progresses, the mood shifts from somber to hopeful, as the singer is joined by a companion who offers comfort and solace. This is conveyed by the image of fire bright by candlelight and her by my side, which creates a sense of warmth and intimacy. Finally, the singer achieves his goal of gaining entry to the promised land, becoming the man on the inside looking out, who eagerly welcomes others and embraces new experiences.
Line by Line Meaning
Heaven sent the promised land
I believe that good things will come to me eventually
Looks alright from where I stand
From my current perspective, everything seems fine
'Cause I'm the man on the outside looking in
However, I feel detached and excluded from the good things that seem to be happening around me
Waiting on the first step
I am waiting for a sign, a push in the right direction
Show where the key is kept
I need guidance to find the solution I'm looking for
Point me down the right line because it's time
I need someone to show me the right path to follow because I can't keep waiting forever
To let me in from the cold
I need someone to include me and make me feel wanted and accepted
Turn my lead into gold
I need someone to help me turn something worthless into something valuable
'Cause there's chill wind blowing in my soul
I feel empty and cold inside, like something is missing
And I think I'm growing old
This feeling has been with me for a long time, and it's starting to wear me down
Flash the readies
Show me the money
Wot's, uh the deal?
What's going on, what's the situation?
Got to make to the next meal
I need to keep going in order to survive
Try to keep up with the turning of the wheel.
I need to keep moving forward, even if the world keeps turning and changing around me
Mile after mile
I feel like I've been moving forever
Stone after stone
And yet, I'm not getting anywhere
Turn to speak but you're alone
I try to express myself, but nobody seems to understand
Million mile from home you're on your own
I feel lost and alone, far away from where I belong
Fire bright by candlelight
In this moment, I feel content and happy
And her by my side
With the person I love
And if she prefers we will never stir again
I would be happy to stay here forever if it means being with her
Someone said the promised land
Someone promised me something better
And I grabbed it with both hands
I seized the opportunity wholeheartedly
Now I'm the man on the inside looking out
Now I finally feel like I'm a part of something good
Hear me shout "Come on in
I want to share this feeling with others
What's the news and where you been?"
I want to hear about other people's experiences and connect with them
'Cause there's no wind left in my soul
I finally feel whole and complete
And I've grown old
I've been searching for this feeling for so long that it feels like I've aged in the process
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Peermusic Publishing, Warner/Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: DAVID JON GILMOUR, ROGER WATERS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@GraveyardPoet
Obscured by Clouds is such an underrated album. Perfect music for sitting around drinking beer or for embarking upon epic road trips.
@MsCaleb79
RainyDayMerman the two first songs is the sound of armageddon.
@Bryan8329
Just don’t do both at the same time :)
@isaiahhopkins6053
Pls explain the meaning to the phrase obscured by clouds I know it’s the name of the album but I want the meaning
@William.H.Bonney
Obscured and Animals are my favorite Floyd albums
@sterlingblake7655
I totally agree. perfect for smoking pot too, and don't forget MORE, the Greatest album of all time!
@AnupamRoy
One of the greatest songs by the band. Lyrics, melody, chord progression, singing, piano solo, guitar solo - top notch.
@robertraymond6643
Beautiful song.
@sumitdebnath5342
Absolutely dada .
@joshbernardo4360
Iniiyak mo?