Guitarist David Gilmour composed the track, and Roger Waters wrote the lyrics. This song also features slide guitar work by Gilmour. The song begins and ends in the key of E Major, with a darker middle section (following the lyric, "and the candle dies") in E minor.
According to Nick Mason, the song's title originates from a possible hand in the game of Mahjong, with which the band had become enamoured while touring.
In this particular song the lyrics refer to an eiderdown, a material made from the down feathers of the Eider duck that is used for clothing and bedding purposes. Several earlier Pink Floyd songs make reference to eiderdown, including Flaming and Julia Dream.
A Pillow of Winds
Pink Floyd Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Draws around me
Softening a sound
Sleepy time, and I lie
With my love by my side
And she's breathing low
And the candle dies
When night comes down, you lock the door
The book falls to the floor
As darkness falls and waves roll by
The seasons change, the wind is warm
Now wakes the owl, now sleeps the swan
Behold a dream, the dream is gone
Green fields, a cold rain is falling
In a golden dawn
And deep beneath the ground
The early morning sounds
And I go down
Sleepy time, when I lie
With my love by my side
And she's breathing low
And I rise, like a bird
In the haze, when the first rays
Touch the sky
And the night winds die
In Pink Floyd's "A Pillow of Winds", the song perfectly captures the essence of escaping the mundane world and entering a tranquil and serene setting, signaling a change of season from winter to summer. The opening verse establishes the song's melodic and dreamlike tone, as the singer describes his surroundings as a pillow of eiderdown that hushes sounds and transports him to sleepy time next to his lover who's quietly breathing. When the candle goes out, it intensifies the moment's peacefulness and depth.
As night falls, and the waves roll by, the mood shifts, and a note of melancholy lingers. The change of season from winter to summer is evoked when the swan sleeps and the owl wakes, symbolizing the end of traditional winter sleep and the start of spring. The book falling to the floor epitomizes the expectation of laid-back evenings, and the idea of losing oneself and diving into nature. Green fields and golden dawn signify a sense of awakening, where the singer expects a new beginning.
Line by Line Meaning
A cloud of eiderdown
The singer is enveloped in a soothing and comforting atmosphere.
Draws around me
The singer feels protected and safe within this environment.
Softening a sound
The environment quells all distracting sounds and distractions.
Sleepy time, and I lie
The artist is in a drowsy state, ready to sleep.
With my love by my side
The artist has their beloved with them, creating a sense of togetherness.
And she's breathing low
The singer hears their beloved's calm and peaceful breathing.
And the candle dies
The light has faded away, marking the arrival of night or the end of a phase.
When night comes down, you lock the door
The artist or someone else secures the environment to prevent intrusions.
The book falls to the floor
The artist or someone else gets distracted and drops a book on the floor.
As darkness falls and waves roll by
Nighttime arrives, accompanied by the sound of waves in the distance.
The seasons change, the wind is warm
Time passes, and the weather shifts to a warmer temperature.
Now wakes the owl, now sleeps the swan
Animals are active or dormant according to their natural rhythm.
Behold a dream, the dream is gone
The singer had a dream but now it has ended or lost its potency.
Green fields, a cold rain is falling
The environment is natural and organic, but also slightly adverse due to the cold rain.
In a golden dawn
The singer witnesses a beautiful sunrise.
And deep beneath the ground
An unknown entity lurks beneath the surface.
The early morning sounds
The artist hears the natural sounds of morning approaching.
And I go down
The singer descends, either actually or metaphorically.
Sleepy time, when I lie
The singer is still drowsy and ready for sleep.
With my love by my side
The beloved is still present, providing comfort.
And she's breathing low
The beloved is still peacefully sleeping.
And I rise, like a bird
The artist wakes up and feels as if they are flying freely.
In the haze, when the first rays
The singer witnesses a foggy, dreamlike environment illuminated by the first rays of the sun.
Touch the sky
The sun rises above the horizon, creating a beautiful natural spectacle.
And the night winds die
The breezes of the night recede and give space to a peaceful, silent environment.
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management
Written by: David Jon Gilmour, George Roger Waters
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
비정한세상
Pink Floyd-A Pillow Of Winds
바람의 배게..
(1971 [Meddle ] UK)
A cloud of eider down
솜이불같은 구름이
Draws around me softening the sound
부드러운 소리를 내며 날 둘러싸
Sleepy time in our life With my love by my side
내 옆에 연인을 두고 내 삶의 졸린 시간이 오지
And she's breathing low And the candle dies.
그리고 그녀가 낮게 숨 쉬고 촛불은 꺼지네
When night comes down, you lock the door
밤이 오면, 당신은 문을 잠가
The book falls to the floor
책은 바닥으로 떨어지지
As darkness falls and waves roll by
어두워지고 물결이 지나가면,
The seasons change. The wind is warm.
계절이 바끠고, 바람은 따뜻해지지.
Now wakes the owl, Now sleeps the swan
이제 올빼미는 깨어나고, 백조는 잠이 들지
Behold a dream, the dream is gone
꿈을 주시해봐, 꿈은 지나가버렸어
Green fields
푸른 들판
A cold rain is falling Near the golden dawn.
황금빛 여명 가까이로 찬비가 내리고 있어
And deep beneath the ground
그리고 대지 아래 깊이
The early morning sounds and I go down
이른 아침의 소리가 들리면, 난 내려가
Sleepy time in our life With my love by my side
내옆에 연인을 두고 내 삶의 졸린 시간이 오지
And she's breathing low
그녀는 나지막이 숨을 쉬고 있어
And I rise like a bird In the haze
그리고 내가 아지랑이 사이로 새처럼 떠오르면
And the first rays touch the sky
첫 빛살이 하늘에 닿지
And the night winds die.
그리고 밤바람은 사라지네...
Denise O
My favorite song…I first listened to it in 1972. I am 71 years old now. Still my favorite.
Chimonay Roodt
Thankfull to have gotten this amazing music from such a long time ago! Im turning 30 this year and Ive been listening to Pink Ployd since I can remember. Music unites us! Love from South Africa. X 🖤
Derek Smith
Im 54 and grew up in the 80s, but listened to 60s and 70s Rock. This song and "Fearless", off the same album, has always resonated with me. I love most all Pink Floyd, but these mellow songs are always welcome.
Downswing Player
It must break your heart to listen to today's music.
Madge Russell
I have 14 years on you, and it's still my favorite, too. Poetry, story, music …
nanda gilmour
this song makes me sleep 🌧
RatBones
So different from a lot of Floyd’s discography but I love it. Meddle is a very underrated album in my opinion.
Roscoe Media
It's is due a reappraisal imo.its a magnificent album.
Mark Thompson
@Roscoe Media
No a reprisal would see this masterpiece cut too bits by some drum n bass Nutter who wouldn’t do it justice 👍✌️🇬🇧
Roscoe Media
@Mark Thompson I like drum n base...??