Cymbaline
Pink Floyd Lyrics


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The path you tread is narrow
And the drop is shear and very high
The ravens all are watching
From a vantage point nearby
Apprehension creeping
Like a tube-train up your spine
Will the tightrope reach the end
Will the final couplet rhyme

And it's high time
Cymbaline
It's high time
Cymbaline
Please wake me

The lines converging where you stand
They must have moved the picture plane
The leaves are heavy around your feet
You feel the thunder of the train
Suddenly it strikes you
That they're moving into range
Doctor Strange is always changing size

And it's high time
Cymbaline
It's high time




Cymbaline
Please wake me

Overall Meaning

The lyrics to Pink Floyd's song "Cymbaline" paint a vivid picture of fear and apprehension. The path the singer is treading is narrow and the drop is high, both figuratively and literally. They feel as though they are being watched by ravens from nearby. The apprehension is building within them, like a tube-train moving up their spine. They are unsure if they will complete the tightrope walk and if the final line of the couplet will rhyme.


The second stanza discusses a feeling of disorientation. The lines are converging where they stand, and it feels as though the picture plane has been moved. The leaves around their feet are heavy and they feel the thunder of an oncoming train. They suddenly realize that "they" are moving into range, possibly referring to the ravens mentioned earlier. The reference to Doctor Strange, a Marvel Comics superhero known for his ability to manipulate size and reality, adds to the surreal nature of the lyrics.


Overall, the lyrics to "Cymbaline" seem to be about the fear of the unknown and the uncertainty of the future. The high stakes of the tightrope walk are used as a metaphor for life in general, with the final couplet representing the end of life. The disorientation and surreal imagery add to the sense of uncertainty and unease in the song.


Line by Line Meaning

The path you tread is narrow
The route you have chosen to follow is limited and restricted


And the drop is shear and very high
The distance between the path and the bottom is steep and dangerous


The ravens all are watching
The birds are observing your journey from a nearby viewpoint


From a vantage point nearby
From a point with a clear view of your surroundings


Apprehension creeping
A feeling of anxiety is gradually taking over


Like a tube-train up your spine
Similar to a sensation of pins and needles running through your back


Will the tightrope reach the end
Is there a possibility of reaching your final goal


Will the final couplet rhyme
Can the conclusion of your journey be satisfying and fulfilling


And it's high time
It's about time for something to happen


Cymbaline
Relates to the title of the song and does not have a direct meaning in this context


Please wake me
A plea to be snapped out of a disturbing dream or situation


The lines converging where you stand
Paths or situations appearing to merge into one where you are currently situated


They must have moved the picture plane
The image of your surroundings seems to have shifted due to a change in perspective


The leaves are heavy around your feet
Foliage is weighing you down or hindering your movement


You feel the thunder of the train
A loud, dominant noise that is affecting you physically and mentally


Suddenly it strikes you
An idea or realization occurs to you suddenly


That they're moving into range
A sense that something or someone is approaching you


Doctor Strange is always changing size
A reference to a character who can alter his appearance which adds to the sense of a distorted reality




Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
Written by: DAVE BROCK, NICK TURNER

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
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