I was sleeping in the woods on night after a gig we'd played somewhere, when I saw this girl appear before me. That girl is Emily.
-- Syd Barrett, quoted by Nick Kent, New Musical Express, April 13, 1974
Games for may, was a "happening" held at the Queen Elizabeth Hall on May 12, 1967 and Syd was commissioned to write a theme song for the event. Jenner and King felt certain that the result had 'hit' written all over it and suggested Syd rework it for the charts. Needing a new lyrical theme to fill the now redundant chorus line of "Free games for May" Syd looked around him for inspiration and found The Honourable Emily Young, a 16-year-old raver that the UFO crowd had nicknamed "the psychedelic schoolgirl" and looked down upon. Syd echoed this in the opening line: "Emily tries but misunderstands."
-- Jones, "Wish You Were Here".
...'See Emily Play'.... was initially entitled 'Games For May' in honour of the event [a happening] the Floyd had undertaken at the South Bank Queen Elizabeth Hall. "(They) intended this concert to be a musical and visual exploration - not only for themselves but for the audience too," proclaimed the attendant press release and the show did mark a watershed in their career.
-- Brian Hogg, 1993, Crazy Diamond Box Set Booklet
....The tour of America was rife with stories of Syd's eccentric behaviour. The band played on 'American Bandstand' and Syd refused to lip sync the words to 'See Emily Play'. He stood facing the camera, lips impassively shut.
-- "Beyond the Wildwood with Brother Syd", Gian Palacios, originally published in Jakarta Program Magazine (September, 1994).
See Emily Play
Pink Floyd Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
She's often inclined to borrow somebody's dreams till tomorrow
There is no other day
Let's try it another way
You'll lose your mind and play
Free games for May
See Emily play
Soon after dark Emily cries, ah ooh
Gazing through trees in sorrow hardly a sound till tomorrow
There is no other day
Let's try it another way
You'll lose your mind and play
Free games for May
See Emily play
Put on a gown that touches the ground, ah ooh
Float on a river forever and ever, Emily (Emily)
There is no other day
Let's try it another way
You'll lose your mind and play
Free games for May
See Emily play
Pink Floyd’s See Emily Play is a psychedelic song that explores themes of escapism and the endless search for meaning. The song tells the story of Emily, who is constantly struggling to find her place in the world. She tries to understand the world around her but often fails, which leads her to explore alternative realities through borrowing and playing free games for May. Emily is portrayed as a lost soul who is uncertain of her identity and place in the world.
The line “you’ll lose your mind and play” alludes to the concept of LSD-induced hallucinations and the idea of losing oneself in the music and alternate realities. The imagery of Emily gazing through trees in sorrow further reinforces the feeling of disconnection and confusion.
The repetition of “there is no other day, let’s try it another way” implies a sense of urgency and the constant desire to break free from societal expectations and constraints. The line “put on a gown that touches the ground, float on a river forever and ever” is a metaphorical message that suggests the idea of escaping to a better place.
Overall, See Emily Play is a vivid depiction of the journey of self-discovery and the longing for change that can be relatable to many individuals at some point in their lives.
Line by Line Meaning
Emily tries but misunderstands, ah ooh
Emily is trying to understand something, but her confusion is leading her in the wrong direction.
She's often inclined to borrow somebody's dreams till tomorrow
Emily often relies on others to provide her with inspiration or ideas for the future.
There is no other day
Time is limited and Emily needs to make the most of every opportunity.
Let's try it another way
If Emily's current approach isn't working, she needs to be willing to try something new.
You'll lose your mind and play
By fully immersing herself in an experience, Emily can forget her worries and let go of her inhibitions.
Free games for May
Emily should take advantage of her youth and freedom while she can.
See Emily play
By watching Emily live her life to the fullest, others can learn to do so as well.
Soon after dark Emily cries, ah ooh
When Emily is alone and the world is quiet, she often feels sad or overwhelmed.
Gazing through trees in sorrow hardly a sound till tomorrow
Emily often contemplates her life and the world around her, but her thoughts can be dark and lonely.
Put on a gown that touches the ground, ah ooh
Emily likes to dress up and immerse herself in fantasy or imagination.
Float on a river forever and ever, Emily (Emily)
Emily wants to escape the pressures of reality and live in a world of her own design.
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: Syd Barrett
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@Max-ro7sz
Lyrics :
Emily tries but misunderstands, ah ooh
She's often inclined to borrow somebody's dreams till tomorrow
There is no other day
Let's try it another way
You'll lose your mind and play
Free games for may
See Emily play
Soon after dark Emily cries, ah ooh
Gazing through trees in sorrow hardly a sound till tomorrow
There is no other day
Let's try it another way
You'll lose your mind and play
Free games for may
See Emily play
Put on a gown that touches the ground, ah ooh
Float on a river forever and ever, Emily
There is no other day
Let's try it another way
You'll lose your mind and play
Free games for may
See Emily play
@starsky6901
the lunatics are on the grass
@rickrolledtruth5834
Starsky? ahhh give yourself a cookie.... you just connected dots.......
@shihtzupuppy823
OMG 😂🤣
@hippydippychick752
😂
@johnbrowne3950
And every day the paperboy brings more. What are you going to do?
@crazydiamondn3127
😄😄😄
@HPayne62
I don't know what's rarer:
1. Rick messing around.
2. Roger having fun in the presence of David.
@mr.blue7357
I can’t tell if your joking or not cuz that’s kinda sad if your right
@fasuto8656
They didn't like eachother or something
@eclipsed3407
@Fako Gilmour and Roger had a steady relationship but the fallout and clahing of egos beginned during animals.