On 23 June, a brief sound collage had been pieced together featuring parts recorded from completed songs by that date. Not much work would continue. Waters later began to compile a series of questions that tied to the concept of the album. He would begin asking people he knew these questions and tape the responses. One of these questions included “What’s your favourite colour?", which was intended to ease the interviewee into the conversation. The questions would then escalate to questions like, “When was last time you thumped someone?", "Why did you do it?", "Are you frightened of dying?", “Do you think you’re going mad?”, and "What do you think of the dark side of the moon?".
On 1 November, while Paul McCartney was in one of the other studios recording "Red Rose Speedway", Waters decided to ask McCartney the questions, taping his answers. The song would be worked on during the same day. Later, while mixing the album in late January 1973, the inclusion of McCartney on the song was vetoed. This was because Waters felt his responses were too defensive and professional. Clary Torry's vocals on "The Great Gig in the Sky", which was recorded on 21 January 1973, would also be added to the collage.
The song itself is a sound collage, which features no lyrics (although it contains parts of the conversation tapes that Pink Floyd recorded, as well a short snippet of Clare Torry's vocal performance on "The Great Gig in the Sky"), and consists of a series of sound effects. It leads into the first performance piece on the album, "Breathe". As a result, they are usually played together on the radio, and most later re-releases merge the two songs.
Noticeable sound and instrument effects include:
- Heartbeat; this can also be heard at the end of "Eclipse"
- Clock ticking, also heard in "Time"
Manic laughter of Peter Watts, also heard in "Brain Damage"
- Cash register, also heard in "Money"
- Helicopter noise, also heard in "On the Run"
- Clare Torry's scream, also heard in "The Great Gig in the Sky"
- Backwards piano chord, which leads into "Breathe"
Spoken Parts:
"I've been mad for fucking years, absolutely years. I've been over the edge for yonks, been working with bands so long. I think 'Crikey'.
I've always been mad, I know I've been mad, like the most of us have. Very hard to explain why you're mad, even if you're not mad."
Speak to Me
Pink Floyd Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Been over the edge for yonks
Been working with bands so long, I think 'Crikey'
I've always been mad, I know I've been mad
Like the most of us, very hard to explain why you're mad
Even if you're not mad
The opening lines of the song "Speak to Me" by Pink Floyd demonstrate the lyricist's personal struggles with mental health issues. The lyrics indicate a long-standing state of madness, which suggests an ongoing struggle with mental illness. The use of the word "fucking" also emphasizes a level of intensity and frustration that one feels when dealing with such issues. The lyricist has been proverbially "over the edge" for a long time, indicating a loss of control or the feeling of being at the end of one's rope. Still, the lyricist has been "working me buns off for bands," which suggests that despite their struggles with mental health, they are still fighting their way through life.
The following lines suggest that the lyricist knows they have been "mad" for a long time, and this madness is hard to explain. The use of "the most of us" suggests that mental health issues are common and that it is challenging to articulate or understand them. The use of the word "mad" instead of "crazy" or "insane" also suggests the societal stigma surrounding mental health issues in the past. Overall, "Speak to Me" conveys a deep sense of pain and confusion regarding mental health and the way society views it.
Line by Line Meaning
I've been mad for fucking years, absolutely years
I have been insane for a very long time, without any specific time frame.
Been over the edge for yonks
I have reached a state of insanity for a long time.
Been working me buns off for bands
I have been working hard for musical groups.
I've always been mad, I know I've been mad
I have always been insane and I am aware of that.
Like the most of us, very hard to explain why you're mad
Like many people, it is difficult to explain the reason behind my insane state of mind.
Even if you're not mad
Even if you are not insane.
Lyrics © T.R.O. INC.
Written by: Waters Mason
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
John Nahory
on Sheep
the lyrics were on the inner sleeve of the album. the first word of the song is "Harmlessly" not "Hopelessly" as stated above. its an important word because at the end of the song, after the sheep rise up and take over, the lyrics say "You better stay home and do as you're told. Get out of the road if you want to grow old" because the sheep are not harmless any more. now that they are in control they are no better than the dogs and pigs they displaced. Its a big part of the meaning behind the whole Album. And what an amazingly written album it is.
David G. Morris
on One of My Turns
Oh my God! What a fabulous room! Are all these your guitars?
Expressing amazement at seeing many guitars in a fabulous room.
I'm sorry sir, I didn't mean to startle you
Apologizing for startling someone.
This place is bigger than our apartment
Stating the obvious, that the place is bigger than an apartment.
Let me know when you're entering a room
Requesting to be informed before anyone enters the room.
Yes sir
Replying affirmatively to a question made by someone.
Um, Can I get a drink of water?
Asking for permission to drink water.
I was wondering about
Starting a sentence with no clear substance or direction.
You want some, huh?
Asking if someone wants something.
Oh wow, look at this tub? Do you want to take bath?
Expressing amazement at seeing a tub and asking if someone wants to take a bath.
I'll have to find out from Mrs. Bancroft what time she wants to meet us, for her main
Saying you have to check with Mrs. Bancroft to find out the time she wants to meet for her main meal.
What are watching?
Asking someone what they are watching.
If you'll just let me know as soon as you can Mrs Bancroft
Requesting to be informed as soon as possible by Mrs. Bancroft.
Mrs Bancroft
Mentioning the name of someone.
Hello?
Answering the phone, asking for a greeting.
I don't understand
Admitting not to comprehend something.
Are you feeling okay?
Asking someone if they are feeling alright.
Day after day, love turns grey
Expressing the monotony of love over time.
Like the skin of a dying man
Comparing the color of love to the skin of a dying man.
And night after night, we pretend its all right
Continuing the theme of monotony, pretending things are alright.
But I have grown older and
An admission of aging.
You have grown colder and
An admission of emotional distance between two people.
Nothing is very much fun any more
Stating that nothings as fun as it used to be.
And I can feel one of my turns coming on
Sensing the onset of an unusual behavior pattern.
I feel cold as a razor blade
Describing the feeling of being cold as a razor blade.
Tight as a tourniquet
Describing the feeling of being tight as a tourniquet.
Dry as a funeral drum
Describing the feeling of being dry like a funeral drum.
Run to the bedroom,In the suitcase on the left You'll find my favorite axe
Instructing someone to bring a suitcase and in it is an axe.
Don't look so frightened This is just a passing phase One of my bad days
Assuring someone that you are only having one of your bad days and that it'll pass.
Would you like to watch T.V.?
Asking if someone would like to watch T.V.
Or get between the sheets?
Asking if someone would rather lie in bed.
Or contemplate the silent freeway?
Asking if someone wants to think about something peaceful.
Would you like something to eat?
Asking if someone wants to eat.
Would you like to learn to fly? Would'ya?
Would you like to jump off the building & die?
Would you like to see me try?
Would you like to see me jump off the building & die?
Would you like to call the cops?
Asking if someone wants to call the police.
Do you think it's time I stopped?
Asking if someone thinks you should stop.
Why are you running away?
Asking why someone is running away.
Amicus Colloquii
on Comfortably Numb
I mean, don’t work so hard guys - watch the TheWall. This is just a literal recounting of the scene where they slam some dope into Bob Geldoff’s character and send him out there to do his Hitler thing his demagogue performance
Thang Leminh
on Wearing the Inside Out
Trần trụi dễ thương....
Thang Leminh
on Hey You
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