It is written by Roger Waters and it is one of the few Pink Floyd's songs not featuring any keyboard. The track "Ibiza Bar" in the same album reprises almost the same theme. Andy Kellman of Allmusic describes "The Nile Song" as "one of the heaviest songs the band recorded".
The chord progression gives a strain of modulations, beginning at A, and then rising a whole step with each repeat, cycling through six different keys, returning to the starting point of A, and continuing the pattern as the song fades out.
The Nile Song
Pink Floyd Lyrics
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When I saw the lady smile
I would take her out for a while
For a while
Oh, my tears wept like a child
How her golden hair was blowing wild
Then she spread her wings to fly
Soaring high above the breezes
Going always where she pleases
She will make it to the islands in the sun
I will follow in her shadow
As I watch her from my window
One day I will catch her eye
She is calling from the deep
Summoning my soul to endless sleep
She is bound to drag me down
Drag me down
The Nile Song by Pink Floyd talks about a man who is standing by the Nile and sees a woman smile. He is fascinated by her and decides to take her out for a while. The man is overwhelmed with emotions and tears start flowing out like a child. The woman has golden hair that blows wild and she spreads her wings to fly. The man follows her from his window and hopes that one day she will catch his eye. However, there is a looming sense of danger as the woman is calling from the deep and summoning the man’s soul to an endless sleep. He fears that she is bound to drag him down.
The lyrics of the song seem to describe the man’s attraction towards someone who is mysterious and free-spirited. He is fascinated by her and wants to follow her, but at the same time, he is aware of the danger that might be associated with her. It could be that the woman is a metaphor for freedom, and the man is drawn to it but at the same time fears its unknown consequences. The Nile river might also symbolize the journey of life, with the man standing at the banks, staring at what lies ahead.
Line by Line Meaning
I was standing by the Nile
I found myself near the river Nile
When I saw the lady smile
I witnessed a woman's happy expression
I would take her out for a while
I'd spend some time with her outside
For a while
For a limited time only
Oh, my tears wept like a child
I cried uncontrollably like a young one
How her golden hair was blowing wild
Her blond hair was blowing uncontrollably
Then she spread her wings to fly
She expanded her wings to take off
For to fly
In order to fly
Soaring high above the breezes
She flew up high over the air currents
Going always where she pleases
Going to wherever she wishes
She will make it to the islands in the sun
She'll reach the islands illuminated by the sun
I will follow in her shadow
I will go after her, staying behind her
As I watch her from my window
As I observe her out the window
One day I will catch her eye
Eventually, I'll get her attention
She is calling from the deep
She's beckoning me from the depths
Summoning my soul to endless sleep
Invoking my spirit into eternal slumber
She is bound to drag me down
She will surely pull me under
Drag me down
Bring me down with her
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
Written by: ROGER WATERS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
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