catherine yronwode identifies the bass and percussion at the beginning of Maisie as deriving from Howlin' Wolf's "Spoonful"
- "The Madcap Laughs: Mick Rock Photo Sessions, 1993
Maisie
Syd Barrett Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Bad luck, bride of a bull
Strode out to meet Maisie in the evening light
Maisie, his illuminous grin put her in a spin
Maisie, lay in the hall
With diamonds and emeralds
Maisie, Maisie
Bad luck the bride of a bull
Maisie lay in the wall with her emeralds
And diamond brooch, beyond reproach
Bad luck bride of a bull
Strode out to meet Maisie in the evening light
Maisie!
The lyrics of Syd Barrett’s “Maisie” appear to be about a woman named Maisie who seems to be in a romantic relationship with a man who is referred to as the “bull”. This man seems to bring bad luck to Maisie as she is described as the “bride of a bull”. The story that unfolds is one of confusion, with Maisie being put in a spin by the man’s illuminous grin.
The lyrics suggest that Maisie is a woman of great wealth, with diamonds and emeralds beyond reproach. However, despite her wealth and presumably her beauty, she seems to be caught up in a toxic and perhaps even dangerous relationship with this man. The line “Maisie lay in the hall” is particularly ominous, leaving the listener uncertain about what has happened to her. It is possible that she has been hurt or even killed by the bull.
The melody of the song is haunting, with a slow and mournful quality that adds to the sense of foreboding that permeates the lyrics. It is not entirely clear what the song is trying to convey, but it is possible that it is a cautionary tale about the dangers of getting involved with the wrong kind of person.
Line by Line Meaning
Maisie, Maisie, Maisie, Maisie
Repeatedly chanting her name, possibly as a form of obsession or fixation
Bad luck, bride of a bull
Referring to Maisie's unfortunate circumstance, possibly being married to an unfaithful or undesirable man
Strode out to meet Maisie in the evening light
Setting the scene of Maisie leaving her home to meet someone in the evening, hinting at a possible rendezvous or secret meeting
Maisie, his illuminous grin put her in a spin
Describing a man's charming and mesmerizing effect on Maisie, potentially leading to her falling under his spell
Maisie, lay in the hall
Placing Maisie in a seemingly vulnerable and exposed location, possibly hinting at her being victimized or trapped
With diamonds and emeralds
Detailing Maisie's possession of valuable jewelry, potentially adding to the story of her misfortune or connecting to the theme of obsession and desire
Bad luck the bride of a bull
Repeating the idea of Maisie being unlucky or cursed, perhaps as a form of foreshadowing or ominous warning
Maisie lay in the wall with her emeralds
Repeating an earlier line but with a slight change in wording to evoke a sense of claustrophobia or entrapment
And diamond brooch, beyond reproach
Continuing the description of Maisie's jewelry but emphasizing their high quality and flawless nature
Maisie, Maisie
Repeating her name twice, perhaps as a form of emphasis or urgency
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
Written by: SYD BARRETT
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@Long-HairedLuigi
I remember the very first time I ever heard this amazing song. ;)
I was just discovering Pink Floyd for the first time, thanks to friends I had heard all the other albums and loved them but hadn't yet heard Syd's work. Then due to the Pink Floyd connection I bought the then-new "Opel". I was interested particularly since someone I knew at the time had written a PF discography, and under Syd's entry "The Madcap Laughs", he had simply written, "You've got to be a big Syd Barrett fan to like this album. It is highly strange and demented. So is his other one."
I wondered whether or not it would end up being one of those truly "dark" albums that I would regret buying.
Instead, I found absolutely nothing "strange" or "demented" about it; I was pleasantly surprised to discover lighthearted songwriting full of imagination, fun and potential. Yes, his voice did seem strange to me at first, but the material is so endearing that I quickly got past that.
So then I bought the double vinyl album, "Syd Barrett", which of course was his first two albums as a double set. Loved it all front to back.
And then I finally heard this song; WOW, what a mindblowingly freaky jam! I loved it! So full of attitude, and actually sort of spooky too, but in a fun, cool way.
This guy's work was so awesome, so imaginative, and so flat-out FUN! ;D
@jasonmoskowitz246
Maisie
(boom)
Maisie x3
Bad luck, the bride of a bull strolled out to meet Maisie (sniff) in the evening light.
Maisie
His luminous grin put her in a spin.
Maisie lay in the hall with diamonds and emeralds.
Maisie x2
Bad luck, the bride of a bull (laughing) strolled out to meet Maisie in the evening light. His luminous grin put her in a spin.
Maisie.
Lay.
In the hall.
With her emeralds.
And a diamond.
(Burp)
Beyond reproach.
(Snort/Whistle/Hoot)
Bad luck.
The bride of a bull strolled out to meet Maisie in the evening light.
Maisie
(Whistle)
@johnhouse9983
ever tried singin' along to this and gettin' it right.... fuckin' impossible
@bac5902
I call syd barret the source of the sound!! Hahah he is still blowing minds in 2020. People are still trying to match his sound
@linbarrett3364
My Mum is Maisie Barrett, she is 93 - she is a very Strong Lady, loved by many. x
@Egill2011
Lin Barrett
God bless you and your mum.
@andreat.2809
A hug to you and your mom, I hope she's still here
@archenema6792
So she would have been 49-50 at the 1975 release date. I would be fascinated to here if she has any interesting stories about things Syd fans might have said to her at the time if you'd be willing to share.
@archenema6792
Oh wait, I see you posted this 4 years ago, so I guess she would have been 53-4. Sorry.
@childofspicygreenhummus
Who was Maisie to syd? A girlfriend? A relative?
@Long-HairedLuigi
I remember the very first time I ever heard this amazing song. ;)
I was just discovering Pink Floyd for the first time, thanks to friends I had heard all the other albums and loved them but hadn't yet heard Syd's work. Then due to the Pink Floyd connection I bought the then-new "Opel". I was interested particularly since someone I knew at the time had written a PF discography, and under Syd's entry "The Madcap Laughs", he had simply written, "You've got to be a big Syd Barrett fan to like this album. It is highly strange and demented. So is his other one."
I wondered whether or not it would end up being one of those truly "dark" albums that I would regret buying.
Instead, I found absolutely nothing "strange" or "demented" about it; I was pleasantly surprised to discover lighthearted songwriting full of imagination, fun and potential. Yes, his voice did seem strange to me at first, but the material is so endearing that I quickly got past that.
So then I bought the double vinyl album, "Syd Barrett", which of course was his first two albums as a double set. Loved it all front to back.
And then I finally heard this song; WOW, what a mindblowingly freaky jam! I loved it! So full of attitude, and actually sort of spooky too, but in a fun, cool way.
This guy's work was so awesome, so imaginative, and so flat-out FUN! ;D
@Long-HairedLuigi
Von Clohk Well it was obvious that his voice was strained upon first hearing it, but listening 2 the material through the vocal - I got used 2 that later - the songs themselves were obviously whimsical in nature & I was able 2 instantly see what they were meant 2 be; the 1 track that did haunt me a bit was what The Soft Machine members chose 2 do with "Clowns & Jugglers (Octopus)", which had a much stranger edge than what appeared on "The Madcap Laughs" - I like it, but can't really understand what those band members thought they were doing with the song, lol. There was 1 part that made me want 2 cry when I first heard it - the beginning of "Birdie Hop", obviously a children's song where at the start his voice was so cracked thar I teared up thinking, "OMG, What a beautiful talent lost 2 all those problems..." But in all, "Opel" didn't sound anything like I had originally thought it would sound like. Rolling Stone called it "spooky", but I call it "an extraordinary talent dealing with difficulties but nevertheless wrote lighthearted songs." ;) Rolling Stone was correct though when they called it an "extraordinary release" that was "a powerful & painful reminder of how much Syd Barrett had 2 share, & just how far out he was pushed on a limb 2 share it." Such a naturally amazing songwriter.