- Syd Barrett, Terrapin 9, p. 8.
G.D.:In "No Man's Land" on 'Madcap' there's a long spoken part which is barely audible, like the faded lyrics of "Astonomie Domine", was the intention to abstract the words into just background noise?
S.B.: Originally the words were meant to be heard clearly, but we went and actually did it, that's how it came out, which wasn't really how I'd planned it.
Giovanni Dadomo interview with Syd, July and August 1974 Interview with Syd Barrett c. 1971; unpublished until Terrapin 9/10) p. 8.
Shirley and Willie Wilson, the former Jokers Wild drummer, were both drafted into the making of the LP midway through April, helping in the recording of 'No Man's Land', with its incoherent spoken piece.
-- "The Madcap Laughs: Mick Rock Photo Sessions, 1993
No Man's Land
Syd Barrett Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
You even try
You would hold another hand:
Oh understand!
They even see me under call
We under all,
We all feel awful cruel
To hear my hour
Just searching you even try
I can make you smile
If it's there will you go there too?
When I live I die!
They even see me under call
We under all, we awful, awful, crawl
Because of you, to see me be
The lyrics to Syd Barrett's song "No Man's Land" are open to interpretation, but one possible meaning is that the singer is asking for understanding and empathy from someone they care about. The repetition of "you even try" suggests that the singer feels like they are not being heard or seen by their loved one, but still wants to be close to them. The line "we all feel awful cruel" could indicate that the singer is struggling with feelings of guilt or self-doubt, and is looking for reassurance from their companion.
The phrase "under call" is a bit more elusive, but it could refer to feeling trapped or controlled by outside forces, either societal or personal. The repetition of "awful" suggests that the singer feels overwhelmed by negative emotions, but is still desperately seeking connection with the people around them. The final line, "because of you, to see me be," could be interpreted in a few different ways, but it could mean that the singer wants to be their true self around this person, but feels like they can't because of the distance between them.
Overall, "No Man's Land" is a haunting song that captures the feeling of being stuck in a liminal space, longing for connection but feeling helpless to find it.
Line by Line Meaning
You would hold your head up high
You try to maintain a positive attitude.
You even try
Despite difficult circumstances, you still try to persevere.
You would hold another hand: Oh understand!
You seek emotional support from others.
They even see me under call
Other people notice when you are struggling.
We under all, We all feel awful cruel
Everyone experiences moments of pain and unkindness.
To hear my hour
To witness someone's emotional distress.
Come see me cry
You want others to witness and acknowledge your emotional pain.
Just searching you even try
You continue to search for happiness and meaning in your life.
I can make you smile
You have the ability to bring joy and happiness to others.
If it's there will you go there too?
You wonder if others will share in your joy and happiness.
When I live I die!
Even in moments of happiness and success, there is always the possibility of pain and failure.
They even see me under call
Others can recognize when you are in pain or struggling.
We under all, we awful, awful, crawl
Everyone is susceptible to moments of weakness and frailty.
Because of you, to see me be
You depend on others for emotional support and validation.
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
Written by: SYD BARRETT
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@andrewhaines3259
@Zan Atoll Tell me, tell me, tell me, you need - need me so well
Shut your shop, shut your shop, listen, listen,
the horizon glows like a dove and I see
From a mild, shiny ocean, choke and weave in a spinning wheel
Pick up and tell love to me, open your door
Musty sugar with dust making stale it crows the near day
The Cockerell, listen, listen, short choose of play,
Freedom of emotions and cracking my spleen 'cos we be us
Is wishing - pick up and tell love to me - open your door
Find - all I wish is shiver and whine the mean
could no notice to be as they be
Give a lot - listen listen - the grave sing you her song -
heavily spaced
All the crockery, china, war and spreading a spinning wheel
Opening, what a roll but you open the door, some time, long ago
Stream cool shallow water - seen a lot, seen a lot
@HidastaaAmCz
You would hold your head up high
You even try
You would hold another hand
Oh, understand
They even see me under call
We under all, we awful, awful, crawl
To hear my hour don't see me cry
Just searching you even try
I can make you smile
If it's there, will you go there too?
When I live, I die
They even see me under call
We under all, we awful, awful, crawl
Because of you, to see me be
@dbyrd
"Tell me, Tell me
Don't, if you? /(Yippee?)
Stop that, that just upset yourself
Listen, Listen, if you ask in person
I'll stick to the joke, you know
yelling and screaming, help me!
All that in the afternoon, for that matter
So she'd asked if we could stay with Grace
Maybe a day or a couple of weeks
You know, until Tuesday
Pick up my mushrooms
Clean my skin up
Pick up some tissue
Pick up the production
It's all fine! you know
And she served the wine
and cups for 3 or 4 people
And that nonsense
Gracie do her song, heavily spaced
All the pink shine on war
Explodes from beneath
Don't you would rather
Be out the front door sometime
Long ago instead of being
Cooped up like a catched rat."
@juanrobertonavarro650
My favorite song of the Album. Syd was one of the greatest songwriters of all time.
@EpicMauve
juan roberto Navarro your not Jim Morrison !
@toyaquiyvoyaya
yes he is.
@713ddc
You're* on my pissy diamond
@LosHuxleys
He’s up there with Dylan and Tim Buckley
@djinnmagik
I LOVE SYD BARRETT RIP 🧸
@nowhirr8135
The fuzz & distortion on the guitars really makes this track
@madcaplaugh79
I love the way his guitar sounds, spacey and dream like, nobody sounds quite like him.
@c.chelseathedog7987
Nobody !!…I ´ve tried!😇
C.& Chelsea the Dog.
🐉🔬🐲…🍄
@omnirath
@@c.chelseathedog7987old fuzzy fuzz box into octavia into tape delay, people say he used a selmer buzztone, he didn’t he used an homemade one instead but the selmer is a very decent for reproducing his sound
Good amount of shrooms helps too