I Know Where Syd Barrett Lives
Television Personalities Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
With a little pet dog and a little pet mouse
I know where he lives and I visit him
We have Sunday tea, sausages and beans
I know where he lives
'Cause I know where Syd Barrett lives
He was very famous once upon a time
But I know where he lives and I visit him
In a little hut in Cambridge
I know where he lives
'Cause I know where Syd Barrett lives
And the trees and the flowers are so pretty, aren't they?
He was very famous once upon a time
And no one cares even if he's alive (we do)
But I know where he lives and I visit him
In a little hut by the edge of the wood
Oh shut up!
The song "I Know Where Syd Barrett Lives" by Television Personalities is a tribute to former Pink Floyd member Syd Barrett. The song begins by describing a little man living in a little house with a pet dog and mouse. The singer declares that he knows where this man lives because he also knows where Syd Barrett lives. This suggests that the little man is actually Syd Barrett himself, living a quiet life in seclusion after his time in the spotlight.
The second verse reinforces this idea by acknowledging that Syd Barrett was once very famous, but now no one knows if he is even alive. The singer claims to visit him regularly in a little hut in Cambridge, where they have Sunday tea of sausages and beans. The final line of the verse, "I know where he lives/cause I know where Syd Barrett lives," reinforces the idea that the little man is Syd Barrett.
The final verse breaks from the song's narrative structure to comment on the beauty of the scenery around Syd Barrett's home. The singer bemoans the fact that no one cares if he is alive anymore, but remains steadfast in his devotion to visiting him regularly. Overall, the song presents a touching portrait of a once-famous musician living a quiet, peaceful life out of the public eye.
Line by Line Meaning
There's a little man in a little house
A description of the person the singer visits.
With a little pet dog and a little pet mouse
Additional details about the person's pets.
I know where he lives and I visit him
The singer is familiar with the person and visits often.
We have Sunday tea, sausages and beans
The singer and the person they visit have Sunday meals together.
I know where he lives
Repetition of the previous statement for emphasis.
'Cause I know where Syd Barrett lives
The reason the singer knows where the person lives is because they know where Syd Barrett, a famous musician, lived.
He was very famous once upon a time
A statement about Syd Barrett's past fame.
But no one knows even if he's alive
There is uncertainty about Barrett's current status.
But I know where he lives and I visit him
The singer is familiar with Barrett's whereabouts and visits him.
In a little hut in Cambridge
Details about Barrett's residence.
I know where he lives
Repetition of the previous statement for emphasis.
'Cause I know where Syd Barrett lives
Reiteration of the reason the singer knows where the person they visit lives.
And the trees and the flowers are so pretty, aren't they?
A comment on the natural beauty of the area where the person lives and Barrett's hut by extension.
And no one cares even if he's alive (we do)
Contradictory statements on the sentiment towards Barrett's wellbeing.
In a little hut by the edge of the wood
Further details on the location of Barrett's dwelling.
Oh shut up!
A possible reaction to someone interrupting the singer.
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
Written by: DANIEL TREACY
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@stephenbrown318
I actually knew where Syd lived; We lived on Hill's Ave Cambridge while I was researching for my Masters and my then girlfriend (now my wife) was on an industrial placement at the Plant Breeding Institute. I used to pass Syds house virtually every evening on my way to the local off licence to buy our evening meals bottle of cheap Bulgarian red (which incidentally was very nice); the licensee told me Syd hated any unannounced visitors; so, although I really wanted to meet him, I respected his privacy. There was a story going around the neighbourhood at the time that Syd had attacked his neighbours garden fence with an axe,
@brianking2365
Careful With That Axe, Eugene
@goonfish1704
You should have left him a letter telling him you’re a fan of his and you’d love to have a cup of tea with him or something, very cool of you to respect the guys privacy though. I think in his later years he just needed a friend that understood him, a friend that was never part of Pink Floyd. Even if the lads in PF cared for him, they would have never been able to help in my opinion. Hope you and your wife are doing well too mate, love comments like this makes me feel a bit better about the current state of things.
@sharonwhite4751
Those East European wines were lovely, weren’t they? I often wonder what became of them.
@Commander_Bunny
He lived got a short while in my Home Town of Fairfax, California...and so did Peter Tork as well, I saw Syd at ine of the local watering holes that Peter played in a handful of time.....well twice if that could be considered a "handful?....
@starstuff89
any coincidence that this sounds strikingly like an acoustic version of "brain damage" from dark side of the moon?
@sonial1839
I remember Roger Waters playing ''Brain Damage'' acoustic at ''seven ages of rock'' and it truly sounded totally like this
@suzyjohnson2898
Bless Syd, the house, the doggy and the little mouse <3
@youandwhosearmy6339
Didn't realise it at the time, but this is Dan saying "I know what Syd went through" or something like that. it isn't a piss take at all. Massive fan of the Floyd and TVP and it very much depends on my mood who i'm listening to the most
@arrangrant6037
Apparently they upset the rest of Pink Floyd when the they read out Syd’s address when performing this at one of their gigs