Song Lyric Sunday — The Dark Side of the Moon

Fandango

For this week’s Song Lyric Sunday, Jim Adams has given us the theme words “clear,” “dark,” and “light.” I am going with “dark,” and I’m going to choose the same song I chose for a Song Lyric Sunday post I did in January 2018 when Helen Vahdati was still hosting SLS. The theme she gave us that day was “madness,” and the song I selected was Pink Floyd’s song “Brain Damage.” This time, though, I’m using that same song, not because of its connection to “madness,” but because (1) it’s a classic, and (2) the song contains the line, “I’ll see you on the dark side of the moon.”

“Brain Damage” was a track from English rock band Pink Floyd’s 1973 album The Dark Side of the Moon. The song was written by Roger Waters, who also performed the vocals on the track. The song was never released as a single.

Waters wrote the insanity-themed song based on former Pink Floyd frontman Syd Barrett’s mental instability. The line, “The lunatic is on the grass” reflects society’s contempt for “uncustomary” behavior. Normal, sane people walk on the path, while the man who steps on the grass is the “lunatic.”

Similarly, the moon has often been associated with insanity and darkness, and in the line, “I’ll see you on the dark side of the moon,” Waters was expressing that he could relate to Barrett’s feelings and to his form of madness.

The line, “And if the band you’re in starts playing different tunes,” is a specific reference to Syd Barrett’s propensity for playing the wrong song on stage during his “episodes.”

Many people consider “Brain Damage” and “Eclipse” to be one song because they run seamlessly together at the end of the monumental album and radio stations usually play them together. The video clip above has both songs included.

Here are the lyrics to “Brain Damage.”

The lunatic is on the grass.
The lunatic is on the grass.
Remembering games and daisy chains and laughs.
Got to keep the loonies on the path.

The lunatic is in the hall.
The lunatics are in my hall.
The paper holds their folded faces to the floor
And every day the paper boy brings more.

And if the dam breaks open many years too soon
And if there is no room upon the hill
And if your head explodes with dark forebodings too
I’ll see you on the dark side of the moon.

The lunatic is in my head.
The lunatic is in my head
You raise the blade, you make the change
You re-arrange me ’til I’m sane.
You lock the door
And throw away the key
There’s someone in my head but it’s not me.

And if the cloud bursts, thunder in your ear
You shout and no one seems to hear.
And if the band you’re in starts playing different tunes
I’ll see you on the dark side of the moon.

“I can’t think of anything to say except…
I think it’s marvelous! HaHaHa!”

25 thoughts on “Song Lyric Sunday — The Dark Side of the Moon”

  3. Richmond Road August 16, 2020 / 5:38 am

    Back in the 80’s in Oz (or was it the 70’s? I can’t remember) a small hippie community established itself north of Brisbane in the coastal township of Yeppoon. In stark contrast to this community, wealthy developers established a high-priced tourist resort on Great Keppel Island, which sat on the horizon to the south-east. A pal of mine wrote about it …. ‘The Dark Side of Yeppoon’ (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bwL2bZE1imE)

    ‘Oh, island in the sun
    On the dark side of Yeppoon there’s one’

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply
  6. newepicauthor August 16, 2020 / 7:52 am

    Tidal forces from Earth have slowed the Moon’s rotation to the point where the same side is always facing the Earth, however only during a full Moon (as viewed from Earth) is the whole far side of the Moon dark. Great choice Fandango.

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply
  8. Lisa Coleman August 16, 2020 / 12:45 pm

    I think the video needs to be updated with nothing but Trump! This song should be dedicated to him. The biggest lunatic America has ever seen. We are living the dark side of the moon right now. Great choice today! 🙂

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply
    • Fandango August 16, 2020 / 10:38 pm

      I agree. The lunatic isn’t on the grass, he’s in the Oval Office!

      Liked by 1 person

      Reply
      • Lisa Coleman August 17, 2020 / 7:50 am

        Yeah and hopefully for not much longer. We still have to get to November and then to January! It just blows me away that as soon as you think the most lunatistic thing has happened, that he goes a tops it. Surrealistic!

        Liked by 1 person

        Reply
      • Lisa Coleman August 17, 2020 / 9:13 am

        I don’t disagree with any of that. I just can’t sit and listen to it or watch it. Trump needs to be taken down by the voters in November. I think we have more power than people give us credit for and credit for themselves. We are not helpless. We can do something about it and get him out of there! 🙂

        Liked by 1 person

        Reply
  9. aisasami August 17, 2020 / 5:53 am

    My parents bought me the Japanese version of The Dark Side of the Moon when I was in elementary school, but I think they were more excited for the album than I was. The Dark Side of the Moon is a great album, just not my cup of tea. But, it still is a good listen! Nice job!

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply
    • Fandango August 17, 2020 / 1:08 pm

      I just heard that it is rated as the number one best vinyl album of all time. I just can’t remember who rated it as #1.

      Like

      Reply
  10. leigha66 August 19, 2020 / 7:06 pm

    I have never heard the full album of the Dark Side of the Moon, but I did have the Wall… some amazing music Pink Floyd made!

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply
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