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Set the Controls for the Heart of the Sun Lyrics
Little by little the night turns around
Counting the leaves which tremble at dawn
Lotuses lean on each other in yearning
Under the eaves the swallow is resting
Set the controls for the heart of the Sun
Over the mountain watching the watcher
Breaking the darkness, waking the grapevine
One inch of love is one inch of shadow
Love is the shadow that ripens the wine
Set the controls for the heart of the Sun
The heart of the Sun, the heart of the Sun
The heart of the Sun, the heart of the Sun
The heart of the Sun, the heart of the Sun
The heart of the Sun, the heart of the Sun
The heart of the Sun, the heart of the Sun
The heart of the Sun, the heart of the Sun
Witness the man who raves at the wall
Making the shape of his question to Heaven
Whether the sun will fall in the evening
Will he remember the lesson of giving?
Set the controls for the heart of the Sun
The heart of the Sun, the heart of the Sun
The heart of the Sun, the heart of the Sun
The heart of the Sun, the heart of the Sun
The heart of the Sun, the heart of the Sun
The heart of the Sun, the heart of the Sun
The heart of the Sun, the heart of the Sun
The heart of the Sun, the heart of the Sun
Counting the leaves which tremble at dawn
Lotuses lean on each other in yearning
Under the eaves the swallow is resting
Set the controls for the heart of the Sun
Breaking the darkness, waking the grapevine
One inch of love is one inch of shadow
Love is the shadow that ripens the wine
Set the controls for the heart of the Sun
The heart of the Sun, the heart of the Sun
The heart of the Sun, the heart of the Sun
The heart of the Sun, the heart of the Sun
The heart of the Sun, the heart of the Sun
The heart of the Sun, the heart of the Sun
Making the shape of his question to Heaven
Whether the sun will fall in the evening
Will he remember the lesson of giving?
Set the controls for the heart of the Sun
The heart of the Sun, the heart of the Sun
The heart of the Sun, the heart of the Sun
The heart of the Sun, the heart of the Sun
The heart of the Sun, the heart of the Sun
The heart of the Sun, the heart of the Sun
The heart of the Sun, the heart of the Sun
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Set the Controls for the Heart of the Sun
Little by little the night turns around Counting the leaves which tremble at dawn Lotuses lean on each other in yearning Under the eaves the swallow is resting Set the controls for the heart of the sun
Over the mountain, watching the watcher Breaking the darkness, waking the grapevine One inch of love is one inch of shadow Love is the shadow that ripens the wine Set the controls for the heart of the sun
Witness the man who raves at the wall Making the shape of his question to heaven Whether the sun will fall in the evening Will he remember the lesson of giving Set the controls for the heart of the sun
No one was even close on this one ;). It has been pointed out that the lyrics that were originally posted are wrong. The re-posted lyrics appear correct. So here is the real deal. This song was "ripped off" by Waters. As some of you know, Roger had to step into the role as "leader" of the Floyd when Syd stepped out (so to speak). Roger has admitted to "ripping of Chinese poetry from the late T'ang period" in writing this song. The addition of the space elements and suicidal space flight into 'the heart of the sun' were his own. This was a period where Waters was consciously trying to produce fantasy lyrical musings that matched the original Floyd hits as penned by Syd B. Water's himself has admitted this fact in many interviews. Great song none the less. The music is very trance inducing. Now what the original meaning of the Taoist poems are up for grabs. The following website provides a large amount of info on this whole discussion, and appears very scholarly: http://www.cjvlang.com/Pfloyd/index.html
It makes perfect sense these lyrics were taken from Chinese Taoist poetry. There are many references to practical spirituality in these verses which are often described by adepts of spiritual meditation. There is a universal stage of out of body experience while in meditation, as described by adepts where one penetrates through the middle of a spiritual sun, which leads to a higher stage of spirituality. There lies the basic concept behind the song: Setting the controls (spiritual preparation/meditation) to reach the heart of the sun.
It makes perfect sense these lyrics were taken from Chinese Taoist poetry. There are many references to practical spirituality in these verses which are often described by adepts of spiritual meditation. There is a universal stage of out of body experience while in meditation, as described by adepts where one penetrates through the middle of a spiritual sun, which leads to a higher stage of spirituality. There lies the basic concept behind the song: Setting the controls (spiritual preparation/meditation) to reach the heart of the sun.
Examples in the lyrics describing the concept of meditation: “Little by little the night...
Examples in the lyrics describing the concept of meditation: “Little by little the night turns around” (and) "Breaking the darkness, waking the grapevine” These lines refer to the meditation process, which begins with inner darkness and slowly expands to inner light while ones eyes are shut. This breaking of darkness 'wakens the grapevine' which gives spiritual intoxication from it's wine.
“Love is the shadow that ripens the wine" This is reference to feelings of love in meditation which ripen the wine (wine again being a symbol of spiritual intoxication rather than alcohol).
Other key ideas in meditation are referred to such as “watching the watcher”, and “making the shape of his question to heaven” (heaven being on the other side if he is able and penetrate through the heart of the sun)
Below is the complete set of lyrics copied again from the 8th post for reference:
Set the Controls for the Heart of the Sun
Little by little the night turns around Counting the leaves which tremble at dawn Lotuses lean on each other in yearning Under the eaves the swallow is resting Set the controls for the heart of the sun
Over the mountain, watching the watcher Breaking the darkness, waking the grapevine One inch of love is one inch of shadow Love is the shadow that ripens the wine Set the controls for the heart of the sun
Witness the man who raves at the wall Making the shape of his question to heaven Whether the sun will fall in the evening Will he remember the lesson of giving Set the controls for the heart of the sun
while i feel inclined to agree that this song may have been influenced by daoist (spelled with a "d" rather than a "t" since that seems to be the more accepted romanization of the word currently) poetry and daoist ideas, i doubt that the story about roger waters ripping it straight out of a daoist poem is actually true, because:
while i feel inclined to agree that this song may have been influenced by daoist (spelled with a "d" rather than a "t" since that seems to be the more accepted romanization of the word currently) poetry and daoist ideas, i doubt that the story about roger waters ripping it straight out of a daoist poem is actually true, because:
Pink Floyd simply isn't that sort of band and 2. Syd Barret was actually still with the band during the production of this album (it was, in fact, the last album he did with the band) and...
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Achoryzentwo your completely rite...
Achoryzentwo your completely rite...
@Rbuzz I would agree, with one caveat: the flight isn't about suicide but rather, using the Suns gravity to jump to another star. Waters was also reading a lot of SciFi then, Aurthur C. Clarke in particular. Hence, the music slowly distorts as the ship is flung through time and space, only to resume once it reaches a new destination.
@Rbuzz I would agree, with one caveat: the flight isn't about suicide but rather, using the Suns gravity to jump to another star. Waters was also reading a lot of SciFi then, Aurthur C. Clarke in particular. Hence, the music slowly distorts as the ship is flung through time and space, only to resume once it reaches a new destination.
This song has nothing to do with space travel, or isolation, and has NOTHING to do with love. If you watch the "Live in Pompeii" DVD, and truly experience it, the meaning will be clear.
This song centers on the drummer, Nick Mason, and what he wants his soul to do. He idolizes the sun, and wishes that when he dies, a piece of his soul, no matter how small, travels to the sun to help keep the sun burning bright.
Maybe, you can't say it for definite though!!
Maybe, you can't say it for definite though!!
"One inch of love is one inch of shadow" This song is about the cycle that you go through in life, suffering then happiness then suffering then happiness on and on. The sun is equivalent to everything bad and dreadfull, illness, someone dear to you dying, "counting the leaves which tremble at dawn" "lotuses lean on each other in yearning" , every creature on the planet is scared of the sun rising at the dawn. " one inch of love is one inch of shadow" , shadow, which is the only protection from the sunlight. "witness the man who raves at the wall, making the shape of his question to heaven" , pictures a man suffering and asking god WHY? the "shadow" of the shape of his arms showing on the wall."whether the sun will fall in the evening, will he remember the lesson of giving?" when the suffering and pain goes, will "man" learn the lesson? Definitely on my list of best songs and lyrics ever.
Dude, most would associate the sun with love, because its the giver of life, it wakes the grapevine. And the darkness is equivalent to everything bad and dreadfull.. it is when we are vulnerable and naked. That's why it says at the end that ONLY if the sun falls will the man need to remember "the lesson of giving" to survive through the noght.
Dude, most would associate the sun with love, because its the giver of life, it wakes the grapevine. And the darkness is equivalent to everything bad and dreadfull.. it is when we are vulnerable and naked. That's why it says at the end that ONLY if the sun falls will the man need to remember "the lesson of giving" to survive through the noght.
I never thought about the shape of his question literally as a shape on the wall caused by the sun, that was a good interpretation.
I never thought about the shape of his question literally as a shape on the wall caused by the sun, that was a good interpretation.
Thanks, Get back to me
Thanks, Get back to me
I am amazed by this song every time I hear it. This song probably has the second most poetic lyrics of any PF song, behind Echoes.
this song puts me in a trance
LOL.....actually It kinda does
LOL.....actually It kinda does
it is about isolation and love ,about placing so much importance on a feeling when it really doesnt exist, and that eventually the attraction of two people will be worn down by time , and even though we know its a fruitless objective we choose to forget and try anyway. the cycle continues on. (extended version)
I think it is about self-sacrifice in order to reach the highest level of human behavior ... it is a Revolutionary song.
I think it is about self-sacrifice in order to reach the highest level of human behavior ... it is a Revolutionary song.
"A friutless objective" you say. That's exactly the reason why, if anyone has a chance of being famous and successful at something, (and hasn't yet become so) that task gets priority over love. But I wouldn't quiet say its fruitless for everyone. You do get experience, loving support, sex, and the fact that someone looks up to you and makes you feel superior. We may not choose to forget, because we know the reason we yearn love is because it can 'potentially' work out perfectly and not fade. Someone may yearn someone to keep themselves motvated, so its good to...
"A friutless objective" you say. That's exactly the reason why, if anyone has a chance of being famous and successful at something, (and hasn't yet become so) that task gets priority over love. But I wouldn't quiet say its fruitless for everyone. You do get experience, loving support, sex, and the fact that someone looks up to you and makes you feel superior. We may not choose to forget, because we know the reason we yearn love is because it can 'potentially' work out perfectly and not fade. Someone may yearn someone to keep themselves motvated, so its good to "place importance on" the feeling.
You say its about placing so much importance on a feeling when it really doesnt exist.. If you look upon it that way and think about it hard enough, then no feelings exist. My moto is; if your gut tells you it exists, it exists!
Also, you didn't say why you thought the lyrics were about that.
don't just say the lyrics are wrong... POST THE CORRECT ONES lol :)
didn't you ever try to write a song? a song from heart? no? maybe you have seen an early early morning before the dawn. the mood, what is of high importance. dont try to find any secrets or hidden meanings here. if they exist, you will not be able to find them. just try to enjoy the mood of the morning before the dawn. near the lake, where lotuses lean on each other, when swallows sleap (they get up early, dont forget!). and, it's a secret, but... There is NO sun... only the heart...
There are many symbols in these verses which are often described by adepts of spiritual meditation, so it makes perfect sense that these lyrics were taken from Chinese Taoist poetry as described by Rbuzz above. Universal out of body experiences within meditation as described by spiritual seers include a stage where one penetrates through the middle of a spiritual sun, which leads to a higher stage of spirituality. There lies the basic concept behind the song: Setting the controls (spiritual preparation/meditation) to reach the heart of the sun.
Here are some examples in the lyrics describing the concept of meditation: “Little by little the night turns around” (and) "Breaking the darkness, waking the grapevine” These lines refer to the meditation process, which begins with inner darkness and slowly expands to inner light. This breaking of darkness 'wakens the grapevine' which gives spiritual intoxication from it's wine.
“Love is the shadow that ripens the wine" This is reference to feelings of love in meditation which ripen the wine (wine in spiritual poetry being a symbol of spiritual intoxication).
Other key ideas in meditation are referred to such as “watching the watcher”, and “making the shape of his question to heaven” (heaven being available when he penetrates through the heart of the sun)