Brain Damage

Can't bother reading every comment so I don't know if anyone had the same opinion, but here's my two cents.

1'st verse

From the point of view of a "normal" person. Crazy folk sit on the grass, or in other words, have strayed from the "path". That path being the life many people on this planet are expected to live. Go to school, pay for more school, get a job, workworkwork, wife/husband, kids, workworkwork, retire, die. They view the grass people(you can think of grass people as hippies seeing how they were prominent in that era) as childish for yearning a simpler life and times. They don't care for these grass people and think them unsightly. They need to make sure as little people as possible stray from societal norms.

2'nd verse

From the other side of the coin. From the people who see society's formula for a well lived life and say, "Uh-uh, that's BS. Your path is all crooked and shit. And there‘s giant cracks everywhere you step". A point of view from one of these "lunatics" at a so-called normal person, who he in turn views as a lunatic for trading in their hours for a hand full of dimes.

Lunatic(s) being in the hall could be about politicians, or everyone else who slaves all day for whoever the frell they work for. The hall is essentially the place they say you’re supposed to be.

Paper holding faces to the floor/ everyday the paperboy brings more, is about how people are salves to their mast- I mean how people need paying jobs in order to survive. Need money to eat. If you don’t eat you’re dead. Their hunger keeps them on the hamster wheel.

Chorus?

Dam break/ years too soon: You feel like you’re loosing it, even though your still very young.

No room on hill: You want to be like the normal people but there is just nowhere for a crazy ol’ bat like you in their right and comfy little world. Your friends and loved ones may be on it. But you can’t seem to fit in.

Dark forebodings: You feel there is nothing for you in this world.(not necessarily depressed or suicidal though)

See you on the DSOTM: I like to think of this as the singer reaching out to the loony. He’s saying they are the same. The DSOTM being a mutual understanding that you don’t have to adhere to the established rules or authority(at least not completely. Murder and rape is still very wrong). And that life is only what you make of it. And if they want to make us outcasts, or look crazy…We’ll be on the dark side.

3’rd verse

Seems to be about social conditioning. In all it’s forms. A lobotomy being the most obvious.

Last bit sounds like the poor loon has gone over the edge. Nothing can help him now.

Band playing different tunes is almost definitely about Syd, as they did start playing different tunes without him. Then again the whole shebang could be about him. Or people similar to him. Social outcasts and whatnot.

And then there’s that final reassurance. You’re okay. I’m okay. I’ll see you on the dark side.

Humans have a habit of alienating those with different ideals or opinions, no matter what it’s about, regardless of whether it has anything to do with their lives or not. They call them weird. They call them lunatics. One may even say they have brain damage!

Anyway, that’s how I feel. But then again, I’m a lunatic myself. Ha Ha Ha Haaaaaa!