Feel

i believe that this song is about how syd feels uncomfortable around many people. (the flailing ones) However, he does feel comfortable around a certain woman(his bride). i can't believe that only one person has commented on this song. It is one of my favorites.

this is like a beautiful poem.

the correct lyrics say : "barley grew"

I submitted the lyric change to "barley grew" in the second verse.

The lyrics are something like pointillism-with-words. Barrett uses his stream-of-consciousness type of surrealism to paint an impressionistic portrait that only appears to the listener when it's set to the music. Apart from the music, the lyrics are desolate, lonely, explicitly rejected. But with the music, including the aptly placed reverb effect, the song takes on a grand, romantic ode, nearly majestic in scope -- the loneliness, so stark in a face-value reading, becomes a yearning, perhaps not hopeful, but at least wistful in remembrance.

It was Syd Barrett's talent to use the methods and approaches of his "first" art, painting, to achieve what typical lyricists never even conceive. In my mind, when he is called a "genius" -- not unusual when discussing his work -- this type of cross-methodology is what is meant. I can think of no one else who does quite this in songwriting. Kind of like what Jimi Hendrix did with the electric guitar, Barrett blends different worlds that typically don't mix into a synesthetic experience of word-sound-sight.

It's not uncommon for a listener to have to develop an ear to be able to hear music on that level.

I find it extremely difficult to ascertain what Syd meant in some of his songs, I know how I may interpret them but not how he interpreted the meaning or was looking to achieve for his listener. I read for Lucifer Sam this guy quoted as saying the song is about his girlfriend, it is not about his girlfriend, it is about his cats, but I would never want to give my opinion on what Syd was thinking only on my interpretation of it would I consider writing. Syd was just far beyond me in writing capacity but I do enjoy reading what others possibly believe the meaning to hold for them. I just feel unless you know for sure then like the Lucifer Sam guy maybe it would be best to keep to yourself when not 100% certain

I'm pretty sure 'crowd' should be 'crab'. 'Crowd' makes absolutely no lyrical sense.

One of his best, and Waters must have thought so as "Pigs On The Wing" borrows a lot from "Feel".