11 Meanings
Add Yours
Follow
Share
Q&A

No Man's Land Lyrics

You would hold your head up high
You even try
You would hold another hand:
Oh understand!
They even see me under call
We under all,
We all feel awful cruel
To hear my hour
Come see me cry

Just searching you even try
I can make you smile
If it's there will you go there too?
When I live I die!
They even see me under call
We under all, we awful, awful, crawl
Because of you, to see me be
Song Info
Submitted by
twitty On Sep 22, 2002
11 Meanings

Add your song meanings, interpretations, facts, memories & more to the community.

Add your thoughts...
Cover art for No Man's Land lyrics by Syd Barrett

i think it's "we under all, we all fall, awful crawl".

not that it will help anyone interpret the lyrics, but anyway. and "hermia" instead of "hear my hour".

Lyric Correction
Cover art for No Man's Land lyrics by Syd Barrett

I've always thought the lyric was "we all feel awful cruel". As usual Barrett was being clever with his wordplay.

I don't think it's "we awful awful crawl". Even for someone as 'madcap' and obscure as Barrett it's just a meaningless lyric.

My Interpretation

@MrOwens I think it's: we all fall, awful crawl to Hermia. When you look at the next line, it makes more sense.

Cover art for No Man's Land lyrics by Syd Barrett

another great song on madcap. 10/10

Cover art for No Man's Land lyrics by Syd Barrett

Where's the rest of the song?

Cover art for No Man's Land lyrics by Syd Barrett

xJadex, that is the whole song. Doesn't really seem that short though when you listen to it. Anyways, this is a real good song, I like the "machine-y" sound throughout it, if you know what I'm talking about.

Cover art for No Man's Land lyrics by Syd Barrett

These words don't come through on the page. You have to hear the way in which Syd sings them. His voice on "we awful awful crawl" is a bit spooky, as if he's seen something too horrible to think about...

Cover art for No Man's Land lyrics by Syd Barrett

It's about trench warfare in WW1. "No man's land" is the area between the opposing nations trenches. If you would hold your head up you would be shot. The awful crawl: trying to stay under the machine gun fire.

Cover art for No Man's Land lyrics by Syd Barrett

i've always thought that it's about something metaphysical or drugs or i don't know.

Cover art for No Man's Land lyrics by Syd Barrett

and it's "tom, see me cry".

Lyric Correction
Cover art for No Man's Land lyrics by Syd Barrett

Rob Chapman, the guy who wrote the Barrett lyrics book, posted the speedy part:

"Tell me tell me tell me you need need me so well shut your shop shut your shop listen the horizon glows like a dove and I see from a mild shiny ocean choke and weave in a spinning well Pick up and tell me love open your door musty sugar with dust making stale it crows the near day the cockerel listen listen short choose of play freedom of emotions and cracking my spleen cos we be us is wishing pick up and tell me love open your door Find and all I wish is shiver and whine the mean could no notice to be as they be give a lot listen listen the grave sings you her song heavily spaced all the crockery china war and spreading a spinning wheel Opening what a roll but you open the door some time long ago Stream cool shallow water seen a lot seen a lot…"

 
Questions and Answers

Ask specific questions and get answers to unlock more indepth meanings & facts.

Ask a question...