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He made his way to the border
In the shadow under the trees
Down by a stream in a hollow
Turn your head feel the breeze
And the red Queen was waiting for the news
For the white King to move
And the balance hung upon the head of one who tried
To stay within the shadows
And keep his undercover secret tight
They let him in by a backway
Into a chamber reserved for the Queen
She took the note that he gave her
Opened it slowly and started to read
Run to the treasury and bring me back some gold
Give it to the pawn who came, she cried
He says the white King thinks the game of chess is wrong
And all the courtiers crowded her
and this is what she told the gathered round
Go to the store by the dungeon
Take all the red paint take all the white
Make up a newborn colour
Cover your neighbor we'll be all right
There will be no game today, she cried across the board
Everyday will be a holiday
And all the pieces cheered as tidings spread abroad
And the Pink Queen sat
and smiled at the cat who smiled back.
In the shadow under the trees
Down by a stream in a hollow
Turn your head feel the breeze
For the white King to move
And the balance hung upon the head of one who tried
To stay within the shadows
And keep his undercover secret tight
Into a chamber reserved for the Queen
She took the note that he gave her
Opened it slowly and started to read
Give it to the pawn who came, she cried
He says the white King thinks the game of chess is wrong
And all the courtiers crowded her
and this is what she told the gathered round
Take all the red paint take all the white
Make up a newborn colour
Cover your neighbor we'll be all right
Everyday will be a holiday
And all the pieces cheered as tidings spread abroad
And the Pink Queen sat
and smiled at the cat who smiled back.
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I guess it's slightly better than decent. In a sense, it's about a game of chess. However, it could also be about the cat-and-mouse type games in politics.
Roger Waters lyrical work, I would assume. It definitely has that feel.
I have heard all of Pink Floyd's published work. Not to say I'm an expert or anything, just a huge fan. For me, this song is right up there with their best. I have always been partial to early 70's Floyd such as this. I feel it is when they were most inspired and experimental.
Anyway, yes I believe this song refers to the "cat and mouse" games in politics. More specifically, war.
A decent song off of Zabriskie Point, but PF has done much much better.
Right up there with my other favorites--Cirrus Minor, Grantchester Meadows, Wots Uh the Deal?, Echoes...
i like this song a lot.
i really like the whole alice in wonderland feel i got to it. the white king finally gathers enough courage to voice his opinion about how silly chess really is. it pays off by making ever player equal. it's an awesome song because you can go pretty much anywhere with it haha pink floyd is immortal.
Alice in Wonderland, anybody?
The Red Queen, the smiling cat, White King.....?
If you know about this song, you probably know about all those other great buried Floyd gems that you just have to sit down and listen to it all in order to find.
I would agree with previous posters: there is a Alice In Wonderland feel to this song. Yet, given Roger Water's having lost his father to armed conflict in World War II*, his disdain for war is not surprising.
Chess is a game of war, with the pawns being the enlisted infantry who bear the brunt of "dying". The White King's understanding and value of life and compassion to those who serve both him and the Red Queen lead him to voice his opinion and persuade the Red Queen to end the war games.