In regards to the meaning of this song:
Before a live performance on the EP Five Stories Falling, Geoff states “It’s about the last time I went to visit my grandmother in Columbus, and I saw that she was dying and it was the last time I was going to see her. It is about realizing how young you are, but how quickly you can go.”
That’s the thing about Geoff and his sublime poetry, you think it’s about one thing, but really it’s about something entirely different. But the lyrics are still universal and omnipresent, ubiquitous, even. So relatable. That’s one thing I love about this band. I also love their live performances, raw energy and Geoff’s beautiful, imperfectly perfect vocals. His voice soothes my aching soul.
Following the path as it leads toward
the darkness in the north
Weary stranger's faces show their sympathy
They've seen that hope before
And if you want to stay for a little bit
Rest your aching limbs for a little bit
Before you the night is beckoning
and you know you can't delay
You hear the night birds calling you
but you can't catch the words they say
Close your ears, it lies beyond your way
Mist is swirling, creatures crawling
Hear the roar get louder in your ears
You know the folly was your own
but the force behind can't conquer all you fears
And if you want to stay for a little bit
Rest your aching limbs for a little bit
Before you the night is beckoning
and you know you can't delay
You hear the night birds calling you
but you can't catch the words they say
Close your ears, it lies beyond your way
Throw your thoughts back many years
to the time when there was life with every morning
Perhaps a day will come when the light will be as clear as on that morning
And if you want to stay for a little bit
Rest your aching limbs for a little bit
Before you the night is beckoning
and you know you can't delay
You hear the night birds calling you
but you can't catch the words they say
Close your ears, it lies beyond your way
the darkness in the north
Weary stranger's faces show their sympathy
They've seen that hope before
And if you want to stay for a little bit
Rest your aching limbs for a little bit
Before you the night is beckoning
and you know you can't delay
You hear the night birds calling you
but you can't catch the words they say
Close your ears, it lies beyond your way
Mist is swirling, creatures crawling
Hear the roar get louder in your ears
You know the folly was your own
but the force behind can't conquer all you fears
And if you want to stay for a little bit
Rest your aching limbs for a little bit
Before you the night is beckoning
and you know you can't delay
You hear the night birds calling you
but you can't catch the words they say
Close your ears, it lies beyond your way
Throw your thoughts back many years
to the time when there was life with every morning
Perhaps a day will come when the light will be as clear as on that morning
And if you want to stay for a little bit
Rest your aching limbs for a little bit
Before you the night is beckoning
and you know you can't delay
You hear the night birds calling you
but you can't catch the words they say
Close your ears, it lies beyond your way
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I think your first comment is closer to being accurate. The singer/song writers state "Millions of eyes can see, yet why am i so blind!? When the someone else is me, its unkind its unkind". I believe hes referring to the girl toying with him and using him. He wants something deeper with her, thats why he allows himself to be as a puppet (even though for her fun and games) as long as it makes her happy. But he knows deep down that she doesnt really want to be serious with him and thats what makes him.
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I think much like another song “Anti-Matter” (that's also on the same album as this song), this one is also is inspired by a horrifying van crash the band experienced on Nov 3, 2022. This, much like the other track, sounds like it's an extension what they shared while huddled in the wreckage, as they helped frontman Garrett Russell stem the bleeding from his head wound while he was under the temporary effects of a concussion. The track speaks of where the mind goes at the most desperate & desolate of times, when it just about slips away to all but disconnect itself, and the aftermath.
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Great version of a great song,
First off, the lyrics are incorrect, here are the actual lyrics.
“The Narrow Way” By Pink Floyd
Verse 1 Following the path as it leads towards the darkness in the north. Weary strangers' faces show their sympathy, they've seen that hope before.
Chorus But if you want to stay, for a little bit. Rest your aching limbs, for a little bit.
Before you the night is beckoning and you know you can't delay. You hear the night birds calling you but you can't catch the words they say. Close your ears and eyes, be on your way.
Verse 2 Mist is swelling, creatures crawling, hear the roar get louder in your ears. You know the folly was your own but the force behind can't conquer all your fears.
Chorus And if you want to stay, for a little bit. Rest your aching limbs, for a little bit.
Before you the night is beckoning and you know you can't delay. You hear the night birds calling you but you can't catch the words they say. Close your ears and eyes, be on your way.
Throw your thoughts back many years to the time when there was life with every morning. Perhaps a day will come when the lights will be as close on that morning.
Chorus And if you want to stay, for a little bit. Rest your aching limbs, for a little bit.
Before you the night is beckoning and you know you can't delay. You hear the night birds calling you but you can't catch the words they say. Close your ears and eyes, be on your way.
Parts I, II, and III in this song differ in mood, it seems part 1 starts off in a happy place, like fishing beside a small lake and enjoying sunny weather and wildlife. Then part two becomes dark and scary until it seems to focus by sliding two opposing tones down into a single note and then comes part 3 with the lyrics.
Over all the lyrics seem to indicate to me that the protagonist of the song has traveled far and was nearing the "darkness in the north" on some kind of mission of "hope". He went there by himself and some "force behind" him is soon to follow him on his mission. This doesn't quell his fear at what is waiting for him further on. He wants to rest after a long hard journey, but it seems that he must travel by night and can't delay his mission. So he must close his "ears and eyes" to the increasing doom that every step north takes him.
I would like to say that the "Lord of the Rings" books influenced this song and it was about the dreadful journey of Frodo to Mount Doom in Mordor to destroy the one ring. The books were published about 15 years previous to this song's release. However, the Shire, according to the map of Middle earth, was to the northeast of Mordor, and so he had traveled southwest in his journey, not north.
Dark, drug influenced, psychedelic, and surreal, IMO this is one of the best tunes on Ummagumma.