Lyric discussion by inpraiseoffolly 

Cover art for Sysyphus (Part 1) lyrics by Pink Floyd

This song is about Sysyphus, a man in the underworld condemned to roll a boulder up a hill for all eternity. Every time the boulder reaches the top, it rolls back down.

The music to part one represents Sysyphus beginning to roll the ball up the hill. This music is returned to in part four, signifying that he has to start all over again.