# The most brilliant Pink Floyd song EVER **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [June 23, 2002, 7:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-most-brilliant-pink-floyd-song-ever/115545 "2002-06-23T07:59:34Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Weirddave](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/919ad9/32.png) [@Weirddave](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Weirddave)\ **Post date:** [June 23, 2002, 7:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-most-brilliant-pink-floyd-song-ever/115545/1 "2002-06-23T07:59:34Z")
It has to be “When the Tigers Broke Free”. It was omitted from The Wall album, but it’s the best they’ve ever done. “And that’s how the High Command took my daddy from me” Chilling. Brillant. ---
**Author:** ![grendel72](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/91b2a8/32.png) [@grendel72](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/grendel72)\ **Post date:** [June 23, 2002, 8:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-most-brilliant-pink-floyd-song-ever/115545/2 "2002-06-23T08:25:17Z")
Lucifer Sam is by a huge margin my favorite Pink Floyd song. ---
**Author:** ![Coriolanus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/coriolanus/32/18769_2.png) [@Coriolanus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Coriolanus)\ **Post date:** [June 23, 2002, 9:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-most-brilliant-pink-floyd-song-ever/115545/3 "2002-06-23T09:51:51Z")
Dogs > [@](#): > > A certain look in the eye, and an easy smile > You have to be trusted by the people that you lie to > So that when they turn their backs on you > You’ll get the chance to put the knife in. [http://www.davemcnally.com/lyrics/PinkFloyd/Dogs.asp](http://www.davemcnally.com/lyrics/PinkFloyd/Dogs.asp) A close, and inseperable tie for second to Sheep. ‘Animals’ is a masterpiece. ---
**Author:** ![friedo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/8edcca/32.png) [@friedo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/friedo)\ **Post date:** [June 23, 2002, 9:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-most-brilliant-pink-floyd-song-ever/115545/4 "2002-06-23T09:54:27Z")
When The Tigers Broke Free is good indeed. It’s in _The Wall_ movie. I’ve always been partial to Terminal Frost, just because I dig the saxophone solo near the end. Also I really love the harmonies in various songs on Division Bell and Momentary Lapse of Reason. And Brain Damage/Eclipse is always fun 🙂 As for haunting, I think a lot of the stuff on The Final Cut is pretty good. Also Wearing the Inside Out from Division Bell. ---
**Author:** ![woolly](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/ebca7d/32.png) [@woolly](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/woolly)\ **Post date:** [June 23, 2002, 11:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-most-brilliant-pink-floyd-song-ever/115545/5 "2002-06-23T11:27:09Z")
Ahhh, memories of Pink Floyd. Nov '82 in the run up to my university final exams. My first really serious relationship had gone bung due to external factors. I threw myself into studies as the only opiate I knew. As it turned out I blitzed them, but I was emotionally zapped. After the exams were completed I went back home (about 800 miles west of Sydney) to recover. The first night my parents went out for a function. It was a warm night, over 30C at midnight and totally still. I set up a sofabed on the back lawn with the stereo system facing out. Put on “Wish You Were Here” with the volume right up. The nearest human being was probably 15 miles away. Still get goosebumps remembering it. ---
**Author:** ![RZA](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/43a26b/32.png) [@RZA](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RZA)\ **Post date:** [June 23, 2002, 11:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-most-brilliant-pink-floyd-song-ever/115545/6 "2002-06-23T11:40:40Z")
It’s definitely a good song, but Roger Waters is an egotistical asshole. I prefer the Pink Floyd songs from the era when David Gilmour wrote most of the music and Waters stuck to the lyrics. If I’m not mistaken, he wrote most of the music on the Wall album (which is awesome). Shit, I just realised I contradicted myself and this post has absolutley no point. PINK FLOYD ROCKS! Anyone ever been to a Pink Floyd concert? ---
**Author:** ![Dragon\_Phoenix](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/bcef8e/32.png) [@Dragon\_Phoenix](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dragon_Phoenix)\ **Post date:** [June 23, 2002, 12:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-most-brilliant-pink-floyd-song-ever/115545/7 "2002-06-23T12:04:51Z")
1. Shine on you crazy diamond 2. Julia dream 3. Echoes 4. Pillow of wind 5. Mother ---
**Author:** ![Junior\_Spaceman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/eb8c5e/32.png) [@Junior\_Spaceman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Junior_Spaceman)\ **Post date:** [June 23, 2002, 12:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-most-brilliant-pink-floyd-song-ever/115545/8 "2002-06-23T12:11:52Z")
Tigers is a great song, I agree. Funnily, on the back of the single it says “From the forthcoming album **The Final Cut** ” which is not only historically curious, but is ironic, seeing as it’s better than any of the songs that did end up making up TFC. The b-side’s pretty damn cool too. FWIW, my favorite 10 Pink Floyd Songs (as of today, when I haven’t really listened to them in months): 1. Echoes (Meddle, 1971) - not that I can actually listen to it anymore, but just reading the title brings back great memories of some crazy nights ;). 2. Scream Thy Last Scream Old Woman With a Casket (Unreleased single, 1968) - amazingly modern sounding, fantastic little cut, from the same time as the better known _Vegetable Man_. 3. Saucerful of Secrets (Umma Gumma, 1969) - far and away better than the studio version - I particularly love the calm, melodic part at the end. 4. Us and Them (Dark Side of the Moon, 1973) - Too beautiful and sad for words. 5. Bike (Piper at the Gates of Dawn, 1967) - crazy, madcap, silly, and catchy. 6. Dogs (Animals, 1977) - no comments on this - most Floyd fans already know and love this album. 7. Hey You (The Wall, 1979) - just a beautiful song that leads into the strangeness of the second half of The Wall fantastically. 8. The Nile Song (More, 1969) - Where this came from, I have no idea. An early heavy metal song that hardly any heavy metal fans know. 9. Comfortably Numb (The Wall, 1979) - OK, it’s a complete cliche to list it, but what a great song. How many guitarists have decided to either take up guitar or give up (not being able to compete) after hearing this? 10. Interstellar Overdrive (Full version from Tonite Let’s All Make Love …, 1967) - The pinnacle - Pink Floyd’s very own psychedelic freak out. I still wanna see the movie of this, but thank goodness they bothered to put this out for our listening pleasure. ---
**Author:** ![Tim\_R.Mortiss](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tim_r.mortiss/32/142_2.png) [@Tim\_R.Mortiss](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tim_R.Mortiss)\ **Post date:** [June 23, 2002, 3:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-most-brilliant-pink-floyd-song-ever/115545/9 "2002-06-23T15:02:57Z")
Good list, Henry. But I’d add “Free Four” (from Relics, I think) as another classic. Plus there’s a few kickers on some of Syd’s solo stuff. For anyone who never heard of Pink Floyd until Dark Side of the Moon, run out and get some of the cool early stuff!..Timmy ---
**Author:** ![sc913](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/bb73d2/32.png) [@sc913](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/sc913)\ **Post date:** [June 23, 2002, 3:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-most-brilliant-pink-floyd-song-ever/115545/10 "2002-06-23T15:10:02Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Corbomite \* > \*\*Dogs > > \<…snip…\> > > A close, and inseperable tie for second to Sheep. > > ‘Animals’ is a masterpiece. \*\* I opened this thread to write this. Animals is _the_ best Pink Floyd album, by far. Dogs, for me too. Closely followed by Sheep, and all the Pigs. - Salil. ---
**Author:** ![lawoot](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/35a633/32.png) [@lawoot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lawoot)\ **Post date:** [June 23, 2002, 3:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-most-brilliant-pink-floyd-song-ever/115545/11 "2002-06-23T15:40:53Z")
Amen to **Animals**. [slight hijack] One of my favorite moments on **WKRP in Cincinnati** was the end of, I think, the first episode. Johnny Fever is sitting in the control room, listening to **Dogs** when Mr Carlson walks in and asks him “Do I hear dogs barking” Dr.J: (long pause) “Yeah” Mr C. : “Oh. OK.” (walks out looking confused) ---
**Author:** ![Mr.Blue\_Sky](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/d26b3c/32.png) [@Mr.Blue\_Sky](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mr.Blue_Sky)\ **Post date:** [June 23, 2002, 3:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-most-brilliant-pink-floyd-song-ever/115545/12 "2002-06-23T15:55:43Z")
Minor hijack: Has Pink Floyd EVER recorded a song that could be remotely considered happy? ---
**Author:** ![amanset](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/8dc957/32.png) [@amanset](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/amanset)\ **Post date:** [June 23, 2002, 4:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-most-brilliant-pink-floyd-song-ever/115545/13 "2002-06-23T16:29:11Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Mr. Blue Sky \* > \*\*Minor hijack: > > Has Pink Floyd EVER recorded a song that could be remotely considered happy? \*\* Most of the first album? Th eearly singles A lot of the early stuff is very relaxed. Try “Grantchester Meadows”, “Fat Old Sun” and “Green is the Colour”. IMHO the depressing side came in when Roger Waters insisted on writing all the lyrics. Then have sounding tunes woudl still have depressing lyrics, for example “Free Four”. ---
**Author:** ![amanset](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/8dc957/32.png) [@amanset](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/amanset)\ **Post date:** [June 23, 2002, 4:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-most-brilliant-pink-floyd-song-ever/115545/14 "2002-06-23T16:32:28Z")
Bah! My typing is AWFUL today. Here’s a second attempt. > [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by amanset \* > \*\* > > Most of the first album? The early singles? > > A lot of the early stuff is very relaxed. Try “Grantchester Meadows”, “Fat Old Sun” and “Green is the Colour”. IMHO the depressing side came in when Roger Waters insisted on writing all the lyrics. Then they started having happy sounding tunes which still had depressing lyrics, for example “Free Four”. \*\* ---
**Author:** ![Slithy\_Tove](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/slithy_tove/32/18248_2.png) [@Slithy\_Tove](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Slithy_Tove)\ **Post date:** [June 23, 2002, 7:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-most-brilliant-pink-floyd-song-ever/115545/15 "2002-06-23T19:07:44Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by RZA \* > \*\* > Anyone ever been to a Pink Floyd concert? \*\* Back when it was possible to fly a remote-contolled airplane over a stadium and then crash it into the stage? ---
**Author:** ![Ludovic](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/7ab992/32.png) [@Ludovic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ludovic)\ **Post date:** [June 23, 2002, 7:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-most-brilliant-pink-floyd-song-ever/115545/16 "2002-06-23T19:25:36Z")
my favorite? Hey You. that song, and birthday by the sugarcubes send chills down my spine every time. but for brilliance, nothing can compare to ANY of the songs on the Wall with a guitar solo (read, about half of them) The guitar solos on the wall are not only amazing, they are transcendant. You can see a little bit of the universal in them. I like to think that if I were to study, and have all the time in the world that I would be able to come up with music at least as good as a lot of the stuff I hear, but the Wall makes me despair of ever remotely coming close to that. Oh, I have and like all their studio albums (okay, i only like half of the Ummagumma, More, and Atom heart mother albums), but just like nothing can come even close to the haunting singing of Birthday (not even anything bjork has done since, nor even the cigarette-induced warblings of Richard Butler), nothing even that the floyd has done can come close to the brilliance of the Wall ---
**Author:** ![OpalCat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/8edcca/32.png) [@OpalCat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/OpalCat)\ **Post date:** [June 23, 2002, 11:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-most-brilliant-pink-floyd-song-ever/115545/17 "2002-06-23T23:14:58Z")
God… so many to pick!! Pink Floyd is tied with Jethro Tull for my Favorite Bands of All Time, and I’ve seen them both in concert. _Time_ always gives me chills, as does _Hey You_ and at least a dozen others. I really like the album _Meddle_ a lot… ---
**Author:** ![AHunter3](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ahunter3/32/368_2.png) [@AHunter3](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AHunter3)\ **Post date:** [June 24, 2002, 3:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-most-brilliant-pink-floyd-song-ever/115545/18 "2002-06-24T03:13:50Z")
::shooting for some that haven’t received mention:: I have a live version of “One of These Days” which outshines all of the myriad studio versions, and I’d have to put it on the list. “Summer '68” from _Atom Heart Mother_ “Time” from _Dark Side of the Moon_ “Chapter 24” from _Piper at the Gates of Dawn_ “Paintbox” from _Relics_ (which implies that it was released previously in some other capacity) ---
**Author:** ![AzRaek](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/azraek/32/16739_2.png) [@AzRaek](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AzRaek)\ **Post date:** [June 24, 2002, 3:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-most-brilliant-pink-floyd-song-ever/115545/19 "2002-06-24T03:49:47Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by lawoot \* > > [slight hijack] > One of my favorite moments on **WKRP in Cincinnati** … \*\* Mr C: What orchestra is this? Fever: Pink Floyd Mr C: Oh that’s Pink Floyd? It’s very nice Fever: …Gripping Mr C: Do I hear dogs barking? Fever: ummm I do ---
**Author:** ![waterj2](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/858c86/32.png) [@waterj2](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/waterj2)\ **Post date:** [June 24, 2002, 4:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-most-brilliant-pink-floyd-song-ever/115545/20 "2002-06-24T04:32:02Z")
The one that I really love, that hasn’t been mentioned, is “Fearless”, on _Meddle_. And the entirety of _Wish You Were Here_. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-most-brilliant-pink-floyd-song-ever/115545.md?page=2)