# 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:** 2
**Author:** ![Roadwalker](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/e19b73/32.png) [@Roadwalker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Roadwalker)\ **Post date:** [June 24, 2002, 4:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-most-brilliant-pink-floyd-song-ever/115545/21 "2002-06-24T04:38:31Z")
Conftorbly Numb has always been my favorite too. I love listening to it on my walkman on a bus in the rain at night. Too bad it doesn’t rain much where I live now. And I don’t ride busses anymore. God, I miss college. ---
**Author:** ![GargoyleWB](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gargoylewb/32/199_2.png) [@GargoyleWB](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GargoyleWB)\ **Post date:** [June 24, 2002, 6:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-most-brilliant-pink-floyd-song-ever/115545/22 "2002-06-24T06:02:54Z")
I have this bootleg of a concert from '70 or thereabouts, and it has this crushingly intense 14 minute verision of _Cymbaline_. I’ve always thoughout the best of the “underrated” albums was _More_. The songs on that are so blissfully dreamy. But the topper of them all will always be _Shine on you crazy diamond_. Oh, that guitar, that sweet guitar… ---
**Author:** ![amanset](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/8dc957/32.png) [@amanset](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/amanset)\ **Post date:** [June 24, 2002, 7:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-most-brilliant-pink-floyd-song-ever/115545/23 "2002-06-24T07:23:11Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by GargoyleWB \* > \*\*I have this bootleg of a concert from '70 or thereabouts, and it has this crushingly intense 14 minute verision of _Cymbaline_. > \*\* More definitely is a class album. I have a bootleg from the same period - San Diego 1971 (IIRC). It has a 15 minute version of “Fat Old Sun”, which I would kill to have a studio quality version of, and a long version of “Cymbaline” like you mention. It also goes all strange in the middle of “Cymbaline” where there are lots of opening doors and people laughing, all sans music. I think I remember reading something about this somewhere but I can’t quite remember. think it was something to do with showing off their quadrophonic sound system. ---
**Author:** ![SPOOFE](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/c5a1d2/32.png) [@SPOOFE](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SPOOFE)\ **Post date:** [June 24, 2002, 10:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-most-brilliant-pink-floyd-song-ever/115545/24 "2002-06-24T10:28:31Z")
In no particular order… -_Welcome to the Machine_, but mostly because it was the first Pink Floyd song I’ve ever heard (back when I was first introduced to the band). -_Wish you were Here_. My best friend can play and sing this song almost as good as Dave. A beautiful piece. -_Comfortably Numb_, a gratuitous - yet worthy - inclusion. -_Paranoid Eyes_, truly a masterpiece off of The Final Cut. I second Dogs and Sheep and… hell, all of Animals. And Division Bell. And… well… if I continue like this, I’ll end up naming all the albums. 😃 Although I should mention that I have greatly enjoyed Roger’s solo career… ---
**Author:** ![OpalCat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/8edcca/32.png) [@OpalCat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/OpalCat)\ **Post date:** [June 24, 2002, 10:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-most-brilliant-pink-floyd-song-ever/115545/25 "2002-06-24T10:39:46Z")
Ohh I forgot about _Welcome to the Machine_! I can listen to that over and over and over… ---
**Author:** ![gobear](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/8dc957/32.png) [@gobear](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gobear)\ **Post date:** [June 24, 2002, 11:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-most-brilliant-pink-floyd-song-ever/115545/26 "2002-06-24T11:28:06Z")
The most brilliant Pink Flyd song is…all of them. Every Floyd tune is a crafted gym. But I really love **Echoes**. ---
**Author:** ![Yossarian](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/y/9de0a6/32.png) [@Yossarian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Yossarian)\ **Post date:** [June 24, 2002, 5:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-most-brilliant-pink-floyd-song-ever/115545/27 "2002-06-24T17:05:23Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Tim R. Mortiss \* > \*\*Good list, Henry. But I’d add “Free Four” (from Relics, I think) as another classic. \*\* Make that _Obscured by Clouds_, and “Childhood’s End” is the superior song on that Album. For overall most brilliant, consider me another vote for “Echoes”. Maybe after lunch I’ll consider making a list for _my_ most favoritest band _ **ever** _! ---
**Author:** ![Barrett](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/54ee81/32.png) [@Barrett](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Barrett)\ **Post date:** [June 24, 2002, 7:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-most-brilliant-pink-floyd-song-ever/115545/28 "2002-06-24T19:20:16Z")
_Shine on You Crazy Diamond_ is first in my book. The chorus isn’t sung with anger or vehemence or sarcasm, it’s just a request for something you know isn’t going to happen, and, I don’t know…it’s just sort of heart-breaking. It has a hopeless, reminiscent quality that’s depressing and beautiful and terrible, especially when you think of what prompted its composition in the first place. ‘Course, I couldn’t post anything without saying something for a couple others. _Not Now, John_–lyrically, it’s great, plus it’s got that ‘clickity-clickity-click, hold on, hold on and BINGO!’ sequence that absolutely slays me, coupled with the chanting backup vocals on 'fuck all that…fuck all that.’ And I think _The Final Cut_ is fantastic, although not too many people agree with me on that one. The guitar solo isn’t one of Gilmour’s finest by any means, but the sound of it is terribly apt for the song. Lyrically, it’s complex and (typically) depressing, and I think it’s one of Waters’ best. _When the Tigers Broke Free_, though, I’ll second that one, (granted, by this point I’m fourthing or fifthing it, but still)._Dogs_ is great, too, but _Comfortably Numb_ will probably always be regarded as the best. And rightly so, really. That guitar solo. _sighs and shakes head_ Beautiful is such a cheesy word, but that’s what it is. ---
**Author:** ![Scupper](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/b9bd4f/32.png) [@Scupper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Scupper)\ **Post date:** [June 24, 2002, 7:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-most-brilliant-pink-floyd-song-ever/115545/29 "2002-06-24T19:28:49Z")
_Wish You Were Here Dogs of War Learning to Fly Goodbye Blue Sky One of My Turns_ ---
**Author:** ![Canyon\_Surfer](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/3d9bf3/32.png) [@Canyon\_Surfer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Canyon_Surfer)\ **Post date:** [June 24, 2002, 7:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-most-brilliant-pink-floyd-song-ever/115545/30 "2002-06-24T19:43:22Z")
Another vote for Echoes…Echoes…Echoes…Echoes and yes I have been to a Pink Floyd concert but you don’t want to know how long ago. Or at least I’m not telling how long ago. ---
**Author:** ![MovieMogul](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/f08c70/32.png) [@MovieMogul](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MovieMogul)\ **Post date:** [June 24, 2002, 8:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-most-brilliant-pink-floyd-song-ever/115545/31 "2002-06-24T20:46:16Z")
**The Gunner’s Dream** from _The Final Cut_ ---
**Author:** ![Mudshark](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/f04885/32.png) [@Mudshark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mudshark)\ **Post date:** [June 24, 2002, 8:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-most-brilliant-pink-floyd-song-ever/115545/32 "2002-06-24T20:47:12Z")
It’s hard to pick just one… Echoes Bike One Of These Days Hey You Shine On You Crazy Diamond Brain Damage/Eclipse Comfortably Numb The Trial Young Lust Dogs Not Now John ---
**Author:** ![Mudshark](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/f04885/32.png) [@Mudshark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mudshark)\ **Post date:** [June 24, 2002, 8:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-most-brilliant-pink-floyd-song-ever/115545/33 "2002-06-24T20:50:12Z")
How could I have forgotten the most unusual Pink Floyd song (in my opinion), **Atom Heart Mother** ---
**Author:** ![Mudshark](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/f04885/32.png) [@Mudshark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mudshark)\ **Post date:** [June 24, 2002, 8:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-most-brilliant-pink-floyd-song-ever/115545/34 "2002-06-24T20:50:31Z")
How could I have forgotten the most unusual Pink Floyd song, (in my opinion), **Atom Heart Mother** ---
**Author:** ![Canyon\_Surfer](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/3d9bf3/32.png) [@Canyon\_Surfer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Canyon_Surfer)\ **Post date:** [June 24, 2002, 8:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-most-brilliant-pink-floyd-song-ever/115545/35 "2002-06-24T20:55:38Z")
**Mudshark** was that double post just another vote for Echoes ? ---
**Author:** ![Dryga\_Yes](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/838e76/32.png) [@Dryga\_Yes](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dryga_Yes)\ **Post date:** [June 24, 2002, 9:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-most-brilliant-pink-floyd-song-ever/115545/36 "2002-06-24T21:26:00Z")
ALl my favourites have been mentioned in the thread already (Sheep, Echoes, Learning to Fly) except for Set The Controls for the Heart of the Sun. God, that song is so creepy and so brilliant. Still sends chills down my spine. ---
**Author:** ![waterj2](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/858c86/32.png) [@waterj2](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/waterj2)\ **Post date:** [June 25, 2002, 4:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-most-brilliant-pink-floyd-song-ever/115545/37 "2002-06-25T04:35:27Z")
Oh, yeah “Set the Controls”. Of course. And another vote for Roger’s solo career being brilliant. _Amused to Death_ was the first CD I ever bought. I think I’m probably the only person to have been a Roger Waters fan before really getting into Pink Floyd. ---
**Author:** ![grendel72](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/91b2a8/32.png) [@grendel72](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/grendel72)\ **Post date:** [June 25, 2002, 5:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-most-brilliant-pink-floyd-song-ever/115545/38 "2002-06-25T05:10:07Z")
I don’t care much for Waters solo stuff, but I will say that my favorite Pink Floyd album is The Madcap Laughs (Check the band listing, it’s a Floyd album even though it’s credited as a Syd Barett solo album.) ---
**Author:** ![Mudshark](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/f04885/32.png) [@Mudshark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mudshark)\ **Post date:** [June 25, 2002, 6:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-most-brilliant-pink-floyd-song-ever/115545/39 "2002-06-25T06:24:57Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Canyon Surfer \* > \*\ ***Mudshark** was that double post just another vote for Echoes ? \*\* No, **Atom Heart Mother** is so good that I had to say it twice, and yes, it was a subliminal vote for **Echoes**. [SUP]Ok…so I fucked up, I double posted. So shoot me. [/SUP] ---
**Author:** ![SPOOFE](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/c5a1d2/32.png) [@SPOOFE](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SPOOFE)\ **Post date:** [June 25, 2002, 7:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-most-brilliant-pink-floyd-song-ever/115545/40 "2002-06-25T07:18:24Z")
Ooh, ooh, and _The Fletcher Memorial Home_. Truly haunting. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-most-brilliant-pink-floyd-song-ever/115545.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-most-brilliant-pink-floyd-song-ever/115545.md?page=3)