# 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:** 13\ **Page:** 3
**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, 7:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-most-brilliant-pink-floyd-song-ever/115545/41 "2002-06-25T07:19:29Z")
Posted too quick… > [@](#): > > 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. If you liked _Amused to Death_, then you have to check out _Pros and Cons of Hitchhiking_. In my little circle of cronies, we regard it as The Perfect Album. ---
**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 25, 2002, 8:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-most-brilliant-pink-floyd-song-ever/115545/42 "2002-06-25T08:08:41Z")
I remember **Amused to Death** coming out and enjoying what I heard of it, etc. Years later, the guitarist in a band I was in passed away from cancer, and some pieces from that record were played at the funeral, as it was one of his favourite records (the others were Kiss and some of his own music). I don’t think I’ll ever be able to listen to that record again without breaking down. Anyway, sorry for the downer, and back to the music … ---
**Author:** ![gobear](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/8dc957/32.png) [@gobear](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gobear)\ **Post date:** [June 25, 2002, 11:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-most-brilliant-pink-floyd-song-ever/115545/43 "2002-06-25T11:23:14Z")
And also **Radio KAOS** , a brilliant album that tends to get lost in the shuffle when talking about Roger Waters. In addition to **Echoes** –which is just so damn brilliant IMO– I love all the songs already mentioned, with a special glow for **Dogs** , \*\*See Emily Play, Arnold Layne, Interstellar Overdrive, The Nile Song, Mother, Paranoid Eyes, \*\* and **Two Suns in the Sunset** –that saxophone solo at the end is so exhilarating and yet profoundly sad at the same time. ---
**Author:** ![Kevin\_H](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/9de0a6/32.png) [@Kevin\_H](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kevin_H)\ **Post date:** [June 26, 2002, 4:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-most-brilliant-pink-floyd-song-ever/115545/44 "2002-06-26T04:20:46Z")
On the Turning Away ---
**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 26, 2002, 8:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-most-brilliant-pink-floyd-song-ever/115545/45 "2002-06-26T08:20:19Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Mudshark \* > \*\*How could I have forgotten the most unusual Pink Floyd song, (in my opinion), **Atom Heart Mother** \*\* From the album **Ummagumma** , Pink Floyd brings you: [Several Species Of Small Furry Animals Gathered Together In A Cave And Grooving With A Pict](http://www.davemcnally.com/lyrics/PinkFloyd/SeveralSpeciesOfSmallFurryAnimalsGatheredTogetherInACaveAndGroovingWithAPict.asp) ---
**Author:** ![Coldfire](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/a587f6/32.png) [@Coldfire](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Coldfire)\ **Post date:** [June 26, 2002, 11:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-most-brilliant-pink-floyd-song-ever/115545/46 "2002-06-26T11:56:59Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by ArchiveGuy \* > **The Gunner’s Dream** from _The Final Cut_ Ahhhh, yes! That would be my fave, too. Talk about depressing. The great thing about PF is that there’s no “generic” top ten of best songs - just look at this thread! I mean, some of the mentions I clearly don’t get. I mean, “Time”, on of the best PF songs ever?? Yet, we are all PF fans. 🙂 I’ll attempt a top 10. It’s difficult. 1. The Gunner’s Dream 2. Us and Them 3. Wish you were Here 4. Brain Damage 5. Comfortably Numb 6. High Hopes (yes, I know, without Waters. The only good song on DB, IMHO) 7. On the Turning Away (highly underrated) 8. Mother 9. Nobody Home 10. Shine on you crazy diamond. Actually, only number 1 is rightly positioned, numbers 2 through 9 are all #2. ---
**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 26, 2002, 3:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-most-brilliant-pink-floyd-song-ever/115545/47 "2002-06-26T15:16:08Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Coldfire \* > **9. Nobody Home** Oops! How could I forget that one? ---
**Author:** ![Hodge](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/5f9b8f/32.png) [@Hodge](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hodge)\ **Post date:** [June 26, 2002, 3:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-most-brilliant-pink-floyd-song-ever/115545/48 "2002-06-26T15:44:29Z")
I can’t believe noone’s mentioned the live version of _Careful with that Axe, Eugene_, yet. Pure gold. ---
**Author:** ![Engywook](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/bc8723/32.png) [@Engywook](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Engywook)\ **Post date:** [June 26, 2002, 8:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-most-brilliant-pink-floyd-song-ever/115545/49 "2002-06-26T20:52:11Z")
In no particular order: **Wish You Were Here** - Simple but passionate musically… and the lyrics are as good as anything by Dylan or anything our of _Ecclesiastes_. By the way, does anybody know of a version performed by a female singer? That’s something that should exist… but apparently doesn’t. **Shine on You Crazy Diamond** - Especially that slide guitar riff that opens up the second half. And that opening synth chord has become like a standing wave between my neurons. **Is There Anybody Out There?** - To me, this is evocative of gossamer sailing ships under a starry sky. I was at a Floyd show at the Griffith Park planetarium in Los Angeles. They played this song. After Roger asked, “Is There Anybody Out There?” some guy behind me said, almost piously, “Oh, yes.” And it’s really easy to play, great for guitar beginners. **Set the Controls for the Heart of the Sun** - Especially the UmmaGumma version. **Echoes** - I can take or leave the rather tuneless part in the middle. The lyrics remind me of Poe. The rising chorus of voices at the end hold the essense of pure shock. **Any Colour You Like** - Quirky. Fun. ---
**Author:** ![Kamandi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/5daacb/32.png) [@Kamandi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kamandi)\ **Post date:** [June 26, 2002, 10:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-most-brilliant-pink-floyd-song-ever/115545/50 "2002-06-26T22:47:29Z")
After reading this thread, my head is filled with about a dozen PF songs all running at the same time! My favorite is _Wish You Were Here_. Simple, direct, beautiful. I’ll second **gobear** on nominating _Radio Kaos_. An actually hopeful-sounding work from Roger Waters? Inconceiveable! And _One of These Days_ always makes me spaz out. I saw PF at the Olympic Stadium in Montreal about 1995. They were touring _Division Bell_, I think. The show was mindblowing (obviously) but in such a huge place, the musicians were dwarfed by the effects and above-stage show. They looked like little teeny ants under an enormous round projector screen. Heck, it could have been anybody up there. I’d rather have seen them in a much smaller venue. ---
**Author:** ![ukbanshee](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/8e8cbc/32.png) [@ukbanshee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ukbanshee)\ **Post date:** [June 26, 2002, 11:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-most-brilliant-pink-floyd-song-ever/115545/51 "2002-06-26T23:32:48Z")
first of all : Greatest Band Of All Time !!! in no particular oder: Several species of small furry animals gathered in a cave and grooving with a pict hey you - also chills my spine ! wish you were here - brings a tear to my eye every time ! careful with that axe, eugene echoes entire DSOTM (best album) entire Animals (funnily enough i was listening to that this morning) - i too LOVE the lyrics on all of animals. Shine on you crazy diamond goodbye blues skies theres a live version of pigs on the wing where roger waters gets pissed off. thats an amazing version! goodbye cruel world have a cigar live with eric clapton see emily play Unfortunately im far too young to of seen them live, although the bootlegs are quality. at the risk of illegalising (even a word?) this thread, this site will blow your minds ! [http://www.celestialvoices.net/theroios.html](http://www.celestialvoices.net/theroios.html) unfortunately its unreliable, but when it works, it amazing. i presume its still up and running. Enjoy ! also, the pros and cons of hitchhiking is quality ! ---
**Author:** ![Melon\_Farmer](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/838e76/32.png) [@Melon\_Farmer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Melon_Farmer)\ **Post date:** [June 27, 2002, 12:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-most-brilliant-pink-floyd-song-ever/115545/52 "2002-06-27T00:58:20Z")
Man, so many great songs mentioned here. I’ll second ‘Careful With That Axe, Eugene (live)’. The first time I heard that with all of Waters’ screaming, I was like WHAT THE F34K IS THAT?!?!? Scared the hell out of me (I may have been slightly high) ;). But Animals still stands out for me as the best of the best. ---
**Author:** ![ianzin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/ed655f/32.png) [@ianzin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ianzin)\ **Post date:** [June 27, 2002, 1:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-most-brilliant-pink-floyd-song-ever/115545/53 "2002-06-27T01:00:24Z")
Not a very imaginative choice, but for me it would be ‘Time’ (the actual song bit, after all the clocks and the galloping synth). Wonderful, poignant lyrics which I think everyone can relate to, and a soaring, heart-wrenching, woeful guitar solo workout from Gilmour. I thnk this song has a raw power to it, and a lasting intelligence, that places it head and shoulders above many rock songs. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-most-brilliant-pink-floyd-song-ever/115545.md?page=2)