Top Rated Interpretation

2006-02-13 16:29:35

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According to an interview with Roger Waters, none of the songs were about Syd Barret. He stated that they were written to describe the current state of the band and the music industry. Only after the public presumed that the album was about Syd did the band decide to dedicate it to him. This "Urban Legend" only adds to the difficulty of interpreting the song.

In the literal sense, I believe that the song is directed to a dead friend or family member. Only after shooting a video tour of a family cemetery and setting it to the music of Pink Floyd did it hit me.

In the middle of a big green field is a small cemetery plot surrounded by a white wrought-iron fence. The only trees nearby were the ones inside. It was a hot summer day and a cool breeze was blowing. Inside the fence were several markers. Among the lead role were the headstones of the few who had died in battle - the heroes. The fence is a cage, coffins have cold steel rails, and the veil hides the face of the widow. The clincher for me was this inscription on one of the headstones: "Stranger CAN YOU TELL is this where individuality ceases or does it exist beyond."

The band had reached its peak with the success of DSOTM, and Mr. Waters was conveying the band's feelings after their two-year hiatus. I'm still not sure if the band is speaking to the public and music industry from the grave or if the public and music industry are speaking to the band in the grave.