Alone in the clouds all blue
Lying on an eiderdown
Yippee, you can't see me
But I can you

Lazing in the foggy dew
Sitting on a unicorn
No fair, you can't hear me
But I can you

Watching buttercups cup the light
Sleeping on a dandelion
Too much, I won't touch you
But then I might

Screaming through the starlit sky
Traveling by telephone
Hey ho, here we go
Ever so high

Alone in the clouds all blue
Lying on an eiderdown
Yippee, you can't see me
But I can you


Lyrics submitted by Demau Senae

Flaming Lyrics as written by Syd Barrett

Lyrics © T.R.O. INC.

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Flaming song meanings
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27 Comments

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  • +6
    General Comment

    Many of Syd's songs were presenting the point of view of a child. Flaming is one of them. Syd had the Kabbalist's ability to see the World of Forms (as Plato put it).

    This song is soooo good, I can hardly stand to listen to it. It is beautiful, and it makes me feel like I am about to receive the light. I miss Syd Barrett so much, to think of all the incredible music we didn't get to receive from him makes me cry.

    Bless you Syd, you shared the Light with all of us, you're still sharing it today and for generations to come.

    spockmonon February 15, 2013   Link
  • +3
    General Comment

    this song is about Syd feeling outcast from the world.

    Alone in the clouds all blue Lying on an eiderdown.

    Meaning hes high

    Yippee! You can't see me But I can you

    He can see all the other people in the world but they are ignoring him and its like they are looking right through him

    Lazing in the foggy dew Sitting on a unicorn. No fair, you can't hear me But I can you.

    Whenever he says anything they either ignore him or dont understand at all what he is saying

    kevmicleeon December 22, 2004   Link
  • +3
    General Comment

    Let's steer away from the drugs a minute - they're just too convenient. Instead, look at the mid to late sixties culture when there was a resurgence in interest in legend and the occult (yes, I lived through it near London) and take this as an unseen, unheard sprite (or something similar), probably a mischievous one (I won't touch you, but then I might) As for 'traveling by telephone, ever so high' the first communications satellites had been launched just prior to this, so it fits very well with the whole imagery. The whole song brings to mind fairy stories, imps, goblins etc.

    AlanOldieon July 18, 2007   Link
  • +2
    General Comment

    This is achildhood memory of playing hide and seek--he's alone hiding in the dewy grasslooking up into the clouds and blue sky,, on ablanket of eiderdown--and the other kid is close but can't see or hear him--however at one point he is so close that he could reach out and touch the other kid, but might or might not. Even the language is from childhood--No Fair! and Yippee! The unicorn he is sitting on is a 'unicorn mushroom' perhaps, as he mentions dandelions and buttercups, all three would be found in a meadow where he hides in the grass. He is remembering this day with a friend or sibling over the phone, and it is their voices that are streaming through the starlit sky, traveling by telephone not only through space, but also in time, through their memories. One of my favorites--and my sons love the cuckoo bird,we call it the cuckoo song. I agree with another post that calling the lyrics a meaningless acid trip really takes away from the beauty and artistry of the lyrics.

    cookaroochon July 29, 2009   Link
  • +1
    General Comment

    Alone in the clouds all blue Lying on an eiderdown. Yippee! You can't see me But I can you.

    Lazing in the foggy dew Sitting on a unicorn. No fair, you can't hear me But I can you.

    Watching buttercups cup the light Sleeping on a dandelion. Too much, I won't touch you But then I might.

    Screaming through the starlit sky Traveling by telephone. Hey ho, here we go Ever so high.

    Alone in the clouds all blue Lying on an eiderdown. Yippee! You can't see me But I can you.

    craiguson March 29, 2003   Link
  • +1
    General Comment

    i love this song. it makes me happy, its sorta creepy though. i love how syd barrett has this carefree childhood feel to his songs. He seems to have thing for eiderdowns though, ive heard him mention them in other songs.

    pinkfloydsydbarretton April 10, 2005   Link
  • +1
    My Interpretation

    I dropped recently, and since I'm a Floydian, I listened to several hours of PF music throughout it. One song that I listened to was this one. Of course, I was listening to Piper as a unit, so in it's context, it fit, but as soon as it came on, it evoked an emotion in me that was different from what any of the other songs had pulled out. For starters, it sounds quite popish, with the catchy lyrics and music, but it had a creepy element in it, that made me a little edgy. Overall, I think that a lot of what PF did was made for people who were high, to be honest... "ever so hiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiigh....."

    njadams10on October 04, 2010   Link
  • +1
    General Comment

    Just shows how innocent Syd was. It's a beautiful little song filled with joy and wonder.

    TRNightdanceron April 15, 2020   Link
  • 0
    General Comment

    LSD...

    Interstellar Axemanon April 09, 2003   Link
  • 0
    General Comment

    this is one of my all time favourite pink floyd songs although from the lsd ridden syd barrett era the song does have a deep meaning ..here hes describing his 'acid trip tea parties' he regulary had in his back garden ..i think in the song hes trying to escape the troubles of life as when hes trippin he doesnt have to worry bout any of that stuff its a form of escapism tht works when u lisen to it too thts why i like it ..tht little kid type attitude of syd is what made the songs so fun to lisen to ..

    apprantly it called 'flaming' due to a sensation when your trippin tht makes everything look like its on fire....hmmmm..lol

    phantomlordon May 31, 2004   Link

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