Only shallow lyrics deserve shallow analysis. Shallow analysis involves trying to pick out things like every possible drugs reference. The Dark Side of the Moon has very deep lyrics and they deserve better than that. And when I say deep analysis, I don't mean vigorous, I mean emotionally deep.
"The lunatic is on the grass" - this is obviously a reference to the notorious "Keep off the grass" signs. So the man who is considered insane is sitting on the forbidden turf, in his own happy world of "games and daisy chains and laughs". Insanity is looked on as stepping off the boundaries of accepted society ("the path").
Then we have the lunatic being mentioned again, but we discover he is only one of several "lunatics" being held down and repressed. Repressing insanity and trying to keep people in place becomes routine, as "every day the paper boy brings more". Essentially doing the same unnatural thing to many naturally different individiuals. There is no nature in it.
The first chorus builds up to the title line of the album. If disaster strikes and "the dam breaks open many years too soon" and there is limited refuge "on the hill", it leaves a silent question as to what would happen to the people in society that we don't value. It also asks us what'll happen if the same thing happens to us, and says that's if that's the case "I'll see you on the dark side of the moon". More on the title line later.
The other verse is actually told in the first person, a person who is mad. And the "lunatic" is something deeper. "You raise the blade" and "make the change" does indeed imply brain surgery, but it could be psychological. But it shows how society will try to fix and "rearrange" people and questions the need for this. The last part ("You lock the door and throw away the key") says we abandon and repress insanity, as though it is the victim's fault when it isn't. He just surrenders to society. Just like Syd Barrett being left behind by the band, and as his own song 'Dark Globe' shows, you shouldn't get the impression Syd wasn't aware of himself.
The end of the song is about a "cloud burst", a huge and powerful force. Why then does the thunder only go in one ear and (presumably) not the other? It's a strong and terrible force, and when you shout for help "no-one seems to hear". But this chorus is now in the second person, and we are the lunatic. We get another clear Barrett reference hear, which needs no explaining. I've always interpreted it that Roger was guilty of leaving Barrett behind.
"I'll see you on the dark side of the moon" - Roger felt he could relate to Barrett's own feelings, and also to our own madness. The moon has often been associated with Insanity and darkness. And the moon itself is split between a bright side and a dark side, slowly moving between the two. The light and dark imagery - we hear that at the end of Eclipse.
When I read your introductory rant about shallow interpretations I assumed one would follow. I am glad to be disappointed :)
When I read your introductory rant about shallow interpretations I assumed one would follow. I am glad to be disappointed :)
But I do have another take on the dam metaphor, more closely related to Syd Barret: some of the 'lunatics' are people that awakened by drug use, but this can be abused, and if you awaken before the conditions are right ('the dam breaks open many years too soon') you might have no condition to use this knowledge and be effectively stuck in place ('there is no room upon the hill'). This would be enough for some to cross the line between being only a lunatic in society's eyes and actually slip into insanity.
And once society can say you are clinically insane they will intervene (raise the blade, rearrange til sane, lock the door and throw away the key). Once they take away your freedom they might even convince you that the voice inside your head is not yours.
@noonebeatsdylan I actually made an account to leave a comment on your analysis- this has to be the best interpretation of this song I've yet to hear, very smart
@noonebeatsdylan I actually made an account to leave a comment on your analysis- this has to be the best interpretation of this song I've yet to hear, very smart
@noonebeatsdylan Dark side of the moon represents death, to me, as we don't know what's there, as we are not sure what happens when we die. Death is a fitting end to the album which is all about life, from start to end.
@noonebeatsdylan Dark side of the moon represents death, to me, as we don't know what's there, as we are not sure what happens when we die. Death is a fitting end to the album which is all about life, from start to end.
I think the "you raise the blade" lines can be taken more literally.
It very much makes sense if you look at it at describing a lobotomy. "Locking the door and throwing away the key" also fits, a lobotomy is not only a cruel and unnecessary procedure, but also an irreversible one.
I think it literally describes a lobotomy to act as an example of the treatment of mental illness that you discussed.
I think the "you raise the blade" lines can be taken more literally.
It very much makes sense if you look at it at describing a lobotomy. "Locking the door and throwing away the key" also fits, a lobotomy is not only a cruel and unnecessary procedure, but also an irreversible one.
I think it literally describes a lobotomy to act as an example of the treatment of mental illness that you discussed.
@noonebeatsdylan Well, I know you posted this 8 years ago and will probably not read my answer, but I feel a strong need to post my interpretation.
Most of the people are associating the verse "The lunatic is my head" to a lobotomy or how society changes you, but I see it in a totally different way.
To me, when he says "The lunatic is in my head", he's saying that the 'lunatic', or the 'crazy person' that does not match with society is an essencial part of him. And when he says "he raise the blade" (a demonstration that the 'crazy...
@noonebeatsdylan Well, I know you posted this 8 years ago and will probably not read my answer, but I feel a strong need to post my interpretation.
Most of the people are associating the verse "The lunatic is my head" to a lobotomy or how society changes you, but I see it in a totally different way.
To me, when he says "The lunatic is in my head", he's saying that the 'lunatic', or the 'crazy person' that does not match with society is an essencial part of him. And when he says "he raise the blade" (a demonstration that the 'crazy person' takes control of him), "he makes the change" (the lunatic, when "summoned" [like in moments of crysis, when your average 'you' is not enabled to deal with the situation presented], changes the very essence of you), "he rearrenges me 'till i'm sane" (again, the 'lunatic' is an essencial part to the keeping of your mental health). "He locks the door and throw away the key" (the 'lunatic' takes control over your aware 'self'), "there's someone in my head, but it's not me" (again, the 'lunatic' is not a part of what you consider to be yourself, but it IS an essential part of you, and there's no use to trying to supress it).
Again, that's just my interpretation, but I'm curious to see if anybody has thought of it that way.
@noonebeatsdylan The lunatics are on the grass refers to the lawns at Kings College Cambridge where Syd Barrett, Roger Waters and David Gilmour come from. Roger Waters saw some students sitting on the grass next to a 'keep off the grass' sign
@noonebeatsdylan The lunatics are on the grass refers to the lawns at Kings College Cambridge where Syd Barrett, Roger Waters and David Gilmour come from. Roger Waters saw some students sitting on the grass next to a 'keep off the grass' sign
Only shallow lyrics deserve shallow analysis. Shallow analysis involves trying to pick out things like every possible drugs reference. The Dark Side of the Moon has very deep lyrics and they deserve better than that. And when I say deep analysis, I don't mean vigorous, I mean emotionally deep.
"The lunatic is on the grass" - this is obviously a reference to the notorious "Keep off the grass" signs. So the man who is considered insane is sitting on the forbidden turf, in his own happy world of "games and daisy chains and laughs". Insanity is looked on as stepping off the boundaries of accepted society ("the path").
Then we have the lunatic being mentioned again, but we discover he is only one of several "lunatics" being held down and repressed. Repressing insanity and trying to keep people in place becomes routine, as "every day the paper boy brings more". Essentially doing the same unnatural thing to many naturally different individiuals. There is no nature in it.
The first chorus builds up to the title line of the album. If disaster strikes and "the dam breaks open many years too soon" and there is limited refuge "on the hill", it leaves a silent question as to what would happen to the people in society that we don't value. It also asks us what'll happen if the same thing happens to us, and says that's if that's the case "I'll see you on the dark side of the moon". More on the title line later.
The other verse is actually told in the first person, a person who is mad. And the "lunatic" is something deeper. "You raise the blade" and "make the change" does indeed imply brain surgery, but it could be psychological. But it shows how society will try to fix and "rearrange" people and questions the need for this. The last part ("You lock the door and throw away the key") says we abandon and repress insanity, as though it is the victim's fault when it isn't. He just surrenders to society. Just like Syd Barrett being left behind by the band, and as his own song 'Dark Globe' shows, you shouldn't get the impression Syd wasn't aware of himself.
The end of the song is about a "cloud burst", a huge and powerful force. Why then does the thunder only go in one ear and (presumably) not the other? It's a strong and terrible force, and when you shout for help "no-one seems to hear". But this chorus is now in the second person, and we are the lunatic. We get another clear Barrett reference hear, which needs no explaining. I've always interpreted it that Roger was guilty of leaving Barrett behind.
"I'll see you on the dark side of the moon" - Roger felt he could relate to Barrett's own feelings, and also to our own madness. The moon has often been associated with Insanity and darkness. And the moon itself is split between a bright side and a dark side, slowly moving between the two. The light and dark imagery - we hear that at the end of Eclipse.
When I read your introductory rant about shallow interpretations I assumed one would follow. I am glad to be disappointed :)
When I read your introductory rant about shallow interpretations I assumed one would follow. I am glad to be disappointed :)
But I do have another take on the dam metaphor, more closely related to Syd Barret: some of the 'lunatics' are people that awakened by drug use, but this can be abused, and if you awaken before the conditions are right ('the dam breaks open many years too soon') you might have no condition to use this knowledge and be effectively stuck in place ('there is no room upon the hill'). This would be enough for some to cross the line between being only a lunatic in society's eyes and actually slip into insanity.
And once society can say you are clinically insane they will intervene (raise the blade, rearrange til sane, lock the door and throw away the key). Once they take away your freedom they might even convince you that the voice inside your head is not yours.
Classy analysis friend. Thanks for spending this time.
Classy analysis friend. Thanks for spending this time.
@noonebeatsdylan I actually made an account to leave a comment on your analysis- this has to be the best interpretation of this song I've yet to hear, very smart
@noonebeatsdylan I actually made an account to leave a comment on your analysis- this has to be the best interpretation of this song I've yet to hear, very smart
@noonebeatsdylan Dark side of the moon represents death, to me, as we don't know what's there, as we are not sure what happens when we die. Death is a fitting end to the album which is all about life, from start to end.
@noonebeatsdylan Dark side of the moon represents death, to me, as we don't know what's there, as we are not sure what happens when we die. Death is a fitting end to the album which is all about life, from start to end.
I think the "you raise the blade" lines can be taken more literally. It very much makes sense if you look at it at describing a lobotomy. "Locking the door and throwing away the key" also fits, a lobotomy is not only a cruel and unnecessary procedure, but also an irreversible one. I think it literally describes a lobotomy to act as an example of the treatment of mental illness that you discussed.
I think the "you raise the blade" lines can be taken more literally. It very much makes sense if you look at it at describing a lobotomy. "Locking the door and throwing away the key" also fits, a lobotomy is not only a cruel and unnecessary procedure, but also an irreversible one. I think it literally describes a lobotomy to act as an example of the treatment of mental illness that you discussed.
@noonebeatsdylan Well, I know you posted this 8 years ago and will probably not read my answer, but I feel a strong need to post my interpretation. Most of the people are associating the verse "The lunatic is my head" to a lobotomy or how society changes you, but I see it in a totally different way. To me, when he says "The lunatic is in my head", he's saying that the 'lunatic', or the 'crazy person' that does not match with society is an essencial part of him. And when he says "he raise the blade" (a demonstration that the 'crazy...
@noonebeatsdylan Well, I know you posted this 8 years ago and will probably not read my answer, but I feel a strong need to post my interpretation. Most of the people are associating the verse "The lunatic is my head" to a lobotomy or how society changes you, but I see it in a totally different way. To me, when he says "The lunatic is in my head", he's saying that the 'lunatic', or the 'crazy person' that does not match with society is an essencial part of him. And when he says "he raise the blade" (a demonstration that the 'crazy person' takes control of him), "he makes the change" (the lunatic, when "summoned" [like in moments of crysis, when your average 'you' is not enabled to deal with the situation presented], changes the very essence of you), "he rearrenges me 'till i'm sane" (again, the 'lunatic' is an essencial part to the keeping of your mental health). "He locks the door and throw away the key" (the 'lunatic' takes control over your aware 'self'), "there's someone in my head, but it's not me" (again, the 'lunatic' is not a part of what you consider to be yourself, but it IS an essential part of you, and there's no use to trying to supress it). Again, that's just my interpretation, but I'm curious to see if anybody has thought of it that way.
@noonebeatsdylan The lunatics are on the grass refers to the lawns at Kings College Cambridge where Syd Barrett, Roger Waters and David Gilmour come from. Roger Waters saw some students sitting on the grass next to a 'keep off the grass' sign
@noonebeatsdylan The lunatics are on the grass refers to the lawns at Kings College Cambridge where Syd Barrett, Roger Waters and David Gilmour come from. Roger Waters saw some students sitting on the grass next to a 'keep off the grass' sign