What do the lyrics of See Saw mean? (Saucerful of secrets)

[BrianW]

In advance of the exhibition 'Syd Barrett - Art and Letters' here is a teaser:

What do the lyrics of See Saw mean?

No they are not random gibberish words - in fact the best lyrics that Rick Wright ever wrote.

At the exhibition information will be displayed which explains all...

But for the moment I will be happy to get your comments and to guide you in understanding what these lyrics were about...

So - how do you interpret this song?

BrianW
Curator - Syd Barrett: Art and Letters

[Jimi Dean Barrett]

I'm looking at the lyric booklet right now.

First impression: Rick sparked up to "Gardeners Question Time"?
Second impression: #Rick and his sister up a tree/ One eyed children eventually
Cynical impression: Rog: Aww nawo! Our lead psikedewlic singer has gone, quick write some psikedewlic songs! Something about childhood or something? Money in da baaaaank!
Fourth impression: Oh he didn't nick it from A A Milne did he? Would the last psychedelic writer to use their own ideas please turn out the lights?
Fifth impression: Down about her growing up for another man? Rick... FAMILY CAN'T BREED!

So it probably isn't about Rick Wright wishing he could take his sofa into the yard and drive a truck that shows people he supports troops and foetuses, but you've got to admit, it'd be an amusing exhibition if it was?

All the best with it Brian! And thank you for keeping A Saucerful Of Secrets alive.

(and for his next trick, Redneck Wright beats himself up as he doesn't like what his "Great Gig In The Sky" song says about Jesus)

[BrianW]

Hint: it is not about Rick's sister.

[danielcaux]

Ooooooooh! Is about Syd, his sister, some groupies that are after him and even Barrett's own LSD induced mental "absence"? Hence the "A brother's way to leave" line?

Marigolds are very much in love, but he doesn't mind
Picking up his sister, he makes his way into the seas or land
All the way she smiles
She goes up while he goes down, down
Sits on a stick in the river
Laughter in his sleep
Sister's throwing stones, hoping for a hit
He doesn't know so then
She goes up while he goes down, down
Another time, another day
A brother's way to leave
Another time, another day

She'll be selling plastic flowers on a Sunday afternoon

Picking up weeds, she hasn't got the time to care
All can see he's not there
She grows up for another man, and he's down
Another time, another day
A brother's way to leave
Another time, another day
Another time, another day
A brother's way to leave

[NUMBER61]

i always assumed see saw was about drug addiction (up and down)
and is a metaphor for the decline of flower power in the late sixties,
possibly also a metaphor for the decline of syd barrett.

[BrianW]

I am seeing Libby, Viv 'Little Twig' Brans and others tomorrow, and it just occurred to me that I never explained my take on these lyrics.

Many on the Internet have noticed that these lyrics are the best that Rick Wright ever wrote. In fact there is a lot of word play here, just the sort of thing that Syd liked to do. Syd and Rick were living together in Richmond when the song was written. In the book "The Pink Floyd" by Rick Sanders it is claimed that Syd participated in the first of three studio recordings of "See-saw".

Thoughts:

"Marigolds" - Libby, Syd's childhood sweetheart, had recently got married when the song was authored.

"Selling flowers on a Sunday afternoon" - This is what many nurses did in the 60s. Have a look at the lyrics for Penny Lane by the Beatles. The author of these lyrics was referring to a nurse who is his sister. Rosemary?

"Picking up weeds" - double-entrendre: either botanical weeds, or perhaps 'weedy' men not worthy of her.

"See-saw" - The author is entering a period of depression and 'going down'. At the same time, note that Syd met Libby when playing on a see-saw in a playground opposite public baths at Jesus Green as she was waiting for David Gilmour to finish swimming...

... and "Man Swimming" is a sketch in one of the love letters that Syd sent to Libby - the same sheet of paper has the text "at Jesus Green" and a circus.

The same letter also shows the recurring theme of "Victorian Lady with yo-yo". Syd was tutoring Libby in how to sketch a Victorian lady as part of her art course at school.

See also http://www.neptunepinkfloyd.co.uk/photo ... lage-582-1

And this high quality coffee-table book reproducing his artwork http://barrettbook.com

Thoughts anyone?

Brian W.

[danielcaux]

Thanks for such neat info! Gives the song a whole different light.