Paranoid Eyes Lyrics – The Final Cut – Pink Floyd
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Paranoid Eyes (Waters)
Button your lip. Don’t let the shield slip.
Take a fresh grip on your bullet proof mask.
And if they try to break down your disguise with their questions
You can hide, hide, hide,
“I’ll tell you what, I’ll give you three blacks, and play you for five
…”
“Ta! You was unlucky there son”
“Time gentleman!”
Behind paranoid eyes.
You put on our brave face and slip over the road for a jar.
Fixing your grin as you casually lean on the bar,
Laughing too loud at the rest of the world
With the boys in the crowd
You hide, hide, hide,
Behind petrified eyes.
You believed in their stories of fame, fortune and glory.
Now you’re lost in a haze of alcohol soft middle age
The pie in the sky turned out to be miles too high.
And you hide, hide, hide,
Behind brown and mild eyes.
“Oi!”
The Final Cut was Roger Water’s final album with Pink Floyd
- The Post War Dream
- Your Possible Pasts
- One of the Few
- The Hero’s Return
- The Gunner’s Dream
- Paranoid Eyes
- Get Your Filthy Hands Off My Desert
- The Fletcher Memorial Home
- Southampton Doc
- The Final Cut
- Not Now John
- Two Suns in the Sunset
Analysis of Paranoid Eyes
“Paranoid Eyes” by Pink Floyd, from their 1983 album “The Final Cut,” is a deeply introspective track that delves into the human condition, particularly themes of isolation, disillusionment, and the burdens of societal expectations. The song’s haunting melody and evocative lyrics create a vivid depiction of the world as seen through a lens of fear and mistrust. It challenges listeners to consider the reasons behind the facades people present to the world, often disguising their true selves behind masks and protective shields to avoid vulnerability.
The lyric “Button your lip and don’t let the shield slip” symbolizes the suppression of genuine expression due to societal pressures, where individuals feel compelled to wear a metaphorical “bulletproof mask” to protect their authentic selves. Additionally, the lines “You can hide, hide, hide, behind paranoid eyes” expand upon the theme of self-imposed isolation. This portrays the habit of hiding not as a temporary measure, but as a deeply ingrained defence mechanism rooted in distrust and fear. The song exposes the fragility of the human psyche, emphasizing the consequences of living in a constant state of paranoia and highlighting the challenges of coping with the weight of societal expectations.
