Relics
(1971)

Editorial Reviews
Amazon.com
This compilation and "greatest hits" package has the odd distinction of being released well before the band hit its stadium-filling prime in the mid-to-late '70s. This album essentially bridges the considerable gap between original leader Syd Barrett's baroque psychedelic pop-single bent (exemplified here by the band's first chart hit "See Emily Play" and the cross-dressing mini-epic "Arnold Layne," both stellar singles left off the band's debut album) and the more ponderous musical pretensions of Roger Waters, the band's de facto leader after mental illness sidelined Barrett early on. It's a good introduction to the band's foundations for Floyd novices, and the inclusion of the early singles and two early outtakes "Julia Dream" and "Biding My Time") make it a must for aficionados. --Jerry McCulley


CD Ref.: Emd/Capitol; ASIN: B000002U0D
CD Date: August 6, 1996
N. CDs: 1
Compilation

Tracks

01. Arnold Layne (Barrett) info lyrics
02. Interstellar Overdrive (Barrett, Waters, Wright, Mason) info lyrics
03. See Emily Play (Barrett) info lyrics
04. Remember A Day (Wright) info lyrics
05. Paint Box (Wright) info lyrics
(previously unreleased)
06. Julia Dream (Waters) info lyrics
(previously unreleased)
07. Careful With That Axe, Eugene (Mason, Gilmour, Waters, Wright) info lyrics
08. Cirrus Minor (Waters) info lyrics
09. Nile Song, The (Waters) info lyrics
10. Biding My Time (Waters) info lyrics
(previously unreleased)
11. Bike (Barrett) info lyrics

Lyrics

01. Arnold Layne (Barrett) tracks

Arnold Layne had a strange hobby
Collecting clothes
Moonshine washing line
They suit him fine
On the wall hung a tall mirror
Distorted view, see through baby blue
Oh, Arnold Layne
It's not the same, takes two to know
Two to know, two to know
Why can't you see?
Arnold Layne, Arnold Layne, Arnold Layne, Arnold Layne

Now he's caught - a nasty sort of person.
They gave him time
Doors bang - chain gang - he hates it
Oh, Arnold Layne
It's not the same, takes two to know
Two to know, two to know
Why can't you see?
Arnold Layne, Arnold Layne, Arnold Layne, Arnold Layne

Don't do it again


02. Interstellar Overdrive (Barrett, Waters, Wright, Mason) tracks

(Instrumental)


03. See Emily Play (Barrett) tracks

Emily tries but misunderstands, ah ooh
She often inclined to borrow somebody's dreams till tomorrow
There is no other day
Let's try it another way
You'll lose your mind and play
Free games for may
See Emily play
Soon after dark Emily cries, ah ooh
Gazing through trees in sorrow hardly a sound till tomorrow
There is no other day
Let's try it another way
You'll lose your mind and play
Free games for may
See Emily play
Put on a gown that touches the ground, ah ooh
Float on a river forever and ever, Emily
There is no other day
Let's try it another way
You'll lose your mind and play
Free games for may
See Emily play


04. Remember A Day (Wright) tracks

Remember a day before today
A day when you were young
Free to play along with time
Evening never comes

Sing a song that can't be sung
Without the morning's kiss
Queen you shall be if you wish
Look for your king

Why can't we play today
Why can't we stay that way

Climb your favourite apple tree
Try to catch the sun
Hide from your little brother's gun
Dream yourself away

Why can't we reach the sun
Why can't we blow the years away
Blow away
Blow away
Remember
Remember


05. Paint Box (Wright) tracks

Last night I had too much to drink
Sitting in a club with so many fools
Playing to rules
Trying to impress but feeling rather empty
I had another drink
Drink - a - drink - a - drink - a - drink

What a way to spend that evening
They all turn up with their friends
Playing the game
But in the scene I should have been
Far away
Away - away - away - away - away
Getting up, I feel as if I'm remembering this scene before
I open the door to an empty room
Then I forget

The telephone rings and someone speaks
She would very much like to go out to a show
So what can I do - I can't think what to say
She sees through anyway
Away - away - away - away - away

Out of the front door I go
Traffic's moving rather slow
Arriving late, there she waits
Looking very angry, as cross as she can be
Be - a - be - a - be - a - be - a - be
Getting up, I feel as if I'm remembering this scene before
I open the door to an empty room
Then I forget


06. Julia Dream (Waters) tracks

Sunlight bright upon my pillow
Lighter than an eiderdown
Will she let the weeping willow
Wind his branches round
Julia dream, dreamboat queen, queen of all my dreams
Every night I turn the light out

Waiting for the velvet bride
Will the scaly armadillo
Find me where I'm hiding
Julia dream, dreamboat queen, queen of all my dreams
Will the misty master break me
Will the key unlock my mind
Will the following footsteps catch me
Am I really dying
Julia dream, dreamboat queen, queen of all my dreams


07. Careful With That Axe, Eugene (Mason, Gilmour, Waters, Wright) tracks

(Instrumental)


08. Cirrus Minor (Waters) tracks

In a churchyard by a river,
Lazing in the haze of midday,
Laughing in the grasses and the graze.
Yellow bird, you are alone
In singing and in flying on,
In laughing and in leaving.

Willow weeping in the water,
Waving to the river daughters,
Swaying in the ripples and the reeds.
On a trip to Cirrus Minor,
Saw a crater in the sun
A thousand miles of moonlight later.


09. Nile Song, The (Waters) tracks

I was standing by the Nile
When I saw the lady smile.
I would take her out for a while,
For a while.

Oh, my tears wept like a child.
How her golden hair was blowing wild.
Then she spread her wings to fly,
For to fly.

Soaring high above the breezes,
Going always where she pleases.
She will make it to the islands in the sun.

I will follow in her shadow
As I watch her from my window.
One day I will catch her eye.

She is calling from the deep,
Summoning my soul to endless sleep.
She is bound to drag me down,
Drag me down.


10. Biding My Time (Waters) tracks

Wasting my time,
Resting my mind
And I'll never pine
For the sad days and the bad days
When we was workin' from nine to five.
And if you don't mind
I'll spend my time
Here by the fire side
In the warm light of her eyes.
And if you don't mind
I'll spend my time
Here by the fire side
In the warm light of her eyes.


11. Bike (Barrett) tracks

I've got a bike. You can ride it if you like.
It's got a basket, a bell that rings and
Things to make it look good.
I'd give it to you if I could, but I borrowed it.

You're the kind of girl that fits in with my world.
I'll give you anything, ev'rything if you want things.

I've got a cloak. It's a bit of a joke.
There's a tear up the front. It's red and black.
I've had it for months.
If you think it could look good, then I guess it should.

You're the kind of girl that fits in with my world.
I'll give you anything, ev'rything if you want things.

I know a mouse, and he hasn't got a house.
I don't know why. I call him Gerald.
He's getting rather old, but he's a good mouse.

You're the kind of girl that fits in with my world.
I'll give you anything, ev'rything if you want things.

I've got a clan of gingerbread men.
Here a man, there a man, lots of gingerbread men.
Take a couple if you wish. They're on the dish.

You're the kind of girl that fits in with my world.
I'll give you anything, ev'rything if you want things.

I know a room full of musical tunes.
Some rhyme, some ching. Most of them are clockwork.
Let's go into the other room and make them work.


Notes

Release date: May 1971

This is a compilation for early Floyd songs. It has been finally made available on CD some time ago, as a remastered version.

Tracks:


  1. Arnold Layne (Barrett) [02:52] Vocals by Barret.
  2. Interstellar Overdrive (Barrett, Waters, Wright, Mason) [09:30] Instrumental.
  3. See Emily Play (Barrett) [02:50] Vocals by Barrett.
  4. Remember A Day (Wright) [04:26] Vocals by Wright.
  5. Paint Box (Wright) [03:30] Vocals by Wright.
  6. Julia Dream (Waters) [02:34] Vocals by Waters.
  7. Careful With That Axe, Eugene (Waters, Wright, Gilmour, Mason) [07:45] Vocals by Waters.
  8. Cirrus Minor (Waters) [05:09] Vocals by Gilmour.
  9. The Nile Song (Waters) [03:20] Vocals by Gilmour.
  10. Biding My Time (Waters) [05:13] Vocals by Waters.
  11. Bike (Barrett) [03:20] Vocals by Barrett.


Total Playing Time: 48'24

Musicians Featured:
Syd Barrett: Guitars, Vocals
David Gilmour: Guitars, Vocals
Nick Mason: Drums
Roger Waters: Bass Guitar, Vocals
Rick Wright: Keyboard, Vocals