Jugband Blues (2:58)

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“‘Jugband Blues’ is the ultimate self-diagnosis on a state of schizophrenia…’I’m most obliged to you for making it clear that I’m not here - and I’m wondering who could be writing this song.’”

- Peter Jenner

“It is almost a poetic recitation by Barrett, with avantgarde sound effects by the group. The centre passage is almost free form pop, with six members of the Salvation Army on the recording session told to ‘play what you like.’

— Alan Walsh, “HITS ? THE FLOYD COULDN’T CARE LESS” Melody Maker December 9, 1967.

Jugband Blues is a poignant coda to Syd’s tenure as leader of Pink Floyd, the final track on Saucerful Of Secrets, recorded long before work began on the second album in October 1967. When Andrew King heard Syd play it for the first time he was awestruck. An extraordinary hybrid, part jaunty singalong, part melancholic love song, part insane Dadaist freefall, it was, in his view, one of the finest things Syd had ever produced and petitioned for its release as the next single.

It was recorded in two sections at De Lane Lea Studios, the first with the Floyd, the latter just Syd alone with an acoustic guitar. In a moment of sublime clarity he encapsulated the pain of his own deteriorating mental condition in lines like, “I’m most obliged to you for making it clear that I’m not here/And I’m wondering who could be writing this song.” Though each line seems to be a non sequitur, they come together into an impression of Syd’s advancing illness…

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psychedelic rock, progressive rock, psychedelic, classic rock, pink floyd
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Cloudy-Now wrote:
Sunday afternoon

syd <3 I Love this man..

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is_she_weird wrote:
18 days ago

my favorite floyd track. the ending never fails to pull the hell outta my heart strings. one of the most beautiful yet sad endings in a song EVER.

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madcap11 wrote:
last month

I disagree with Jenner on this one: I think the line he's referring to is more of a sarcastic remark to the band taking control and attempting to push their frontman to the back than a self-diagnosis of schizophrenia. Syd didn't have schizophrenia: he was never diagnosed and never went into a mental hospital for it, it's essentially bull that Waters and the rest of the band propagated to justify kicking him out.

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deletedscene wrote:
September 2009

The end is lovely, but so sad...

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casadivetro wrote:
September 2009

Oh, Syd!

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davidbowiegirl wrote:
September 2009

So sad and odd song, will always love Syd and this song! <3

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mushroomhats wrote:
September 2009

Surely this prooves that Syd's the best.

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RenanSalaberga wrote:
September 2009

SYD I LOVE YOU

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Gohel wrote:
August 2009

Saddest and best song ever.

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felghen wrote:
July 2009

And what exactly is a joke?

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japhii wrote:
July 2009

<3

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felghen wrote:
July 2009

:o

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Sviests4 wrote:
July 2009

This song is pure irony! "I'm wondering who could be writing this song?" - you can actually hear that irony - like he's thinking: "Of course, that's me who is writing this song, because I'm the only one who can write a song"

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uninamer999 wrote:
June 2009

you piper.

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midnightsongs wrote:
June 2009

crazy diamond

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haneater wrote:
May 2009

i love this song

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KingHeff wrote:
May 2009

SYD i love you

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Slit_Your_Guts wrote:
April 2009

He's wondering who could be writing this song...love this

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dundee12 wrote:
April 2009

a sad farewell indeed

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PrinceDaniel07 wrote:
April 2009

What a strange song... very good.

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