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{{short description|1969 song by Pink Floyd}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=April 2022}}
{{Infobox song|
{{Infobox song|
| name = Grantchester Meadows
| name = Grantchester Meadows
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| venue =
| venue =
| genre = [[Psychedelic folk]], [[Experimental music|experimental]]
| genre = [[Psychedelic folk]], [[Experimental music|experimental]]
| length = 7:26
| length = {{Duration|m=7|s=26}}
| label = [[Harvest Records]]
| label = [[Harvest Records]]
| writer = [[Roger Waters]]
| writer = [[Roger Waters]]
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| next_title =
| next_title =
| next_year =
| next_year =
| misc = {{External music video|header=Official audio|{{YouTube|NyBh2GAL0bE|"Grantchester Meadows" (2011 Remastered Version)}}}}
}}
}}


"'''Grantchester Meadows'''" is the second track from the studio disc of the experimental [[Pink Floyd]] album ''[[Ummagumma]].''<ref>{{cite book |last=Strong |first=Martin C. |title=The Great Rock Discography |publisher=[[Canongate Books]] |location=Edinburgh |isbn=1-84195-551-5 |page=1177 |year=2004 |edition=7th}}</ref> It was written and performed entirely by [[Roger Waters]]. The song features his lyrics accompanied by an acoustic guitar played by Waters himself, while a tape loop of a [[skylark]] chirps in the background throughout the entire song.<ref name=toby161>{{cite book |last=Manning |first=Toby |title=The Rough Guide to Pink Floyd |year=2006 |publisher=Rough Guides |location=London |isbn=1-84353-575-0 |page=161 |edition=1st}}</ref> At approximately 4:13, the sound of a honking [[goose]] is temporarily introduced, followed by the sound of it taking off. As the instrumental track fades out, an incessant buzzing [[fly]] which has been heard throughout the song is chased after by an unidentified person (represented by the sound of footsteps) and finally swatted, cutting abruptly to [[Several_Species_of_Small_Furry_Animals_Gathered_Together_in_a_Cave_and_Grooving_with_a_Pict|the next track]].
"'''Grantchester Meadows'''" is the second track from the studio disc of the 1969 [[Pink Floyd]] album ''[[Ummagumma]]''.<ref>{{cite book |last=Strong |first=Martin C. |author-link=Martin C. Strong |title=The Great Rock Discography |publisher=[[Canongate Books]] |location=Edinburgh |isbn=1-84195-551-5 |page=1177 |year=2004 |edition=7th}}</ref>


==Composition==
⚫
This song was one of several to be considered for, but ultimately excluded from, the band's "best of" album, ''[[Echoes: The Best of Pink Floyd]]''.<ref name="GuthrieAudio">{{cite web |url=http://www.pinkfloyd.co.uk/echoes/ae/james.html |title=James Guthrie: Audio: Building A Compilation Album |last=Guthrie |first=James |publisher=Pink Floyd |accessdate=17 June 2013 |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20100602090835/http://www.pinkfloyd.co.uk/echoes/ae/james.html |archivedate=2 June 2010}}</ref> A live version of the song was released as the first single to promote ''[[The Early Years 1965–1972]]'' box set in 2016.
The song was written and performed entirely by [[Roger Waters]]. The song features his lyrics accompanied by an acoustic guitar, while a tape loop of a [[Alauda|skylark]] sings in the background throughout the entire song.<ref name=toby161>{{cite book |last=Manning |first=Toby |title=The Rough Guide to Pink Floyd |year=2006 |publisher=Rough Guides |location=London |isbn=1-84353-575-0 |page=161 |edition=1st}}</ref> At approximately 4:13, the sound of a honking [[Tundra swan|Bewick's swan]] is introduced, followed by the sound of it taking off from water. As the instrumental track fades out, an incessant buzzing [[bee]] which has been heard throughout the song, is chased after by an unidentified person (represented by the sound of footsteps) and finally [[Fly swat|swatted]], cutting abruptly to [[Several Species of Small Furry Animals Gathered Together in a Cave and Grooving with a Pict|the next track]].

⚫
This song was one of several to be considered for, but ultimately excluded from, the band's "best of" album, ''[[Echoes: The Best of Pink Floyd]]''.<ref name="GuthrieAudio">{{cite web |url=http://www.pinkfloyd.co.uk/echoes/ae/james.html |title=James Guthrie: Audio: Building A Compilation Album |last=Guthrie |first=James |author-link=James Guthrie (record producer) |publisher=Pink Floyd |access-date=17 June 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100602090835/http://www.pinkfloyd.co.uk/echoes/ae/james.html |archive-date=2 June 2010}}</ref> A live version of the song was released as the first single to promote ''[[The Early Years 1965–1972]]'' box set in 2016.


==Lyrics==
==Lyrics==


⚫
The lyrics describe a pastoral and dream-like scene at [[Grantchester Meadows]] in [[Cambridgeshire]],<ref>{{cite book |last=Palacios |first=Julian |title=Lost in the Woods: Syd Barrett and the Pink Floyd |year=1998 |publisher=Boxtree |location=London |isbn=0-7522-2328-3 |edition=1st |page=6}}</ref> close to where fellow band member [[David Gilmour]] lived at the time.<ref name=PMF12>{{cite book |last=Blake |first=Mark |author-link=Mark Blake (writer) |title=Pigs Might Fly: The Inside Story of Pink Floyd |year=2013 |publisher=Aurum |location=London |isbn=978-1-78131-057-1 |page=12 |edition=Updated and expanded}}</ref> This type of [[pastoral]] [[ballad]] was typical of Roger Waters' compositional approach in the late sixties and early seventies. It was a style that he was to continue on his first album outside of Pink Floyd – ''[[Music from The Body|Music from "The Body"]]'' (in collaboration with [[Ron Geesin]]) and "[[If (Pink Floyd song)|If]]" from ''[[Atom Heart Mother]]''. It is one of several Pink Floyd songs that praise the [[Great Britain|British]] countryside.

⚫
The lyrics describe a pastoral and dream-like scene at the [[Grantchester Meadows]] in [[Cambridgeshire]],<ref>{{cite book |last=Palacios |first=Julian |title=Lost in the Woods: Syd Barrett and the Pink Floyd |year=1998 |publisher=Boxtree |location=London |isbn=0-7522-2328-3 |edition=1st |page=6}}</ref> close to where fellow band member [[David Gilmour]] lived at the time.<ref name=PMF12>{{cite book |last=Blake |first=Mark |title=Pigs Might Fly: The Inside Story of Pink Floyd |year=2013 |publisher=Aurum |location=London |isbn=978-1-78131-057-1 |page=12 |edition=Updated and expanded}}</ref> This type of [[pastoral]] [[ballad]] was typical of Roger Waters' compositional approach in the late sixties and early seventies. It was a style that he was to continue on his first album outside of Pink Floyd – ''[[Music from The Body|Music from "The Body"]]'' (in collaboration with [[Ron Geesin]]) and "[[If (Pink Floyd song)|If]]" from ''[[Atom Heart Mother]]''. It is one of the many Pink Floyd songs that praise the [[Great Britain|British]] countryside.


==Sound==
==Sound==
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;Additional live personnel
;Additional live personnel
*[[David Gilmour]] – second acoustic guitar, chorus vocals
*[[David Gilmour]] – second acoustic guitar, chorus vocals
*[[Richard Wright (musician)|Richard Wright]] – [[keyboard instrument|keyboards]]
*[[Richard Wright (musician)|Richard Wright]] – [[piano]], later [[Farfisa organ]]


==References==
==References==
Line 55: Line 60:
==External links==
==External links==
{{Wikiquote| Ummagumma}}
{{Wikiquote| Ummagumma}}
* Offical music video {{YouTube|2DAdWcsM7Po|"Grantchester Meadows" (Official Music Video)}} - with lyrics


{{Ummagumma}}
{{Ummagumma}}
{{Pink Floyd}}
{{Pink Floyd}}

{{authority control}}


[[Category:1969 songs]]
[[Category:1969 songs]]
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[[Category:Psychedelic songs]]
[[Category:Psychedelic songs]]
[[Category:Songs written by Roger Waters]]
[[Category:Songs written by Roger Waters]]
[[Category:Music in Cambridge]]
[[Category:Songs about England]]
[[Category:Grantchester|Meadows song]]

Latest revision as of 17:28, 25 October 2024

"Grantchester Meadows"
Song by Pink Floyd
from the album Ummagumma
PublishedLupus Music Ltd.
Released25 October 1969 (UK)
10 November 1969 (US)
Recorded2 May 1969
GenrePsychedelic folk, experimental
Length7:26
LabelHarvest Records
Songwriter(s)Roger Waters
Producer(s)Norman Smith
Official audio
"Grantchester Meadows" (2011 Remastered Version) on YouTube

"Grantchester Meadows" is the second track from the studio disc of the 1969 Pink Floyd album Ummagumma.[1]

Composition

[edit]

The song was written and performed entirely by Roger Waters. The song features his lyrics accompanied by an acoustic guitar, while a tape loop of a skylark sings in the background throughout the entire song.[2] At approximately 4:13, the sound of a honking Bewick's swan is introduced, followed by the sound of it taking off from water. As the instrumental track fades out, an incessant buzzing bee which has been heard throughout the song, is chased after by an unidentified person (represented by the sound of footsteps) and finally swatted, cutting abruptly to the next track.

This song was one of several to be considered for, but ultimately excluded from, the band's "best of" album, Echoes: The Best of Pink Floyd.[3] A live version of the song was released as the first single to promote The Early Years 1965–1972 box set in 2016.

Lyrics

[edit]

The lyrics describe a pastoral and dream-like scene at Grantchester Meadows in Cambridgeshire,[4] close to where fellow band member David Gilmour lived at the time.[5] This type of pastoral ballad was typical of Roger Waters' compositional approach in the late sixties and early seventies. It was a style that he was to continue on his first album outside of Pink Floyd – Music from "The Body" (in collaboration with Ron Geesin) and "If" from Atom Heart Mother. It is one of several Pink Floyd songs that praise the British countryside.

Sound

[edit]

The song is noted for its use of stereo effects and sound panning to create an illusion of space and depth.[2]

Live

[edit]

"Grantchester Meadows" was incorporated into Pink Floyd's The Man and the Journey concert suite as "Daybreak".[2] It was performed live during the 1970 US tour, often opening the show. Live renditions of the song included Gilmour on a second acoustic guitar and providing vocals[6] during the chorus, as well as Richard Wright playing two piano solos—one after the second verse's chorus and one during the coda (these solos were later played on the Farfisa organ).

Personnel

[edit]
Additional live personnel

References

[edit]
  1. ^ Strong, Martin C. (2004). The Great Rock Discography (7th ed.). Edinburgh: Canongate Books. p. 1177. ISBN 1-84195-551-5.
  2. ^ a b c Manning, Toby (2006). The Rough Guide to Pink Floyd (1st ed.). London: Rough Guides. p. 161. ISBN 1-84353-575-0.
  3. ^ Guthrie, James. "James Guthrie: Audio: Building A Compilation Album". Pink Floyd. Archived from the original on 2 June 2010. Retrieved 17 June 2013.
  4. ^ Palacios, Julian (1998). Lost in the Woods: Syd Barrett and the Pink Floyd (1st ed.). London: Boxtree. p. 6. ISBN 0-7522-2328-3.
  5. ^ Blake, Mark (2013). Pigs Might Fly: The Inside Story of Pink Floyd (Updated and expanded ed.). London: Aurum. p. 12. ISBN 978-1-78131-057-1.
  6. ^ Manning, Toby (2006). The Rough Guide to Pink Floyd (1st ed.). London: Rough Guides. p. 227. ISBN 1-84353-575-0.
[edit]
Wikiquote has quotations related to Ummagumma.
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