Looking at the lyrics for this song “Brain Damage” on the album “Dark Side of the Moon” it sounds like it’s about schizophrenia. What do you think?
“ The lunatic is on the grass
The lunatic is on the grass
Remembering games and daisy chains and laughs
Got to keep the loonies on the path
The lunatic is in the hall
The lunatics are in my hall
The paper holds their folded faces to the floor
And every day, the paperboy brings more
And if the dam breaks open many years too soon
And if there is no room upon the hill
And if your head explodes with dark forebodings too
I’ll see you on the dark side of the moon
The lunatic is in my head
The lunatic is in my head
You raise the blade, you make the change
You rearrange me 'til I’m sane
You lock the door and throw away the key
And there’s someone in my head, but it’s not me
And if the cloud bursts thunder in your ear
You shout and no one seems to hear
And if the band you’re in starts playing different tunes
I’ll see you on the dark side of the moon”
According to internet sources it’s about former leader Syd Barrett, his use of hallucinogens, apparently acid, and his subsequent decline with mental illness.
Syd Barrett has always been a sort of icon to me, despite his tragic end. His incredible imagination even through his two “solo” albums made it all the more shame how he passed his last days.
There were many more meds than thorazine and haldol, some very good ones still used today. Syd Barrett spent his last days painting. He quit drugs though he was never the same. He was a very good looking guy and charismatic until he finally used too many drugs. It is even debated whether it was LSD or another type of drug that made him insane. John Lennon briefly experienced an ego death in 1966 and lost confidence in himself from too much LSD. He said Yoko brought him back. On the album Revolver he only sang two songs. I always thought that album was Paul’s creation. There was a poll about greatest album of all time held in the UK and the #1 album was revolver.
