Pink Floyd’s “Brain Damage” Meaning, Lyrics & Dark Side History

The paper holds their folded faces to the floor
And every day the paper boy brings more…

“Brain Damage” by Pink Floyd is the second to last track on Dark Side of the Moon, released March 1st, 1973. One of the best selling albums of all time, Dark Side was the band’s eighth studio album. It was a very personal song about the band’s enigmatic founder Syd Barrett.

Brain Damage was written and sung by Roger Waters, with David Gilmour providing the harmonies. It was recorded at Abbey Rd Studios between 1972 and 1973.

This is the only track on the album that Waters provides lead vocals, was reportedly at Gilmour’s encouragement.

While there is no song on the album called “Dark Side of the Moon”, it was the original working title for “Brain Damage”, which contains the famous “see you on the dark side of the moon” lyric.

Waters actually sketched an early version of Brain Damage while they were recording Meddle, but it didn’t appear on an album until Dark Side.

The end of the song Brain Damage cuts off rather abruptly as it is designed to flow into the next song, “Us and Them”.

That line about “and if the band you’re in starts playing different tunes” is a direct reference to Barrett playing different songs than the rest of the band on stage as his mental health declined, before parting ways with Floyd.

That manic laughter in the song was courtesy of Pink Floyd’s road manager Peter Watts, who was the father of The Ring actress Naomi Watts.

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 paper boy 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 re-arrange me ’til I’m sane

You lock the door and throw away the key
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

I can’t think of anything to say except…
I think it’s marvelous! Ha, ha, ha!

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Next, discover who the many voices are in Pink Floyd’s Dark Side of the Moon

The Story Behind Pink Floyd’s Dark Side of the Moon Album Cover

Who were the members of Pink Floyd

Who was Pink Floyd founder Syd Barrett and what happened to him?

Here’s the official Pink Floyd – Brain Damage on YouTube