Published Lupus Music Ltd. Length 7:26 | Recorded 2 May 1969 Label Harvest Records | |
Released 25 October 1969 (UK)
10 November 1969 (US) Genre Psychedelic folk, experimental | ||
"Grantchester Meadows" is the second track from the studio disc of the experimental Pink Floyd album Ummagumma. 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. At approximately 4:13, the sound of a honking goose is temporarily introduced, followed by the sound of it taking off. 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.
Contents
Lyrics
The lyrics describe a pastoral and dream-like scene at the Grantchester meadows in Cambridgeshire, close to where fellow band member David Gilmour lived at the time. 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 the many Pink Floyd songs that are praises of the British countryside.
Sound
The song is noted for its use of stereo effects and sound panning to create an illusion of space and depth.
Live
"Grantchester Meadows" was incorporated into Pink Floyd's The Man and the Journey concert suite as "Daybreak". 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 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).