Bike by Pink Floyd

Album: The Piper At The Gates Of Dawn (1967)

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Songfacts®:

Pink Floyd guitarist Syd Barrett wrote this for his girlfriend, Jenny Spires. In the song, Syd shows her his bike, which he borrowed. He also shows her his mouse named Gerald, a clan of gingerbread men and a cloak. At the end of the song, Syd takes her to his music room. >>
Suggestion credit:
Patrick - Chicago, IL
The Piper At The Gates Of Dawn was the first Pink Floyd album and the only one dominated by Syd Barrett, who was booted from the band in 1968 when he became mentally impaired. The album title came from a chapter in the book Wind In The Willows, where The piper was Pan, the Greek god of music. The album was digitally remastered and reissued in 2007. >>
Suggestion credit:
Bertrand - Paris, France
Barrett was 18 when he met 15-year-old Jenny Spires in 1964. They started dating the following year, which is when he wrote "Bike." Barrett would often create artwork and poetry for Spires, and "Bike" was his version of a love song:

You're the kind of girl that fits in with my world
I'll give you anything, everything if you want things

Spires recalled him being "very loving."
Pink Floyd drummer Nick Mason considers this one of Syd Barrett's best songs. "The lyrics to this are so very Syd, astonishingly clever," he told Rolling Stone. "It's fun, but there's a depth of sadness to them."

Mason added it's one of his favorite Pink Floyd songs to play live: "It's a very funny lyric, isn't it?" he commented to Uncut magazine. "'I'd give it to you if I could. But I borrowed it.' You have to follow Syd's very odd metre to get the rhythm right."

Comments: 23

Shaggy from UkThis song is a perfect example of the utter s--te that could be released thanks to excessive drug use.
The lyrics are pathetic, childish and nonsense, but not in a clever way. It doesn't help that that the music backing it is also childish, lacks any technical skill or competence.
At this time Pink Floyd existed In a purely underground 'background noise to an acid trip' and the band had no real credibility as musicians.
The reality is Syd Barret held them back, and this is a perfect example. It's f--king awful, embarrassing and pathetic. Like a 10 year old thinking they're clever and not realising the reason 'it hasn't been done' is because- it has been done, but no-one else was stupid enough to publish such pathic drivel.
How anyone takes this, and any Syd Barret garbage, seriously is beyond me. It's s--te as was everything that drug addled loser touched.
Pink Floyd should have changed their name to distance the genius and quality of post-Barret music from the god-awful cacophony of his era.
Glenn from New YorkFor a brief time, David Gilmour and Syd were both in the band.
Laura from Las Vegas, Nvlove this song. brilliant in its oddness. backwards is slightly terrifying
Reed from New Ulm, MnR.I.P. dear Syd Barrett. His contribution to Pink Floyd was to that group what George Harrison was to the Beatles...giving both groups their distinctive sound.
Oldpink from New Castle, InOne incredibly disorienting song here.
Syd's weird double tracked echo voice really is jarring, then he enters the "musical room," and the madness just jumps right out.
Amusing and disturbing at the same time, very much in keeping with the "Crazy Diamond."
Chloe from St. Louis, Mothis is so hilariously random. syd had such a wonderfully bizarre mind!
Polina from Perth, AustraliaThis song always makes me laugh!
Tristan from Philadelphia, PaThis is a lovely song with a very weird aura at the end. Its funny to note that the many chimes, bells and gears ticking away in the 'room of musical tune' followed by the ducks are the end this whimsical album. After this album of fairy stories, gnomes and scarecrows his songwriting style changed completely with songs such as jugband blues and vegetable man. It seems to me that the room of musical tune represents his craziness and the geese represent his departure from the songs as we know them.
Susan from Westchestertonfieldville, VaI want to meet Gerald the mouse
Julian from New Jersey,all i can say when i hear this song is just wtf. . .haha i love this song, its like just the describeless (thats definitely not a word) song, nothing else to say!
Nick from Pittsburgh, PaThis song always puts me in a good mood.
Molly from Boston, MaHas anyone heard the song, bike, backwards? Its so SCARY!!! Some of the lines heard backwards are sentences that kinda make sense, but are mostly yiddish(sp?). Like the first line of the chorus played backwards says I am the mystic riddler although others think it says my am the mystic fiddler.You can find it on YouTube.
Shine on Syd, you crazy diamond!!! 2006
Michael from OxfordIs it weirder than Interstellar Overdrive?
Colleen from Mankato, MnThis is the weirdest song I've EVER heard... but not in a bad way.
Achory from Warner Robins, Gawell, i don't really like syd barret's music, and this is no exception. insanely trippy. however, the explanation given for the song is essentially what my guess at the meaning has always been. i do love pink floyd though. favorite band ever.
Michael from Oxford, EnglandThat BOOM! BOOM! which links each chorus to the next verse scared the ---- out of me on my first listen. So did the 90+ second sound collage at the end!
Ozzy from Fresno, Cai love this song even if it is kind of creepy. the end is a bit bizzare but it just shows how talented and awesome syd was. ithis is for syd's girlfriend and i heard he had tons of girl friends who should know ho lucky they were![=
Tim from Boolingbrook, Ildescribe a love for a bike? the bike is only mentioned in one verse, you putz. it's clearly a love song
Shelby from The Other Side , United StatesHehee. Roger, or "Syd," was such a beautiful person. Shine on, dear artist, whilst you ride your bike with old Gerald in the Great Gig in the Sky! It makes me smile just thinking of this song...and Syd Barrett. =]
Sara from Flint, Mi"Bike" to me is a perfect song to describe a love for a bike. the boys from floyd must made the song while under the influence. hahaha
Ralph from Newton, MaAwesome cover by The Vindictives
Betsey from Chico, CaI've got a bike! This is such a wonderfully random song. (March,1,2007)
Madalyn from Greensburg, PaThis song is really funky...i love it ...the first time i heard it i thought the town emergency alarm was going off....the ryming kinda reminds me of dr.seuss...only hornier...haha...weird sond effects...kinda reminds me of the circus as well

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