Take Up Thy Stethoscope And Walk by Pink Floyd

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

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Songfacts®:

This song takes place in a hospital setting where the patient is in a great deal of pain. The lyrics don't make much sense, which could simulate the delirious condition of the patient.
This was the first song Roger Waters wrote for Pink Floyd. All of the songs on The Piper At The Gates Of Dawn were written or co-written by Syd Barrett, except for this one. >>
Suggestion credit:
Bertrand - Paris, France
The title comes from the Bible passage John 5:8 - "Jesus saith unto him, Rise, take up thy bed, and walk."
What sound like beats at the beginning is a voice saying, "Doctor Doctor." >>
Suggestion credit:
Madalyn - Greensburg, PA

Comments: 8

San from Pennsylvania I always thought this song was an early precursor to Comfortably Numb where Roger describes his childhood fever of 105°. He said he was delirious from it and the lyrics sound like a delirious sick patient. I could be wrong but I think Roger is talking about that childhood incident in this song.
Moop from Newport, RiI hadn't heard this song in forever, and I just listened to it, having recently bought the reissue vinyl pressing of Piper. My immediate thought was - wow - this song sounds like early Devo! Or early Devo sounds like this song!
Zero from Nowhere, NjApparently, this was Roger's attempt at a "Barret-like" composition. He had not yet bloomed into the brilliant songwriter he was yet to become.

This song always reinds me of the Dr. Doctor character from the British cartoon "The Secret Show".
Tristan from Philadelphia, PaGreat song, instrumentals are rediculous and I love it.
Lexx from Milton, Indiathis song has a hint of let there be more light, form saucer full of secrets in there somewhere, i heard it!
Michael from OxfordThis song always strikes me as a sort of warm-up for Interstellar Overdrive.
Shelby from Idiotville , KyI completely agree, Manuel. My favorite song from Piper is "Bike," but this is right behind it. Very underrated.
Manuel from Santo Domingo, OtherThis is one of my favorite Pink Floyd songs, and is my favorite song from the Pipers at the Gate of Dawn. The lyrics don't make too much sense, but one can understan that it is a person in a hospital suffering great pain. However, the beat and riffs of this song make it really awesome. Shame it is not that well known.

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