Album: Wouldn't You Miss Me: The Best of Syd Barrett (1968)

License This Song 

• Got the Bob Dylan blues
  And the Bob Dylan shoes
  And my clothes and my hair's in a mess
  But you know I just couldn't care less
  Gonna write me a song 'bout what's right and what's wrong
  Got God and my girl and all that
  Quiet while I make like a cat
  
  Cause I'm a poet, doncha know it
  And the wind you can blow it
  Cause I'm Mr. Dylan the king
  And I'm free as a bird on the wing
  
  Roam from town to town, get to get people down
  But I don't care too much about that
  Cause my gut and my wallet are fat
  Make a whole lot of dough but I deserve it though
  I got soul and a good heart of gold
  So I'll sing about war and the cold
  
  Cause I'm a poet, doncha know it
  And the wind you can blow it
  Cause I'm Mr. Dylan the king
  And I'm free as a bird on the wing
  
  Well I sings about dreams and I rhymes it with seams
  Cause it seems that my dream always means
  That I can prophesy all kinds of things
  Well the guy that digs me
  Should try hard to see
  That he buys all my discs in a hat.
  And when I'm in town go see that.
  
  Cause I'm a poet, doncha know it
  And the wind you can blow it
  Cause I'm Mr. Dylan the king
  And I'm free as a bird on the wing Writer/s: ROGER JOHN BARRETT
  Publisher: BMG Rights Management
  Lyrics licensed and provided by LyricFind

Comments: 14

• Kimberly from Landing, NjI love and hate the fact of Syd Barrett lost himself, such a talented man lost in time.
• Tristan from Philadelphia, PaHe's just giving Dylan s--t. He loved Bob Dylan. Went to a concert of his with his girlfriend Lynsey Korner who said, "It was a venue full of Syd's!"
• Peter from Oxford, United Kingdomi do remember reading the crazy diamond book on syd barrett or there again it might have been the nicholas schaffner book i do not quite remember it could have been both of them that he (syd Barrett) spent many hours looking for the music of a singer called Bob Dielon(or similar spelling) stubbornly not accepting the true spelling and pronunciation and so it seems without sounding obvious this be his tribute to dylan
• Aylin from MontrealOr he could be commenting on artists who think they're (as good as) dylan, I guess.
• Henry from Kingston, NyBob Dylan was never fat, and at least he never lost his mind like Barrett.
• Anna from Karachi, PakistanMeaner,this is why i feel like the song is a mockery rather than flattery:
  
  But I dont care too much about that
  Cause my gut and my wallet are fat
  
  however whatever iv heard of Syd Barrett is rather sardonic so maybe this IS some sort of a tribute?
• Meaner from Karachi, PakistanOn the contrary, Anna... they say that imitation is the best form of flattery... & i think this is typical of how Syd Barret would write a tribute to someone like "Mr. Dylan".
• Anna from Karachi, Pakistanmaybe syd just thought dylan is one of those pseudo intellectual schmucks with no musical talent?so he tongue in cheek spoofed dylans lyrics and vocals...although in my personal opinion dylan is one of the greatest songwriters ever.the music just grows on u.
• Leia from Buffalo, Nythis song and "Effervescing Elephant" were the two first songs of Barrett's solo work that I heard.
• Kevin from Quebec, Canadabut stefanie he influenced the pink floyd members with songs like wish you were here, shine on you crazy diamond etc.
• Stefanie from Rock Hill, ScSyd Barrett was one of the original members and founders of Pink Floyd.
• Nathaniel from Pittsburgh, PaSyd Barrett was a great Influence to pink floyd
• Jordan from Wvi remember finding this song on audiogalaxy.com before 2001 (probably around '99 or '00) back when i was in a syd barrett phase. i now have it burnt on cd somewhere...it's actually kind of catchy, at least for syd.
• Chris from Long Island, NyLegend has it this song was written by Syd after attending a Bob Dylan concert in 1963 with David Gilmour. This song first surfaced in 2001 in the CD Wouldn't You Miss Me. It was "hidden" in Gilmours private collection.

More Songfacts:

WaterlooABBA

In Belgium, where the Battle of Waterloo took place, "Waterloo" by ABBA was a huge hit, #1 for five weeks.

Don't Go Breaking My HeartElton John and Kiki Dee

Elton John had a huge hit duetting with Kiki Dee on "Don't Go Breaking My Heart," but he's also performed it with RuPaul and Miss Piggy.

Let's DanceDavid Bowie

Stevie Ray Vaughan played lead guitar on the David Bowie song "Let's Dance."

Devil InsideINXS

In the INXS song "Devil Inside," the devil represents chaos. "Every time you think something's right, he comes in and changes everything," Michael Hutchence said.

True CompanionMarc Cohn

When Marc Cohn played "True Companion" to his girlfriend, she thought he was proposing. He wasn't, but he did eventually marry her.

Street HassleLou Reed

Lou Reed's 11-minute "Street Hassle" features a spoken part by Bruce Springsteen.

Editor's Picks

Jim Adkins of Jimmy Eat WorldSongwriter Interviews

Jim talks about the impact of "The Middle" and uses a tree metaphor to describe his songwriting philosophy.

WeezerFact or Fiction

Did Rivers Cuomo grow up on a commune? Why did they name their albums after colors? See how well you know your Weezer in this Fact or Fiction.

Charlotte Caffey of The Go-Go'sSongwriter Interviews

Charlotte was established in the LA punk scene when a freaky girl named Belinda approached her wearing a garbage bag.

Music Video Director David HoganSong Writing

David talks about videos he made for Prince, Alabama, Big & Rich, Sheryl Crow, DMB, Melissa Etheridge and Sisters of Mercy.

Edwin McCainSongwriter Interviews

"I'll Be" was what Edwin called his "Hail Mary" song. He says it proves "intention of the songwriter is 180 degrees from potential interpretation by an audience."

Chris Squire of YesSongwriter Interviews

One of the most dynamic bass player/songwriters of his time, Chris is the only member of Yes who has been with the band since they formed in 1968.