It’s not unusual for Pink Floyd‘s songs to be featured in “best of” music lists. However, the band’s 1967 song, “Bike,” off their first album, The Piper at the Gates of Dawn, was recognized by American Songwriter not for its greatness, but rather because it’s a bit strange.
In 2024, the publication shared a list of the “four weirdest songs of all time,” with “Bike” taking home the number 2 ranking. The list also featured “Hocus Pocus” by Focus, “They’re Coming To Take Me Away, Ha-Haaa!” by Napoleon XIV, and “Muffin Man” by Frank Zappa.
American Songwriter explained that “Bike” made it on the list because of its nonsensical lyrics, detailing Gerald the aging mouse, a bike, a plate of gingerbread men, and a worn cloak, written by the late Syd Barrett.
Roger Waters Complimented Syd Barrett’s Songwriting Abilities in a 2022 Interview
Pink Floyd’s singer and guitarist, Roger Waters, discussed Barrett’s ability as a lyricist in a 2022 interview on the Joe Rogan Experience. Waters said Barrett’s songs were similar to “English Romanticism.”
“They were beautiful,” said Waters, now 82.
He then said “Bike” is “so quirky in terms of its meter.”
“The way the lyric attaches both to the melody and to the time signature and the tempo of the thing, is remarkable. And it wasn’t just, you know, there were lots of quirky little songs like that over all in a very English romantic tradition,” explained the musician.
He then said that Barrett’s talent as a songwriter made it even more difficult for the band to cut ties with him in 1968, due to his mental health issues. Waters explained that he had to step in as Pink Floyd’s lyricist.
“How could we possibly survive if the guy who writes the songs in the band goes crazy? You’re f–ked basically, unless somebody else learns to starts to write. Luckily, I did. I did start to write,” said Waters.
He clarified that it was “a huge loss” for Barrett, who died in 2006, to leave Pink Floyd.
“I did love him,” continued Waters in the 2022 interview.
