Dark Globe

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"Dark Globe"
Song by Syd Barrett
from the album 'The Madcap Laughs'
Released	January 3, 1970
Recorded	August 5, 1969
Genre	Folk Rock
Length	2:02
Label	Harvest/EMI Capitol Records (US)
Writer(s)	Syd Barrett
Composer(s)	Syd Barrett
Producer(s)	David Gilmour/Roger Waters
'The Madcap Laughs' track listing
No Man's Land (4)	"Dark Globe" (5)	Here I Go (6)

"Dark Globe" is a song by Syd Barrett for his first solo album The Madcap Laughs. It is notable for its eerie lyrics about Syd Barrett's psychological state. Apparently Barrett was at the time of the writing highly aware of his growing mental problems.

This song has been covered by R.E.M. while touring to support Green, and on the British "collector's edition" of the single for "Everybody Hurts", and also as one of four cover versions within the rare "Automatic Box". Although the wrong lyrics are sung, it should not be inferred as disrespect or as lack of understanding of the correct lyrics, as R.E.M. would often take artistic license on covers as means of deepening their homage. "Oh where are you now pussywillow that smiled honestly" is sung by Barrett, while R.E.M. sings "....that smiled on my sleeve". Many Barrett fans feel that R.E.M. "butchered" the song, they left out the whole second verse as well.

It has also been covered by Placebo.

The earlier performances of Pink Floyd's "Shine On You Crazy Diamond" (where they remembered Barrett, founder and former member of the band) sampled "Dark Globe" during the opening.

The song was recently revived in live performance by Floyd guitarist David Gilmour, on some dates of his most recent tour (July and August 2006) and is now available on a live single entitled Arnold Layne.