Speak to Me

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The Dark Side of the Moon
Album by Pink Floyd
Released March 2, 1973
Recorded Abbey Road
June 1972-January 1973
Genre Progressive rock, electronic music, musique concrète, song cycle
Length 43:00
Label Harvest (UK)
Capitol (US)
Producer(s) Pink Floyd
Professional reviews
Tracks
  1. "Speak to Me" – 1:08
  2. "Breathe" – 2:48
  3. "On the Run" – 3:31
  4. "Time" (containing "Breathe (Reprise)") – 7:04
  5. "The Great Gig in the Sky" – 4:47
  6. "Money" – 6:23
  7. "Us and Them" – 7:48
  8. "Any Colour You Like" – 3:25
  9. "Brain Damage" – 3:50
  10. "Eclipse" – 2:06

This article is about the Pink Floyd song. For the Audio Adrenaline song, see Lift.

"Speak to Me" is the first track[1] from British progressive rock band Pink Floyd's 1973 album, The Dark Side of the Moon, on which it forms an overture. Drummer Nick Mason receives a rare solo writing credit for the track; Roger Waters subsequently claimed this was a "gift" to Mason, one which Waters came to regret after his acrimonious departure from the group. [1]

Contents

[edit] Composition

The song itself features no lyrics (although it contains parts of the conversation tapes that Pink Floyd recorded, as well a short snippet of Clare Torry's vocal performance on "The Great Gig in the Sky"), and consists of a series of sound effects. It leads into the first performance piece on the album, "Breathe". As a result, they are usually played together on the radio.

[edit] Sound Effects

Noticeable sound effects include:

  • Heartbeat; this can also be heard at the end of "Eclipse"
  • Clock ticking; reflecting the song "Time"
  • Manic laughter; reflecting the song "Brain Damage"
  • Cash register; reflecting the song "Money"
  • Helicopter noise; reflecting the song "On the Run"
  • Wailing/screaming; reflecting the song "The Great Gig in the Sky"
  • Synthesizer note; goes into Breathe

[edit] Spoken parts

I've been mad for fucking years, absolutely years. I've been over the edge for yonks. I've been working with bands so long, I went crazy.
I've always been mad, I know I've been mad, like the most of us have. Very hard to explain why you're mad, even if you're not mad.

[edit] Personnel

[edit] Notes

  1. ^ Some CD pressings merge "Speak to Me" and "Breathe".