Tag: Bike

My journey through early Pink Floyd continues with this song called Bike written by Syd Barrett. It’s very British and like some of the other early songs you can hear the later Pink Floyd taking shape.  This song was on the album The Piper At The Gates Of Dawn released in 1967.

The album title came from a chapter in the book Wind In The Willows, where The piper was Pan, the Greek god of music.

Barrett was 18 when he met 15-year-old Jenny Spires in 1964. They started dating the following year, which is when he wrote “Bike.” Barrett would often create artwork and poetry for Spires, and “Bike” was his version of a love song to Spires.

Pink Floyd drummer Nick Mason considers this one of Syd Barrett’s best songs.

From Songfacts

Pink Floyd guitarist Syd Barrett wrote this for his girlfriend, Jenny Spires. In the song, Syd shows her his bike, which he borrowed. He also shows her his mouse named Gerald, a clan of gingerbread men and a cloak. At the end of the song, Syd takes her to his music room. 

The Piper At The Gates Of Dawn was the first Pink Floyd album and the only one dominated by Syd Barrett, who was booted from the band in 1972 when he became mentally impaired. 

You’re the kind of girl that fits in with my world
I’ll give you anything, everything if you want things

Spires recalled him being “very loving.”

 “The lyrics to this are so very Syd, astonishingly clever,” he told Rolling Stone. “It’s fun, but there’s a depth of sadness to them.”

Bike

I’ve got a bike, you can ride it if you like
It’s got a basket, a bell that rings and
Things to make it look good
I’d give it to you if I could, but I borrowed it

You’re the kind of girl that fits in with my world
I’ll give you anything, ev’rything if you want things

I’ve got a cloak, it’s a bit of a joke
There’s a tear up the front, it’s red and black
I’ve had it for months
If you think it could look good, then I guess it should

You’re the kind of girl that fits in with my world
I’ll give you anything, ev’rything if you want things

I know a mouse, and he hasn’t got a house
I don’t know why I call him Gerald
He’s getting rather old, but he’s a good mouse

You’re the kind of girl that fits in with my world
I’ll give you anything, ev’rything if you want things

I’ve got a clan of gingerbread men
Here a man, there a man, lots of gingerbread men
Take a couple if you wish, they’re on the dish

You’re the kind of girl that fits in with my world
I’ll give you anything, ev’rything if you want things

I know a room full of musical tunes
Some rhyme, some ching, most of them are clockwork
Let’s go into the other room and make them work