Today marks the 40th anniversary of one of the most acclaimed and beloved rock albums of the 20th century. The Dark Side of the Moon was released in Great Britain on March 24, 1973, and has transcended the generations, selling over 50 million copies worldwide and staying on the charts for 741 weeks until 1988.
The album as a whole is a beautiful, haunting reflection of human frailty and explores factors that could lead to insanity. The songs are about very universal topics, such as Time, Money, Us vs. Them.
The art work is simple but works amazingly well, and the instrumentation and flow of the album in its entirety is near-flawless.
The Dark Side of the Moon changed my life. I was in high school, and the first time I heard this record, I knew it was something special. With each passing year, the lyrics ring more true, and I can see the wisdom behind many of the observations in the songs.
This album reminded me of the importance of family, the impermanence of time, the futility of money, among other things. It has comforted me in tough periods, inspired me during happy times, and given me the opportunity to rock out any time in between.
I wanted to share my favorite song on the album, called “Time.” I’ll include the lyrics and video below for you to check out and enjoy!
Ticking away the moments that make up a dull day
Fritter and waste the hours in an offhand way
Kicking around on a piece of ground in your home town
Waiting for someone or something to show you the way
Tired of lying in the sunshine staying home to watch the rain
And you are young and life is long and there is time to kill today
And then one day you find ten years have got behind you
No one told you when to run, you missed the starting gun
And you run and you run to catch up with the sun, but it’s sinking
Racing around to come up behind you again
The sun is the same in a relative way, but you’re older
Shorter of breath and one day closer to death
Every year is getting shorter, never seem to find the time
Plans that either come to naught or half a page of scribbled lines
Hanging on quiet desperation is the English way
The time is gone, the song is over, thought I’d something more to say
Home, home again
I like to be here when I can
And when I come home cold and tired
It’s good to warm my bones beside the fire
Far away across the field
The tolling of the iron bell
Calls the faithful to their knees
To hear the softly spoken magic spells.
—
Pink Floyd at randomtidbitsofthought.wordpress.com.
