Lucifer Sam

"Lucifer Sam"
Song by Pink Floyd
from the album The Piper at the Gates of Dawn
Published Magdalene Music/Essex Music
Released 5 August 1967 (1967-08-05)
Recorded 12–18 April 1967
Genre Psychedelic rock
Length 3:07
Label
Songwriter(s) Syd Barrett
Producer(s) Norman Smith

"Lucifer Sam" is a song by British band Pink Floyd, featured on their 1967 debut album The Piper at the Gates of Dawn.

Music and lyrics

The song is built around a descending riff, with the dominant instrument being composer Syd Barrett's electric guitar, fed through an echo machine; the resultant sound has been likened to a "sinister" Duane Eddy.[1] This is augmented by bowed bass and increasingly agitated organ and percussion effects.[2]

Though the lyric frequently refers to Lucifer Sam as a cat, some speculation has arisen as to whether this was in fact slang ("a hip cat") for a man, real or imagined, in some type of relationship with Barrett's then-girlfriend, Jenny Spires (referred to in the song as "Jennifer Gentle").[2] However, Sam was simply Barrett's Siamese cat (and is referred to as such in the first line: "Lucifer Sam, Siam cat"); the track was originally called "Percy the Rat Catcher" during the recording sessions, which took place between April and June 1967.[3]

Personnel

Live and cover versions

"Lucifer Sam" was only performed live by Pink Floyd in 1967[3] and featured as an encore during many performances, mostly notably at the Games for May concert.

Barrett later performed the song with his 1972 band Stars.[4]

Lightning Seeds covered the song as a B-side, and it appeared on their 2006 best of collection.[5]

The track has also been covered by the Black Crowes, Electric Hellfire Club, the Minders, the Flaming Lips, True West, Jay Farrar, Love and Rockets,[6] Shockabilly, La Muerte, the Sadies, the Three O'Clock, MGMT, Spirits in the Sky, Unknown Mortal Orchestra, Cat's Eyes, Bauhaus, Southern Culture on the Skids and Chris & Cosey.

Nick Mason played this during his 2018 Nick Mason's Saucerful of Secrets tour of Europe.

References

  1. ↑ Toby Manning (2006). The Rough Guide to Pink Floyd: p.155
  2. 1 2 John Cavanagh (2003). The Piper at the Gates of Dawn: pp.39–41
  3. 1 2 Vernon Fitch (2005). The Pink Floyd Encyclopedia: p.186
  4. ↑ "Syd Barrett Pink Floyd Psychedelic Music Progressive Music: Syd Barrett Stars - Everything (So Far)". Sydbarrettpinkfloyd.com. Retrieved 12 January 2015.
  5. ↑ Mawer, Sharon. "The Very Best of the Lightning Seeds - The Lightning Seeds : Songs, Reviews, Credits, Awards". AllMusic. Retrieved 29 October 2012.
  6. ↑ Palacios, Julian (2010). "Home". Syd Barrett & Pink Floyd: Dark Globe (Rev. ed.). London: Plexus. p. 418. ISBN 0859654311.
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