AES161 Breathe

A classic song from the legendary “Dark Side of the Moon” by Pink Floyd, “Breathe” gives us a strong introduction to the themes and soundscape of the album. Before we get to the lyrics, there’s an instrumental section about one minute long, a very psychedelic arrangement that lays down the calming, mellow foundation of the song. I really love the little guitar flourishes from David Gilmour that really breathes life into the melody. There’s a lot of advanced (for the time) technology that’s being used to create all these sound effects. Let’s get into the lyrics.

Breathe, breathe in the air

Don't be afraid to care

Leave but don't leave me

Look around, choose your own ground

For long you live and high you fly

And smiles you'll give and tears you'll cry

And all your touch and all you see

Is all your life will ever be

The first verse is commonly interpreted as a parent talking to their child. Bringing a new life into this world, we are responsible for raising them, and protecting them until it’s time for them to “leave the nest”. We encourage them to go out and face the world, but deep inside we really don’t want them to leave us. We tell them that there’s so much to explore, they’re going to experience so many things, both good and bad, and always remind them to make use of their lives. 

We often see our own lives as stretched out decades filled with our many experiences. But what this song’s lyric reminds us; is that what we do in a day, is basically what we do with our entire life. The coffee we drink in the morning, the coworker we chat with at work, the couch we sit in to watch movies; that is our daily routine, what we do every day, month, year, or even decade. This one day is a snapshot of our entire existence. 

Run, rabbit run

Dig that hole, forget the sun

And when at last the work is done

Don't sit down, it's time to dig another one

One of the main topics Pink Floyd brings up on “Dark Side of the Moon” is the absurdity of modern life. Most of our adult life is focused on work, trying to make it through each day, just to wake up the next day and do it all over again. On and on, there’s always more to do, and never any time to rest. 

For long you live and high you fly

But only if you ride the tide

And balanced on the biggest wave

You race towards an early grave

You can live a long, comfortable and quiet life if you ride the tide, so to speak. But not everyone is content with the safe path, some people want to ride on the biggest waves. Living on the edge, burning bright for all to see. But this comes with the chance of ending your life much sooner than you think. This seems to be the case for a lot of exceptional musicians and artists, they die far too young, like a melting candle consumed by its own flames. There is a risk to breaking the mold, making your own way in life. In the end, the choice is up to you, for there is no singular meaning of life; we all get to choose.