The Narrow Way

Lyrycs:

Following the path as it leads toward
The darkness in the north
Weary stranger's faces show their sympathy
They've seen that hope before

And if you want to stay for a little bit
Rest your aching limbs for a little bit
For you the night is beckoning
And now you can't delay
You hear the night birds calling you
But you can't catch the words they say
And you must you realize be on your way

Mystery swelling, creatures crawling
Hear the roar ger louder in your ears
You know the folly was your own
But the force behind can't conquer all you fears

And if you want to stay for a little bit
Rest your aching limbs for a little bit
For you the night is beckoning and you know
And now you can't delay
You hear the night birds calling you
But you can't catch the words they say
And you must you realize be on your way

Throw your thoughts back many years
To the time when love was life with every morning
Perhaps a day will come when the match for me the curlers past warning

And if you want to stay for a little bit
Rest your aching limbs for a little bit
For you the night is beckoning
And now you can't delay
You hear the night birds calling you
But you can't catch the words they say
And you must you realize be on your way

 

"The Narrow Way" is the second suite on the studio half of Pink Floyd's fourth album Ummagumma. It is a three-part song written and performed entirely by David Gilmour, using multiple overdubs to play all the instruments himself.

Different parts
Part One (3:27)

Part one of the song was called "Baby Blue Shuffle in D Major" when played by the band in a BBC broadcast on 2 December 1968; it also strongly resembles the tracks "Rain in the Country (take 1)" and "Unknown Song" recorded (but eventually not used) for the soundtrack of Michelangelo Antonioni's film Zabriskie Point in November/December 1969. This portion features layered acoustic guitar with some spacey effects overtop.

Part Two (2:53)

Part two features an electric guitar and percussion which modulate heavily at the end, forming a drone that leads into part three.

Part Three (5:57)

Part three of the song features Gilmour's only vocal contribution to the studio part of the album. This final part was incorporated into The Man and the Journey by the full band on their 1969 tour.