Pink Floyd – See Emily Play is a song written by Syd Barrett and released as Pink Floyd’s second single on June 16, 1967. It was released as a non-album single, but appeared as the opening track of Pink Floyd, the US edition of the band’s debut album The Piper at the Gates of Dawn (1967).
The song is a psychedelic rock song with a baroque pop influence. It is characterized by its intricate guitar work, lush orchestration, and Barrett’s surreal lyrics. The song’s opening line, “See Emily play,” is iconic and has been referenced in countless other songs and works of art.
The song is believed to be about a girl named Emily, who Barrett claimed to have seen while sleeping in the woods after taking a psychedelic drug. The song’s lyrics are full of imagery and symbolism, and are often interpreted as being about drug use, spirituality, and the search for meaning in life.
“See Emily Play” was a commercial success, reaching number six on the UK Singles Chart. It was also a critical success, with many praising Barrett’s songwriting and the band’s musical performance. The song has since become one of Pink Floyd’s most popular and enduring songs, and is considered to be a classic of psychedelic rock.
Fun fact: The song’s title was originally “Games for May,” named after a free concert that Pink Floyd performed on May 12, 1967 at the Queen Elizabeth Hall on London’s South Bank. However, the band decided to change the title to “See Emily Play” before the single was released.