Syd Barrett - Octopus Lyrics

Frequently Asked Questions

1. Who originally recorded 'Octopus' and what were its alternate titles?

   'Octopus' was originally recorded by Syd Barrett and had alternate titles such as 'Clowns and Jugglers' and 'The Madcap Laughs.'

2. When was 'Octopus' released as a single and on which album did it later appear?

   'Octopus' was released as a single on November 14, 1969, and later appeared on Syd Barrett's first solo album, 'The Madcap Laughs,' in January 1970.

3. Who co-produced Syd Barrett's album 'The Madcap Laughs' and how did the album title come about?

   David Gilmour co-produced 'The Madcap Laughs.' The album title was inspired by Gilmour mishearing a line from the song 'Octopus'.

4. What was unique about the French release of the 'Octopus' single?

   In France, the 'Octopus' single came with a picture sleeve featuring a drawing of an octopus. A scarce exemplar was auctioned for 10,500 euros in 2016.

5. Which English poet did Syd Barrett quote in the song 'Octopus'?

   Syd Barrett directly quoted a section from 'Rilloby-Rill' by English poet Sir Henry Newbolt in the song 'Octopus'.

6. What was significant about the 'Octopus' release for Syd Barrett's solo career?

   'Octopus' is significant for being Barrett's only single as a solo artist, marking the beginning of his solo career after leaving Pink Floyd.