What does 'Echoes' mean to you? interpretations?

Out of all the PF songs that i've heard so far, 'Echoes' is the one that speaks to me the most. I've decided to share my interpretation of it, and was wondering if some of you guys share it or have your own interpretations.

Echoes, to me, symbolizes one man's journey into christianity/redemption. Now, if you're not a christian, redemption doesn't have to fit into that context. I feel the song progresses like this, much like the life of said man:

Birth 'ping' -> Tranquility -> Awareness (Lyric sets 1 and 2) -> Happiness (symbolized by guitars) -> Temptation (bass) -> Descent -> Madness (you know which part) -> Depression -> Rebirth 'ping' -> Redemption (from guitars at 18:15 through to 21:18) -> Peace (Death?)


What are some of your interpretations?

to me Echoes means, Pink Floyds 21 minute masterpiece

It's actually in excess of 23 minutes, but nobody really cares about that... it's well worth the sit and listen. But I cannot agree with that interpretation of the meaning.

Nothing. Non of the songs by floyd mean any ****ing thing to me. Other then i love em, i like the music and the band.

It kind of has the same theme as Time to me, just 'backwards'. Time = Present and future. Echoes = Past, just more philisophical in presentation.

First off, Ablaze, when you listen to something alot, meanings usually seem to come out of the words that are in the song, sometimes they even tell a story. And as for what echoes is to me is someone reflecting on their life and times. To my knowledge its the only 25+ minute rock&roll song, and that one note that keeps occuring in the quiet parts like a drop of water sounds cool

Why should i use my energy to make a meaning oout of the words in the song. I have better things to do, and music is music for me. Not the words. The singing tone is music, not the words. The words are just a plus if their good.

Well, to be accurate, Echoes is about 23 mins. Secondly, AHM Suite is slightly longer. And thirdly, Jethro Tull made two album long songs: "Thick As A Brick" (around 44-45 mins) and "A Passion Play" (45 mins).

But that's besides the point. I don't think there's much meaning behind Echoes. It's just a really really good song...instrumentally. But that's the magic of PF...most of their work can have multiple interpretations. Keep up the imaginative work (no sarcasm intended)!

yeah i can see where your coming from, great songs dont even need lyrics. The thing is lyrics are a way to make the feeling/meaning of the song more tangible. I think its important that a good song means something to you, but hey what would i know.

To me, Echo means the following: 1. The repetition of a sound by reflection of so und waves from a surface 2. A sound so produced 3. any repetition or imitation of the words, ideas, etc. of another.
-oed, -o'ing 1. To reverberate 2 to make an echo.

I actually tend to get more imagery from the music than I do the lyrics. Rick's ascending keyboard parts during the "No one calls us to move on..." parts, etc. remind me of a slow-falling snow. Not sure why, but I just hear sort of a Christmas carol in them.

To me, the lyrics represent a loneliness, no one calling you to move out into the world, so you just sit in your own little cell and watch people move by with no real association to them but eye contact.

"Strangers passing in the street,
By chance two seperate glances meet,
and I am you and what I see is me."

Echoes to me is a warning about what will happen if men don't try to live together, build bridges and understand each other and continue making war, something Floyd were very much getting into. "Strangers passing in the street, by chance two seperate glances meet" illustrates this idea of empathy and the line "and no one flies around the sun" signifies what the result of continued barriers put between people will be, the total destruction of mankind.

Evolution. Humanity's place in the universe. Love and regret.

I agree, there is definately a death and rebirth in there somewhere.

Watch the 2001 synch...

I don't think that 'Echoes' has any such deep philosophical meaning. Its a perfect example of the mystical and "strange" style of early Pink Floyd.

When I listen to it I really imagine coral caves, space, I feel nostalgy, old memories come to my mind, I feel generally sad. It represents for me echoes, memories of past experiences and feelings...

It's a wonderful song, one of the most beautiful and intelligent examples of 20th century music...

Hev fun.

ECHOES is indeed a great song. You'd think that another 23 minute piece would be hard to listen to, but it's really not. I like how the song is constantly switching gears, and I absolutely LOVE how the song slows down, and you can hear the crows in the background, as well as many other noises.

Floyd has done it again