Studio recording 13 February 1968
* Released on single B-side 12 April 1968
* Re-released on The Best of the Pink Floyd, 1970 (Europe only); Relics, 1971; Masters of Rock vol. 1, 1974 (Europe only); and the Early Singles CD in the Shine On boxed set, 1992
Production
Written by Roger Waters
Produced by Norman Smith
Recorded at Abbey Road
Releases
UK: Columbia DB8410 (B-side)
US: Tower 428 (A-side)
Lyrics:
Sunlight bright upon my pillow
Lighter than an eiderdown
Will she let the weeping willow
Wind his branches round?
Julia dream, dreamboat queen
Queen of all my dreams
Every night I turn the light out
Waiting for the velvet bride
Will the scaly armadillo
Find me where I'm hiding?
Julia dream, dreamboat queen
Queen of all my dreams
Will the misty master break me?
Will the key unlock my mind?
Will the following footsteps catch me?
Am I really dying?
Julia dream, dreamboat queen
Queen of all my dreams (4x) Save me (5x)
Lead vocals: David Gilmour (verses), Roger Waters (chorus)
Guitar: David Gilmour
Several important events had occurred by the time this song was recorded. Around Christmas 1967, Dave Gilmour was asked to join the band to supplement the line-up and cover for Syd's erratic playing (or lack thereof) at live shows. Dave was from Cambridge as well, and he and Syd had been friends for years, and even practiced guitar together at technical college before Syd came to London. At the beginning of the new year, Dave began rehearsing with the band and learning the numbers, though the press was not notified of this development until February. Towards the end of January, the now five-piece band went into the studio for the first time in more than two months to begin recording the Saucerful of Secrets LP. Near the beginning of the Saucerful sessions (probably after Set the Controls for the Heart of the Sun was recorded), Julia Dream was produced for single release.
This was the first track to be recorded without Syd's involvement. Even though he was still in the band, his participation in recording was already being phased out. This was also the first Pink Floyd song to feature the voice of Dave Gilmour, and only the second written solely by Roger Waters.Julia Dream is an early under-rated classic. It is not really indicative of the direction of the band, which may be why it never received the attention it deserved. The exception to this is its imaginative use of sound effects, complementing the music instead of creating disharmony. With this song, Roger seems to be attempting to pick up where Syd left off in terms of his lyrical images; however, they seem a touch more sinister. Whereas Syd's memories of his childhood bedroom consist of 'fairy stories [that] held me high on clouds of sunlight floating by,' Roger Waters' imagery deals with nightmares, the fear of darkness, and of death. The chorus doesn't seem to mean anything, but perhaps 'Julia' provides a counterpoint to the fear and anxiety in the singer's dreams. The songs ends with whispers of 'Save me' after each chorus (not 'Syd' as some have thought, though it does sound like it — perhaps that was the point?), providing a chilling ending to this overly short tune.
A new direction had begun for the band, though Julia Dream was not released for two more months as the B-side to the band's fourth single. It was released as an A-side in America, and also in Japan, two years later.
This is a complex song, for one so short and simple.
ReplyDeleteIn part, it's about the feelings of loss and desire that dreams can leave you with. It explores the way dreams can hold more hope and meaning than the waking hours, but also greater terrors. It's a song about the hold dreams can have over us.
But mostly, it's a song about looking for love, wherever you can find it, and the fear of not finding it.
The first verse is of waking and experiencing the loss of a great love evapourating along with your dream. Dreams can be very real, as can the feelings experienced within them.
Sunlight upon the pillow signifies morning. The singer is the "weeping willow"; grieving at the loss of waking from a dream of Julia, a great beauty ("dreamboat") whom he worships in his dream, and suffering the loss of realising the the love was just a dream. He weeps, trying to get back to sleep, to see if he can return to Julia's embrace ("will you let the weeping willow wind his branches round").
From then on, every night he hopes to return to Julia in his dreams. She is his "velvet bride"; velvet often being a similie for both night and gentleness. However, dreams are rarely coherent and the dreamer is as likely to be haunted by strangeness (the "scaly armadillo") as be visited by his perfect love.
The final verse runs with the unpredictable and often frightening nature of dreams. It also explores their captivating nature and prophetic potential. He is seeking within his dreams, seeking Julia, but this twists into seeking for meaning and answers to life in general. He feels there are answers to be had there, but the questions are as frightening as the potential answers; his dreams have become his master, his obsession, and he wonders if they will unhinge him ("will the misty master break me?"), or whether they will give him the answers he seeks ("will the key unlock my mind?"). The fear of mortality raises its head in the last two lines; the fear of being inexorably pursued by death and confronting that which we all confront eventually. Will he age and die before he finds love, in his dreams, or in his waking hours? He yearns for love, has glimpsed it in his dreams, but still can't find it.
Thank you for this sensitive interpretation of a song I have loved for more than 50 years
DeleteAmazing job!
DeleteNicely said
ReplyDeleteThank you for this sensitive interpretation of a song I have loved for more than 50 years
ReplyDeleteIt's my favourite song of all time
DeleteBeautifully put
ReplyDelete