See Emily Play

Emily tries but misunderstands, ah ooh
She's often inclined to borrow somebody's dreams till tomorrow
There is no other day
Let's try it another way
You'll lose your mind and play
Free games for may
See Emily play
Soon after dark Emily cries, ah ooh
Gazing through trees in sorrow hardly a sound till tomorrow
There is no other day
Let's try it another way
You'll lose your mind and play
Free games for may
See Emily play
Put on a gown that touches the ground, ah ooh
Float on a river forever and ever, Emily
There is no other day
Let's try it another way
You'll lose your mind and play
Free games for may
See Emily play




- The song was reportedly about a girl named Emily, whom [Syd] Barrett claimed he saw while sleeping in the woods after taking a hallucinogenic drug. Barrett later stated that the story about sleeping in the woods and seeing a girl before him was made up "...all for publicity."

-This was the band's second single.

- According to A Saucerful of Secrets: The Pink Floyd Odyssey, by Nicholas Schaffner, Emily is the Honorable Emily Young (b. March 13, 1951), daughter of Wayland Hilton Young, 2nd Baron Kennet, and nicknamed "the psychedelic schoolgirl" at the UFO Club. An article in Mojo magazine called "See the Real Emily" supposedly shows a picture of Barrett's Emily. Reference

- During the sessions for the song, David Gilmour was a visitor to the studio, after being invited by Syd. He was shocked by what he perceived as a change in Syd's personality, and Syd did not appear to even recognize his old friend, despite having invited him there in the first place. For many years Gilmour would recall this encounter with the saying, "I'll go on record as saying, that was when he changed." Reference

- The slide guitar work on the song is said to have been done by Barrett with a Zippo lighter.

- The train depicted on the single's sleeve was actually drawn by Barrett himself. Reference


- "Free games for may" = the song was also known as "Games for May," and sometimes "Free Games for May," after a free concert in which [Syd] Barrett's Pink Floyd performed.

- GAMES FOR MAY - Space Age Relaxation for the Climax of Spring

12th of May 1967 - A one-time concert in Queen Elizabeth Hall, London -the first concept piece of PF and the first time Quadraphonic Sound Equipment was used.
1) 'Tape Dawn' Taped sound effects of birds etc. recorded by Roger Waters. Served as introduction to the show and was played in the foyer of the theatre prior to the show.
2) Matilda Mother
3) Flaming
4) Scarecrow
5) Jugband Blues
6) Games for May Written for this occasion and later rewritten and retitled to See Emily Play
7) Bike
8) Arnold Layne
9) Candy And a Currant Bun
10) Pow R Toc H
11) Interstellar Overdrive
12) 'Tape Bubbles' Taped sound effects by Rick Wright to accompany soap bubbles filling the theatre
13) 'Tape Ending' Taped instrumental piece by Barrett
14) Encore: Lucifer Sam

- As a venerable tribute to Syd Barrett, part of the vocal melody was played on a Mini Moog at the very end of "Shine On You Crazy Diamond (Parts VI-IX)" at the very end of the Wish You Were Here album.