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Pink Floyd — Fearless
Album: Meddle
Avg rating:
8.4

Your rating:
Total ratings: 6284









Released: 1971
Length: 5:59
Plays (last 30 days): 4
You say the hill's too steep to climb, chiding
You say you'd like to see me try, climbing
You pick the place and I'll choose the time
And I'll climb the hill in my own way
Just wait a while for the right day
And as I rise above the tree-line and the clouds
I look down hear the sounds of the things you said today

Fearlessly the idiot faced the crowd, smiling
Merciless the magistrate turns round, frowning
And who's the fool who wears the crown
No doubt in your own way
And every day is the right day
And as you rise above the fear-lines in his brow
You look down hear the sound of the faces in the crowd

''...Walk on; walk on with hope in your heart,
And you'll never walk alone;
You'll never walk alone.
Walk on; walk on with hope in your heart,
And you'll never walk alone;
You'll never walk alone.

Liverpool! Liverpool!''[[#Notes|1]]
Comments (853)add comment
playing this right after the charlatans one is just an awesome move :D
Perfect William! Was wondering when we would get The Charlatans track and this back to back - nice. You captured it perfectly - it IS their name. And I'm sure it was a homage.
As long as it's not Capitol #11163 I can like it.
RP feature request: allow me to increment the number of times I come to this song to give it a 10, only to find that was already done.
A big yes..!!
 MilesW wrote:

Hey, doesn´t this sound like that Charlatans song?




The other way around.  ...this song was first!
Funny how this is the first song I hear today, after hearing it live yesterday by Nick Mason's Saucerful of Secrets.

Pink Floyd "Fearless" back-to-back with The Charlatans "Here Comes a Soul Saviour" ....... with suitable comments in between from Bill.  Pure class .
That was such a clever transition from the Charlatans!
Hey, doesn´t this sound like that Charlatans song?
I got to see Billy Strings last summer, and he started out the second set with a great version of this classic - instantly recognizable - very worthy cover from a great group of musicians!
This sounds like Pink Floyd.
 blighjohnn wrote:

On the same album Echoes is an epic, never to be repeated, a jewel in the world of music......... come on Dave do another tour!




Another tour would be great, but he's said he won't play Echoes without Richard Wright
https://www.loudersound.com/ne...
Great segue from Baby by DakhaBrakha.   
I'm not much of a floyd fan but this one always sounds most excellent
In retrospective, nothing special.
This is great! I just noticed the guitar riff used in the previous song by The Charlatans. Good call Bill.
Billy Strings played this a few weeks ago in Munich - fantastic!
A great example how Waters and Gilmour could work some great magic when writing together. 
 Nkoenig wrote:

Always a good omen when this comes up on the playlist before a big Liverpool game. YNWA



City tomorrow at the Etihad 
 Sloggydog wrote:

If they were going to put football chants in why not the one from Chelsea- 'Celery, Celery, If she don't.....' and I'd challenge anyone whose not been to Chelsea to figure out the rest of that without looking it up. Actually I just hope some people look it up.




OK I just had to...    
 Proclivities wrote:

Syd was gone a few years before this album was recorded.  "Saucerful of Secrets" was the last album that Barrett appeared on.


You hear Syd my friend, because he will have been so present with the band even though he was not physically there.. You are spot on.
 torino390 wrote:

I love this album. It's like Barrett on one side, and the 'new' Floyd on the other. That transition they had to make after Syd lost the plot was nothing short of miraculous. It has to be said that if Syd hadn't taken quite so much LSD, we might never have had the classic Floyd albums we know and love so much. Crazy.


Syd was gone a few years before this album was recorded.  "Saucerful of Secrets" was the last album that Barrett appeared on.
 Jelani wrote:



Looks more like an embryonic dinosaur to me.


i always see a nostril on a profile view of a nose upside down.
 Sloggydog wrote:
If they were going to put football chants in why not the one from Chelsea- 'Celery, Celery, If she don't.....' and I'd challenge anyone whose not been to Chelsea to figure out the rest of that without looking it up. Actually I just hope some people look it up.
 
I looked it up.  That's some funny shite, to use the local jargon ...
A very good reason to stop working and have a cup of coffee!  Thanks RP
The lyrics of my early life. Thank you PF… and RP! YNWA.
 On_The_Beach wrote:

The ear is a little more evident with the jacket open (and turned sideways):
(apologies for the giant pic)



Looks more like an embryonic dinosaur to me.
 luisaa72 wrote:


deep



and fuzzy.
If they were going to put football chants in why not the one from Chelsea- 'Celery, Celery, If she don't.....' and I'd challenge anyone whose not been to Chelsea to figure out the rest of that without looking it up. Actually I just hope some people look it up.
 ExploitingChaos wrote:
GMM

TIMELESS CLASSIC alarm 


deep
Another year of Champion's League begins with Napoli.  Love it when Bill plays this before a Liverpool game.  YNWA
GREAT TUNE!!  ICONIC!!   Thanx RP!   
 hayduke2 wrote:

Wiki says:

The album's title Meddle is a play on words; a medal, and to interfere. Storm Thorgerson originally suggested a close-up shot of a baboon's anus for the album cover photograph. He was overruled by the band, who informed him via an inter-continental telephone call while on tour in Japan that they would rather have "an ear underwater". The cover image was photographed by Bob Dowling. The image represents an ear, underwater, collecting waves of sound (represented by ripples in the water). 


kind of sorry for removing the mystery of that odd shape  : )



Looks more like the tip of an elephants trunk than an ear. I can't see it...
This is a decent song, but idk about 8.5 average rating. 
Bill! The Liverpool Kop choir are NOT hooligans! They are singers of the highest calibre and would run a mile from violence of any sort.
said "fuck yeah" out loud hearing the opening...
New Speedway Boogie to Fearless
Just what I needed, thanks.

Db
 salice wrote:
 LizK wrote:

Uh, doesn't the "You'll never walk alone" part refer to the 89 fans suffocated during overcrowding at a match?


96 died. In 1989. Song obviously predates that.
A little knowledge is a dangerous thing.
#JFT96

 Knowing that the song, which obviously dates from the '60s, is sung by Liverpool fans to commemorate a horrific event in football history, is a dangerous thing? 


 hayduke2 wrote:
Wiki says:
. . . Storm Thorgerson originally suggested a close-up shot of a baboon's anus for the album cover photograph. He was overruled by the band, who informed him via an inter-continental telephone call while on tour in Japan that they would rather have "an ear underwater". The cover image was photographed by Bob Dowling. The image represents an ear, underwater, collecting waves of sound (represented by ripples in the water). 

- kind of sorry for removing the mystery of that odd shape  : )

The ear is a little more evident with the jacket open (and turned sideways):
(apologies for the giant pic)
 Andrew_C wrote:

Less of the "English football hooligans" - sure they exist, but Floyd used the Kopp choir who, by and large, aren't! 



Well said, I think it was a bit harsh of Bill to refer to them as'English football hooligans'.
They were, as you quite rightly point out 'The Kop Choir' who are generally speaking non violent fans.
Less of the "English football hooligans" - sure they exist, but Floyd used the Kopp choir who, by and large, aren't! 
    
I LOOOaaaaVE
BIG MAC .... oh  P I N K  F L O Y D   
    David Gilmour is a G O D 
As Charlatans UK sang, "Here comes a soul saver on your record player..." (I believe they were paying a quite well-aimed homage, not stealing anything; and, in the process, they became another soul-saving band for me, and remain in high position in my Rock 'n' Roll Pantheon).  Indeed... I fell in love with this band with every song I ever heard by them.  FEARLESS IS THE WAY TO BE!  It has a price, of course, but I'd like to believe that whatever gets unjustly torn down in this realm arises anew and is justly glorified in the next, Amen.
 jgrosch wrote:

When I was in high school I had a part time job in a used record store. One Saturday afternoon I took a hit of acid at the store and listening to the first side of this album over and over again until the boss figured out what was going on and sent me home with a copy of the album.
 


Now that is my kind of boss :-)
 ExploitingChaos wrote:
GMM

TIMELESS CLASSIC alarm 

Oh yeh....I needed that....
Do we know whose ear it is depicted on the cover ?
 LizK wrote:

Uh, doesn't the "You'll never walk alone" part refer to the 89 fans suffocated during overcrowding at a match?


96 died. In 1989. Song obviously predates that.
A little knowledge is a dangerous thing.
#JFT96
totally cool song !
Shame about the Liverpool FC connection ! 
On the same album Echoes is an epic, never to be repeated, a jewel in the world of music......... come on Dave do another tour!
After so many years I never changed my opinion on this song: the soccer supporters choir at the end is the less psychedelic and alternative idea I can think of. 
1974 I slapped some big ass speakers in the back deck of my 66 Mustang, and then made my sister and mom sit in the car in the driveway and listen to the entire Echoes album. When they didn’t shower me with appreciation I began to wonder if perhaps I was adopted.
this album doesnt get enough credit for being trippy ground breaking 

envision that, would ya
 jjfflyboy wrote:

In my view, among the best god-like songs of all time.  Climb the hill.  Overcome internal fear.  Cast off the chiding remarks of those who won't because of their own fears.   The very first chord fills me with encouragement.



The words of Fearless describe my childhood eerily well. Thank you, Pink Floyd,  for helping me make sense of it all.
Always Pink Floyd.....
LIVERPOOL!!!!
 DigitalJer wrote:

Sometimes a gentle rock song is just what I need.




With poignant lyrics that still hold true all these years later! 
the best floyd of all
Sometimes a gentle rock song is just what I need.
 mread wrote:

I have done exactly this, with the same results.  Also the track See Emily Play.
 
Same with Fat Old sun.
 coloradojohn wrote:
Divine! I was blessed to hear this song performed to perfection by a local jam band while partying pretty hard at a nearby bar last night.
 
Yeah!  A few years ago I saw Mickey from Ween play the whole Echoes side (with a band of accomplices) at John & Peter´s in New Hope PA, straight thru.  Awesome!
 VH1 wrote:


This album came out 1971 so how can it refer to a catastrophic event which occurred 18 years later?
 
Well Roger Walters lyrics were always hauntingly prophetic...
 oldman wrote:

Haven't thought about this in a long time. 
When I worked for a stereo dealer back in the day, the sales guys used to sell quite a few ESS Rock Monitors with Phase Linear 300 amps, to the hearing impaired. Fixed a great many after they burned up too.
That was what they wanted, to feel the music.
I always wondered if any lived in apartments.........
Thanks for that blast from the past. 

I still have a Phase Linear 400...When it was in use, that amp needed those huge
cooling fins at the back, hence the name Blaze or Flame Linear...;-(

Tony in NJ
W.A.S.T.E.
 

 jgrosch wrote:
When I was in high school I had a part time job in a used record store. One Saturday afternoon I took a hit of acid at the store and listening to the first side of this album over and over again until the boss figured out what was going on and sent me home with a copy of the album.
 
 You dropped acid and didn't get around to 'Echoes'?? Oh my, that re-defines a lost opportunity....hopefully you managed it when you got home 

 capandjudy wrote:
I like this much better than their block buster albums. I'm sure this must be a minority point of view.
 

Definitely my favorite. Great array of songs.
 LizK wrote:

Uh, doesn't the "You'll never walk alone" part refer to the 89 fans suffocated during overcrowding at a match?
 
It's from a Rogers and Hammerstein musical. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fearless_(Pink_Floyd_song)
 LizK wrote:

Uh, doesn't the "You'll never walk alone" part refer to the 89 fans suffocated during overcrowding at a match?
 

This album came out 1971 so how can it refer to a catastrophic event which occurred 18 years later?
 PeteCreech wrote:
Made worse by football anthem at close. Sorry but doesn't float my boat. :(
 
Uh, doesn't the "You'll never walk alone" part refer to the 89 fans suffocated during overcrowding at a match?
Fearlessly the idiot faced the crowd, smiling
Merciless the magistrate turns round, frowning
And who's the fool who wears the crown
No doubt in your own way

Prescient.

Climb your hill, don't let anything get in your way. 
One of these days you need to play Side 2! https://radioparadise.com/music/song/30757/Pink_Floyd-Echoes
Overplayed on RP and one of my least favourite Floyd tracks. Made worse by football anthem at close. Sorry but doesn't float my boat. :(
GMM

TIMELESS CLASSIC alarm 
Always a good omen when this comes up on the playlist before a big Liverpool game. YNWA
My rating is only  7 
Meddle was the first album I ever bought. It had just come out...

...takes me back.
Holy cow. I'm sitting at my desk at work and suddenly I smell weed.
I wish One Of These Days was on the rotation....
(Sigh!)
 bam23 wrote:
I saw Pink Floyd at Case Western Reserve University, in a gymnasium, about the time this was released. Although I was completely straight at the time, there was a contact high effect that was inescapable. In many ways, I think this era represents some of the best work they did. Even knowing what came later, this point in their evolution was unique at the time. In some ways, their own fortunes (not monetary) might have been better had they not become so popular. I guess my perspective is based on seeing this group in that setting, when knowing what Pink Floyd even meant set one apart from most people. This was a college gym.
 
I saw DSOTM tour just down the road in the Kent State gymnasium. Very small and intimate, unlike today's large arenas. Straight also, only a kid. Lotsa funny smelling cigs....
Will try this track as an induction for deep self-hypnosis next time, it should be working because the effect has already emerged while I was listening. Now I can't go back to my work.
 Relayer wrote:

Well yea, because David has a great voice, and Roger struggles to sing well. Sure, he does well on some songs, but even Roger had to know that David was a far better singer (and better bass player as well if you listen to Animals).
 
At their feudingest (not a word, don't care) Roger Waters said Gilmour wrote 3rd rate lyrics and his voice had no "soul".
I love this song.  I hear the first chord and I get excited and stop what I'm doing, even though I've heard it a hundred times before.
 lizardking wrote:
...
Fearless and Free Four were two PF tracks I'd ask folks to "name the band" and was surprised how few "Floyd Fans" could do so.
...
 
I have done exactly this, with the same results.  Also the track See Emily Play.
 ziggytrix wrote:
I can't believe how much Roger let David sing on this album.

 
Well yea, because David has a great voice, and Roger struggles to sing well. Sure, he does well on some songs, but even Roger had to know that David was a far better singer (and better bass player as well if you listen to Animals).
 capandjudy wrote:
I like this much better than their block buster albums. I'm sure this must be a minority point of view.

 
well only in the sense that "block buster" usually means "most popular."  Although I bet that the "average" PF fan has purchased the same record more than once, like w/ DSOTM; too bad there aren't stats showing how many unique purchases an album had vs. repeat purchases.

For me, in the cassette tape days when I first started my journey into PF's music, it started with The Wall, graduated to DSOTM, then WYWH, then Animals (i.e. the 3 #1s and the #3) and then into the early stuff and movie soundtracks. 

Fearless and Free Four were two PF tracks I'd ask folks to "name the band" and was surprised how few "Floyd Fans" could do so. 

LONG LIVE RP!!

I saw Pink Floyd at Case Western Reserve University, in a gymnasium, about the time this was released. Although I was completely straight at the time, there was a contact high effect that was inescapable. In many ways, I think this era represents some of the best work they did. Even knowing what came later, this point in their evolution was unique at the time. In some ways, their own fortunes (not monetary) might have been better had they not become so popular. I guess my perspective is based on seeing this group in that setting, when knowing what Pink Floyd even meant set one apart from most people. This was a college gym.
 bking wrote:
I am sick of hearing Pink Floyd on the classic rock radio stations....same songs over and over again.  So refreshing to hear Fearless.

 
Yeah....I could do for some Atom Heart Mother too.
I like this much better than their block buster albums. I'm sure this must be a minority point of view.
I can't believe how much Roger let David sing on this album.
 idiot_wind wrote:
Ah Meddle...a sign of things to come.  This album never gets enough attention.

Is this comparable to the Beatle's Rubber Soul?  

 
...or the Rolling Stones' Between the Buttons if you swing that way.
Very Nice
Puts me right back there in the day
vibrating along my spine
floating
disjointed but connected
none the less

Thanks... again
I am sick of hearing Pink Floyd on the classic rock radio stations....same songs over and over again.  So refreshing to hear Fearless.
If any Floyd fans are in London take a visit to the V&A where there's the Pink Floyd: Their Mortal Remains exhibition's on - was there Saturday - fantastic - get 10am tickets
 idiot_wind wrote:
Ah Meddle...a sign of things to come.  This album never gets enough attention.

Is this comparable to the Beatle's Rubber Soul?  

 
Excellent point!
Ah Meddle...a sign of things to come.  This album never gets enough attention.

Is this comparable to the Beatle's Rubber Soul?  
Divine! I was blessed to hear this song performed to perfection by a local jam band while partying pretty hard at a nearby bar last night.

Thank you Pink Floyd
 for Fearless

is a very STRONG 7 for me


Favourite Pink Floyd song. Favourite song by anyone.

Pink Floyd
Fearless

is a 7 for me


Perfect for a sunny Sunday afternoon.  Early PF at their best.
 jgrosch wrote:
When I was in high school I had a part time job in a used record store. One Saturday afternoon I took a hit of acid at the store and listening to the first side of this album over and over again until the boss figured out what was going on and sent me home with a copy of the album.
 

 
He understood you needed to listen to the second side of the gem as well !!
This reminds me of one of my days as a student : came to my summer job still totally high after an epic acid night... having listened to Meddle a few hundred times. The boss looked at me in the eyes a veeeery long moment. But he didn't send me home, unfortunately.
=> it's been a terrible day in the bookstore that day {#Eyes} {#Fire} {#Propeller} {#Bounce} 
 MJdub wrote:
Never realized that was an ear...always thought it was some weird blurry camel or something.  Never saw it larger than a thumbnail though.
Ambulance LTD did a decent cover of this song.  Still can't believe there's no Ambulance LTD on RP {#Stupid} 

 
Somebody did upload the cover to LRC, but apparently it didn't make the grade.  Too bad.
This song is featured in the bong scene in that latest R. Linklater movie "Everybody Wants Some".

Overall, a pretty disappointing effort for Linklater, who has hit some highs and lows.  But hearing this song was probably the best bit in that movie. 
 MJdub wrote:
Never realized that was an ear...always thought it was some weird blurry camel or something.  Never saw it larger than a thumbnail though.
Ambulance LTD did a decent cover of this song.  Still can't believe there's no Ambulance LTD on RP {#Stupid} 

 
Please upload.
 Jakethemuss wrote:
These guy's have just ripped off the Charlatans "Here Come's a Soul Saver" - disappointing.

 
Forget about the Charlatans, Pink Floyd should do the Liverpudlians justice.
 willmcnaught wrote:
 Jakethemuss wrote:
These guy's have just ripped off the Charlatans "Here Come's a Soul Saver" - disappointing.

 {#Drunk}
This was released in 1971, The Charlatans were formed in 1988/89 Jake you can apologize any time you want! lmao

 
Apparently, sarcastic humor does seem to translate very well in these comment threads.
 ShaunJ wrote:

Hilarious, as there are always comments on RP about bands ripping off another bands sound. Thanks for clarifying the obvious   {#Cheers}

 
Completely agree; a band being influenced by another doesn't mean they 'ripped off' anyone!!
 willmcnaught wrote:
 Jakethemuss wrote:
These guy's have just ripped off the Charlatans "Here Come's a Soul Saver" - disappointing.

 {#Drunk}
This was released in 1971, The Charlatans were formed in 1988/89 Jake you can apologize any time you want! lmao

 
Hilarious, as there are always comments on RP about bands ripping off another bands sound. Thanks for clarifying the obvious   {#Cheers}
After making their "live at pompeii" video 45yrs ago during the Pink Floyd meddle tour, dave gilmour went back to play a concert there recently, which ought to be out on DVD at some point:
https://www.theguardian.com/artanddesign/ng-interactive/2016/jul/14/david-gilmour-live-at-pompeii-a-photo-essay
trying to erase every trace.
 smackiepipe wrote:
Still my favorite Floyd album. It's got it all.

 
Ditto.
In my view, among the best god-like songs of all time.  Climb the hill.  Overcome internal fear.  Cast off the chiding remarks of those who won't because of their own fears.   The very first chord fills me with encouragement.
This album got overshadowed by Dark Side of the Moon. 

This is a mighty fine album. Play more from it! 
Still my favorite Floyd album. It's got it all.
Not sure if it just came up on rotation or if Bill is playing tribute.
Either way, great to hear this today.

Hillsborough inquests: Fans unlawfully killed, jury concludes
I love this album. It's like Barrett on one side, and the 'new' Floyd on the other. That transition they had to make after Syd lost the plot was nothing short of miraculous. It has to be said that if Syd hadn't taken quite so much LSD, we might never have had the classic Floyd albums we know and love so much. Crazy.
 stunix wrote:
Obscure?     very little PF is obscure, except "obscured by clouds". :)  
Arguably, this track is now obscure.  When was the last time you heard it, other than here on RP?  Seems like most young people these days (my kids' generation) know plenty of Pink Floyd, but only because of The Wall, and early stuff like this is foreign to them.
Memories of girlfriends in the 70's :-)
A 10 as no 12 available. 
 Jakethemuss wrote:
These guy's have just ripped off the Charlatans "Here Come's a Soul Saver" - disappointing.

 {#Drunk}
This was released in 1971, The Charlatans were formed in 1988/89 Jake you can apologize any time you want! lmao