WDYWFM

US and THEM Index

CHAPTER 24 EXPLANATION

by CARL (Aka ThECLERiC)


First of all I'd like to say hi to my friends on the net: Taadow, Michelle, Aj, Sandy, Joe, Curmit and every Floydian on Planet Floyd.

Then I'd like to point out that I'm not exceptionally excellent at interpreting songs, but I've analyzed quite a few albums and songs but never actually written anything :) So after ECHOES, here's CHAPTER 24. But first I'd like to remind new Floydians of something very important in Floyd life: Each song can be understood in a million different aspects, so don't just follow somebody's opinion because he's an old and experienced Floydian. What makes Floyd songs so special is their diverse effects on each individual. Also in this analysis I'm not gonna go into deep details, just the main frame and you'll have to work out everything else. Anyway enough apple talk, there goes:

CHAPTER 24

First of all, the title. What's chapter 24? Is it a chapter in the bible? I suppose it's about the judgment day, I'll explain that later on.


All movement is accomplished in six stages.

What movement? I think by movement he means "action". You know, your everyday actions, whatever you do... So each action is achieved in six parts. Why SIX? SIX, because it's not SEVEN. Seven is a holy figure. Whatever Man (as a species) does, his actions will never reach perfection. They are always in lack of excellence.


And the seventh brings return

The seventh... That is: The seventh STAGE. If, by any chance, Man gets to accomplish a task PERFECTLY (I'm not talking about a woodsmith carving a perfect circle, PERFECTLY means Godly, without any kind of physical/ethereal mistake, which is only possible for God and saints and you know that sort of stuff...). So if Man ever gets to accomplish a task perfectly, he will be rewarded ("return"). I don't know in what way he will be rewarded, but there's a recompense for him.


The seven is the number of the young light
It forms when darkness is increased by one

Number SEVEN is the number of young light, id est, number seven symbolizes perfection. "It forms when...": Reaching perfection can be achieved by overcoming "darkness", or in other words "ignorance". Overcoming ignorance means knowing everything, which is a quality of God. So briefly, to become perfect is to overcome ignorance and become God.


Change return success
Going and coming without error
Action brings good fortune

Change: Changing old habits, means leaving the sinful, mortal state and going transcendent. Return: Reward. Success: duh! So the first line isn't a phrase, it's just an arrangement thematically combined. "Going and coming without error": THAT's perfection, doing everything without mistakes. "Action brings good fortune": Action (perfect, Godly one) will be rewarded (good fortune).


Sunset

Well here's a hard one... Would it mean that, after becoming perfect, one should rest for a while (see below why "for a while") ?


The time is with the month of winter solstice
When the change is due to come

Winter solstice... December 21... But by "Winter Solstice" he doesn't mean December TWENTY ONE, I think he means 25, Christmas, birth of Jesus Christ. The idea will be complete once I finish this whole paragraph...
The change... The coming of Jesus changed humans to better people. But here, "change"... is it judgment day? I think so, it becomes clearer below...


Thunder in the Earth, the course of Heaven

Thunder: stands for chaos and violence. Chaos and Violence on Earth, sinful life, with mistakes and six-stages actions and movements...
The course of Heaven: a somehow heavenly picture, as if it comes from the bible, describing the judgment day. Or is it the REWARD? Taking the course of heaven? Well it's prolly the first idea the fits better because:


Things cannot be destroyed once and for all

You'll never get away with your sins. They cannot be erased once and for all, so going to church and asking forgiveness after slitting your wife's throat is not going to wipe everything off. Another reference to judgment day?


Change return success
Going and coming without error
Action brings good fortune
Sunset

Same as above, BUT! With one minor addition:

Sunrise

SUNRISE! Now would it be:
1- After becoming God and resting (Sunset), it starts all over again? (It's like your achieved virtual perfection, so you'll have to start all over again)
2- OR, is it that after the judgment day, SUNRISE, peaceful life and everything's nice...

All movement is accomplished in six stages
And the seventh brings return
The seven is the number of the young light
It forms when darkness is increased by one

Change return success
Going and coming without error
Action brings good fortune
Sunset
Sunrise

Ok I think you got the idea here, I won't repeat it anymore. It's a wonderful song, very first-floyd psychedelic style, very high-Barrett. Perfect.

Well I hope you enjoyed reading this document as much as I had the pleasure writing it. But never forget that there are, what, like, more than 100 million Floydians worldwide, and each has his own interpretation(s) of each song, so any suggestions (concerning this and/or any other song) is always welcome at my email addy: CARL@ELKHABBAZ.ORG or you can find me on IRC, Undernet #PinkFloyd&Co. and Dalnet #Planet_Floyd

Floydianly Yours,

Carl