In 1969, David Gilmour wrote and recorded his first composition for Pink Floyd, a three-part instrumental and lyrical trip called “The Narrow Way.” Released on the band’s fourth album Ummagumma—and their second without former singer Syd Barrett—the Gilmour suite was the only Pink Floyd track ever recorded featuring the guitarist performing on his own.
Throughout “The Narrow Way,” which clocks in at 12 minutes and 17 seconds, Gilmour handles the vocals and guitar, along with bass, piano, percussion, organ, mellotron, and drums.
“Well, we’d decided to make the damn album, and each of us to do a piece of music on our own,” said Gilmour in 1983, “It was just desperation really, trying to think of something to do, to write by myself. I’d never written anything before, I just went into a studio and started waffling about, taking bits and pieces together. I haven’t heard it in years. I’ve no idea what it’s like.” Closing side two on the album, the first two parts of “The Narrow Way” are instrumentals, performed by Gilmour.
Ummagumma also featured the band’s collective compositions “Careful with That Axe, Eugene” and “A Saucerful of Secrets,” along with Roger Waters‘ “Set the Controls for the Heart of the Sun” Richard Wright’s four-part “Sysyphus,” and Nick Mason’s closing “The Grand Vizier’s Garden Party.”
By the third part of “The Narrow Way,” Gilmour inserts lyrics. Within its somber tone, the song falls between hope and darkness and a subtle meditation on mortality.
Following the path as it leads towards
The darkness in the north
Weary stranger’s faces show their sympathy
They’ve seen that hope before
And if you want to stay for a little bit
Rest your aching limbs for a little bit
For you the night is beckoning
And now you can’t delay
You hear the night birds calling you
But you can’t catch the words they say
Close your ears and eyes, be on your way
In 2015 scientists discovered a new species of damselfly, similar to a dragonfly, under the genus, Umma, in Africa. They named the damselfly Umma gumma after the Pink Floyd album. The term ummagumma was also a slang for sex first made up by the band’s friend Iain “Emo” Moore.
From: https://americansongwriter.com/the-12-plus-minute-pink-floyd-song-david-gilmour-regretted-writing/
