"The Gnome" | |
---|---|
Song by Pink Floyd | |
from the album The Piper at the Gates of Dawn | |
Published | Magdalene Music/Essex Music |
Released | 2 November 1967 |
Recorded | 19 March 1967 at Abbey Road Studios (London, United Kingdom) |
Genre | Psychedelic pop, psychedelic folk |
Length | 2:13 |
Label |
Columbia (EMI) (UK) Tower (US) |
Songwriter(s) | Syd Barrett |
Producer(s) | Norman Smith |
"The Gnome" is a song by the English rock band Pink Floyd. Written by Syd Barrett, it is the eighth song on their 1967 debut album, The Piper at the Gates of Dawn.
The song tells the tale of a scarlet tunic wearing gnome named Grimble Gromble. The lyrics ostensibly "came off the top [of Barrett's] head" during his earlier, richly creative period. Reportedly, the song also draws its inspiration from J. R. R. Tolkien's fiction. "The Gnome" was included on the B-side of the US Pink Floyd single "Flaming" (Tower 378), which was never released in the UK.
British actor Nigel Planer recorded this song as "Neil," his character in the UK sitcom The Young Ones, in 1984. It appeared on his Heavy Concept album.