Paranoid Eyes
Pink Floyd · The Final Cut [1983]
Take a fresh grip on your bullet proof mask.
And if they try to break down your disguise with their questions
You can hide, hide, hide,
"I'll tell you what, I'll give you three blacks, and play you for five
..."
"Ta! You was unlucky there son"
"Time gentleman!"
Behind paranoid eyes.
You put on our brave face and slip over the road for a jar.
Fixing your grin as you casually lean on the bar,
Laughing too loud at the rest of the world
With the boys in the crowd
You hide, hide, hide,
Behind petrified eyes.
You believed in their stories of fame, fortune and glory.
Now you're lost in a haze of alcohol soft middle age
The pie in the sky turned out to be miles too high.
And you hide, hide, hide,
Behind brown and mild eyes.
"Oi!"
Paranoid Eyes
Released on Pink Floyd's 1983 album The Final Cut, 'Paranoid Eyes' stands as a defining track of their late-period progressive rock and art rock evolution. The song features the band's signature layered synthesizers and dramatic vocal delivery, reflecting the introspective and often melancholic themes prevalent in their work during this era. It serves as a poignant companion to their earlier conceptual masterpiece, The Wall, continuing the exploration of psychological fragmentation and societal pressure that characterized much of their discography. The recording showcases the band's ability to blend complex musical structures with emotional depth, cementing their legacy as pioneers of progressive rock who pushed the boundaries of studio production and thematic storytelling.