"Dark Globe" (also known as "Wouldn't You Miss Me")
is a song by
Syd Barrett, released on his first solo album ''
The Madcap Laughs
''The Madcap Laughs'' is the debut solo album by the English singer-songwriter Syd Barrett. It was recorded after Barrett had left Pink Floyd in April 1968. The album had a chequered recording history, with work beginning in mid-1968, but the ...
''.
Recording
Syd Barrett recorded "Dark Globe" and other songs during a session held on 12 June 1969,
with producers
David Gilmour and
Roger Waters.
Despite both Gilmour and Waters considering the song finished, Barrett recorded the song a third time towards the end of the session.[ The version recorded at the start of the session was the one released on the finished album.] On 26 July 1969 Barrett recorded "Dark Globe" again.[ This take was titled "Wouldn't You Miss Me" on the recording sheet.][ The track, along with two others, was mixed on August 6 of the same year.]
Personnel
* Syd Barrett – vocals, acoustic guitar
* David Gilmour – producer
* Roger Waters – producer
Covers
"Dark Globe" was covered by R.E.M.
R.E.M. was an American rock band from Athens, Georgia, formed in 1980 by drummer Bill Berry, guitarist Peter Buck, bassist Mike Mills, and lead vocalist Michael Stipe, who were students at the University of Georgia. One of the first alternati ...
while the band was touring to support ''Document
A document is a written, drawn, presented, or memorialized representation of thought, often the manifestation of non-fictional, as well as fictional, content. The word originates from the Latin ''Documentum'', which denotes a "teaching" o ...
'' and ''Green
Green is the color between cyan and yellow on the visible spectrum. It is evoked by light which has a dominant wavelength of roughly 495570 nm. In subtractive color systems, used in painting and color printing, it is created by a combi ...
.'' R.E.M. first released the song in 1989 on the single "Orange Crush
Crush is a brand of carbonated soft drinks owned and marketed internationally by Keurig Dr Pepper, originally created as an orange soda, Orange Crush. Crush competes with Coca-Cola's Fanta. It was created in 1911 by beverage and extract chemi ...
", and they re-released it in 1993 on the British "collector's edition" of the single for "Everybody Hurts
"Everybody Hurts" is a song by American rock band R.E.M. from their eighth studio album, '' Automatic for the People'' (1992), and released as a single in April 1993. It peaked at number 29 on the US ''Billboard'' Hot 100 and reached the top ...
". It was one of four cover versions within R.E.M.'s rare album, '' Automatic Box''. In an interview for the DVD, ''The Pink Floyd & Syd Barrett Story'', Roger Waters recalls visiting backstage with R.E.M. and being warmly welcomed by the band, except for vocalist Michael Stipe
John Michael Stipe (; born January 4, 1960) is an American singer-songwriter and artist, best known as the lead singer and lyricist of alternative rock band R.E.M. He is known for his vocal quality, poetic lyrics and unique stage presence.
Pos ...
. Stipe instead sat in a corner with his back to everyone, ignoring Waters until Stipe performed "Dark Globe" by himself during the encore. Waters said he supposed this to be Stipe's way of saying, "Syd was all right but you're an arsehole." R.E.M.'s rendition was released as a B-side to the original on a marbled brown 7" for Record Store Day
Record Store Day is an annual event inaugurated in 2007 and held on one Saturday (typically the third) every April and every Black Friday in November to "celebrate the culture of the independently owned record store". The day brings together fa ...
on 18 April 2015.
"Dark Globe" has also been covered by the band Placebo
A placebo ( ) is a substance or treatment which is designed to have no therapeutic value. Common placebos include inert tablets (like sugar pills), inert injections (like saline), sham surgery, and other procedures.
In general, placebos can af ...
. Gene Ween
Aaron Freeman (born March 17, 1970), better known by his stage name Gene Ween, is an American singer, guitarist and a founding member of the experimental alternative rock group Ween. Freeman, along with childhood friend Dean Ween (Mickey Melch ...
, Soundgarden
Soundgarden was an American rock band formed in Seattle, Washington, in 1984 by singer and drummer Chris Cornell, lead guitarist Kim Thayil (both of whom are the only members to appear in every incarnation of the band), and bassist Hiro Yama ...
, and Chris Cornell
Christopher John Cornell (né Boyle; July 20, 1964 – May 18, 2017) was an American singer and musician best known as the lead vocalist, rhythm guitarist, and primary lyricist and songwriter for the rock bands Soundgarden and Audioslave ...
have all covered the song live.
Pink Floyd guitarist David Gilmour revived the song in live performance during some of his concerts in July 2006, as a tribute to Barrett shortly after he died. A live version was released on a single entitled "Arnold Layne
"Arnold Layne" is a song by English rock band Pink Floyd. Released on 10 March 1967, it was the band's first single release. It was written by Syd Barrett.
Lyrics
The song's title character is a transvestite whose strange hobby is stealing wo ...
" later that year.
References
1970 songs
Syd Barrett songs
David Gilmour songs
Songs written by Syd Barrett
Song recordings produced by David Gilmour
Song recordings produced by Roger Waters
R.E.M. songs
Record Store Day releases
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