# Lucifer Sam > Mediated Wiki article. Canonical URL: https://mediated.wiki/source/Lucifer_Sam > Markdown URL: https://mediated.wiki/source/Lucifer_Sam.md > Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lucifer_Sam > Source revision: 1356932667 > License: Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/) 1967 song by Pink Floyd "Lucifer Sam" Song by Pink Floyd from the album The Piper at the Gates of Dawn Released 5 August 1967 (1967-08-05) Recorded 12–18 April 1967 Genre Psychedelic pop[1] acid rock space rock[2] art rock surf rock garage rock[3] hard rock proto-punk Length 3:07 Label EMI Columbia Tower Songwriter Syd Barrett Producer Norman Smith Audio "Lucifer Sam" on YouTube "**Lucifer Sam**" is a song by the English [rock](/source/Rock_music) band [Pink Floyd](/source/Pink_Floyd), featured on the band's debut album *[The Piper at the Gates of Dawn](/source/The_Piper_at_the_Gates_of_Dawn)* (1967). ## Music and lyrics The song is built around a descending riff with the dominant instrument being composer [Syd Barrett](/source/Syd_Barrett)'s electric guitar, fed through an [echo machine](/source/Echo_machine). The resultant sound has been likened to a "sinister" [Duane Eddy](/source/Duane_Eddy).[4] This is augmented by bowed bass and increasingly agitated organ and percussion effects.[5] Although the lyric frequently refers to Lucifer Sam as a cat, some speculation has arisen as to whether this was in fact slang ("a hip cat") for a man, real or imagined, in some type of relationship with Barrett's then-girlfriend, Jenny Spires (referred to in the song as "Jennifer Gentle").[5] However, Sam was simply Barrett's [Siamese cat](/source/Siamese_cat) (and is referred to as such in the first line: "Lucifer Sam, Siam cat"), the track was originally called "Percy the Rat Catcher" during the recording sessions, which took place between April and June 1967.[6] ## Personnel ### Pink Floyd - [Syd Barrett](/source/Syd_Barrett) – vocals, guitar, [slide guitar](/source/Slide_guitar) - [Richard Wright](/source/Richard_Wright_(musician)) – [Farfisa organ](/source/Farfisa_organ), [Hammond organ](/source/Hammond_organ), piano - [Roger Waters](/source/Roger_Waters) – bass guitar, bowed bass - [Nick Mason](/source/Nick_Mason) – drums, [maracas](/source/Maracas), timpani ## Live and cover versions "Lucifer Sam" was only performed live by Pink Floyd in 1967[6] and featured as an encore during many performances, most notably at the [Games for May](/source/Games_for_May) concert. Barrett later performed the song with his 1972 band [Stars](/source/Stars_(British_band)).[7] [Lightning Seeds](/source/Lightning_Seeds) covered the song as a B-side, and it appeared on their 2006 [best of collection](/source/The_Very_Best_of_The_Lightning_Seeds).[8] The track has also been covered by [the Black Crowes](/source/The_Black_Crowes), [Electric Hellfire Club](/source/Electric_Hellfire_Club), [the Minders](/source/The_Minders), [the Flaming Lips](/source/The_Flaming_Lips), [True West](/source/True_West_(band)), [Jay Farrar](/source/Jay_Farrar), [Love and Rockets](/source/Love_and_Rockets_(band)),[9] [Shockabilly](/source/Shockabilly), [the Sadies](/source/The_Sadies), [the Three O'Clock](/source/The_Three_O'Clock), [MGMT](/source/MGMT), [Spirits in the Sky](/source/Spirits_in_the_Sky), [Unknown Mortal Orchestra](/source/Unknown_Mortal_Orchestra), [Obits](/source/Obits) (with different lyrics, as "Widow of my Dreams"), [Cat's Eyes](/source/Cat's_Eyes), [Bauhaus](/source/Bauhaus_(band)), [Southern Culture on the Skids](/source/Southern_Culture_on_the_Skids), [The Horrors](/source/The_Horrors) and [Chris & Cosey](/source/Chris_%26_Cosey). [Nick Mason](/source/Nick_Mason) has performed the song live with his band [Nick Mason's Saucerful of Secrets](/source/Nick_Mason's_Saucerful_of_Secrets). A recording is included on their 2020 live album *[Live at the Roundhouse](/source/Live_at_the_Roundhouse_(Nick_Mason's_Saucerful_of_Secrets_album))*. ## References 1. **[^](#cite_ref-1)** Swanson, Dave (4 August 2015). ["How Pink Floyd Set the Psych-Rock Standard With Their Debut"](http://ultimateclassicrock.com/pink-floyd-debut-the-piper-at-the-gates-of-dawn-turns-45/). *Ultimate Classic Rock*. Retrieved 23 December 2018. 1. **[^](#cite_ref-2)** A.Robbins "The Trouser Press record guide" (Collier Books, 1991), ISBN 0-02-036361-3 1. **[^](#cite_ref-3)** Wyman, Bill. ["All 165 Pink Floyd Songs, Ranked From Worst to Best"](https://www.vulture.com/2017/08/all-165-pink-floyd-songs-ranked-from-worst-to-best.html). *Vulture*. Retrieved 15 August 2020. 1. **[^](#cite_ref-4)** Toby Manning (2006). *The Rough Guide to Pink Floyd*: p.155 1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-The_Piper_at_the_Gates_of_Dawn_5-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-The_Piper_at_the_Gates_of_Dawn_5-1) John Cavanagh (2003). *The Piper at the Gates of Dawn*: pp.39–41 1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-The_Pink_Floyd_Encyclopedia_6-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-The_Pink_Floyd_Encyclopedia_6-1) Vernon Fitch (2005). *The Pink Floyd Encyclopedia*: p.186 1. **[^](#cite_ref-sbpf_7-0)** ["Syd Barrett Pink Floyd Psychedelic Music Progressive Music: Syd Barrett Stars - Everything (So Far)"](https://web.archive.org/web/20170814104115/http://www.sydbarrettpinkfloyd.com/2010/02/syd-barrett-stars-its-so-long-ago-now.html). Sydbarrettpinkfloyd.com. Archived from [the original](http://www.sydbarrettpinkfloyd.com/2010/02/syd-barrett-stars-its-so-long-ago-now.html) on 14 August 2017. Retrieved 12 January 2015. 1. **[^](#cite_ref-8)** Mawer, Sharon. ["The Very Best of the Lightning Seeds - The Lightning Seeds : Songs, Reviews, Credits, Awards"](http://www.allmusic.com/album/the-very-best-of-the-lightning-seeds-mw0000741628). AllMusic. Retrieved 29 October 2012. 1. **[^](#cite_ref-9)** Palacios, Julian (2010). "Home". *Syd Barrett & Pink Floyd: Dark Globe* (Rev. ed.). London: Plexus. p. 418. [ISBN](/source/ISBN_(identifier)) [978-0859654319](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:BookSources/978-0859654319). ## External links - [Allmusic review](https://www.allmusic.com/song/t1530786) v t e The Piper at the Gates of Dawn Songs Side one "Astronomy Dominé" "Lucifer Sam" "Matilda Mother" "Flaming" "Pow R. Toc H." "Take Up Thy Stethoscope and Walk" Side two "Interstellar Overdrive" "The Gnome" "Chapter 24" "The Scarecrow" "Bike" Related articles Tonite Lets All Make Love in London "Arnold Layne" "See Emily Play" "She Was a Millionaire" A Nice Pair The Early Years 1965–1972 The Piper at the Gates of Dawn A Saucerful of Secrets More Ummagumma Atom Heart Mother Meddle Obscured by Clouds The Dark Side of the Moon Wish You Were Here Animals The Wall The Final Cut A Momentary Lapse of Reason The Division Bell The Endless River v t e Pink Floyd songs Discography Songs The Piper at the Gates of Dawn "Astronomy Domine" "Lucifer Sam" "Matilda Mother" "Flaming" "Pow R. Toc H." "Take Up Thy Stethoscope and Walk" "Interstellar Overdrive" "The Gnome" "Chapter 24" "The Scarecrow" "Bike" "See Emily Play" (U.S.) A Saucerful of Secrets "Let There Be More Light" "Remember a Day" "Set the Controls for the Heart of the Sun" "Corporal Clegg" "A Saucerful of Secrets" "See-Saw" "Jugband Blues" More "Cirrus Minor" "The Nile Song" "Green Is the Colour" "Cymbaline" Ummagumma "Grantchester Meadows" "Several Species of Small Furry Animals Gathered Together in a Cave and Grooving with a Pict" "The Narrow Way" Atom Heart Mother "Atom Heart Mother" "If" "Summer '68" "Fat Old Sun" "Alan's Psychedelic Breakfast" Meddle "One of These Days" "A Pillow of Winds" "Fearless" "San Tropez" "Seamus" "Echoes" Obscured by Clouds "Burning Bridges" "Wot's... Uh the Deal?" "Childhood's End" "Free Four" The Dark Side of the Moon "Speak to Me" "Breathe (In the Air)" "On the Run" "Time" "The Great Gig in the Sky" "Money" "Us and Them" "Any Colour You Like" "Brain Damage" "Eclipse" Wish You Were Here "Shine On You Crazy Diamond" "Welcome to the Machine" "Have a Cigar" "Wish You Were Here" Animals "Pigs on the Wing" "Dogs" "Pigs (Three Different Ones)" "Sheep" The Wall "In the Flesh?/In the Flesh" "The Thin Ice" "Another Brick in the Wall" "The Happiest Days of Our Lives" "Mother" "Goodbye Blue Sky" "Empty Spaces" "Young Lust" "One of My Turns" "Don't Leave Me Now" "Hey You" "Is There Anybody Out There?" "Nobody Home" "Vera" "Bring the Boys Back Home" "Comfortably Numb" "The Show Must Go On" "Run Like Hell" "Waiting for the Worms" "Stop" "The Trial" "Outside the Wall" The Final Cut "The Post War Dream" "Your Possible Pasts" "One of the Few" "The Hero's Return" "The Gunner's Dream" "Paranoid Eyes" "The Fletcher Memorial Home" "Southampton Dock" "The Final Cut" "Not Now John" "Two Suns in the Sunset" A Momentary Lapse of Reason "Signs of Life" "Learning to Fly" "The Dogs of War" "One Slip" "On the Turning Away" "Yet Another Movie" "Round and Around" "A New Machine" "Terminal Frost" "Sorrow" The Division Bell "Cluster One" "What Do You Want from Me" "Poles Apart" "Marooned" "A Great Day for Freedom" "Wearing the Inside Out" "Take It Back" "Coming Back to Life" "Keep Talking" "Lost for Words" "High Hopes" The Endless River "Louder than Words" Other songs "Arnold Layne" / "Candy and a Currant Bun" "See Emily Play" "Apple and Oranges" / "Paint Box" "It Would Be So Nice" / "Julia Dream" "Point Me at the Sky" / "Careful with That Axe, Eugene" "Embryo" "When the Tigers Broke Free" "The Last Few Bricks" "Lucy Leave" "I'm a King Bee" "Vegetable Man" "Scream Thy Last Scream" "Hey, Hey, Rise Up!" Authority control databases MusicBrainz work --- Adapted from the Wikipedia article [Lucifer Sam](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lucifer_Sam) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lucifer_Sam?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.