View source for Set the Controls for the Heart of the Sun

{{Short description|1968 song by Pink Floyd}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=December 2021}}
{{Infobox song
| name          = Set the Controls for the Heart of the Sun
| cover         = 
| alt           = 
| artist        = [[Pink Floyd]]
| album         = [[A Saucerful of Secrets]]
| published     = Magdalene Music
| released      = * 29 June 1968 (UK)
* 27 July 1968 (US)
| recorded      = 8 August 1967, January – February 1968
| studio        = [[Abbey Road Studios]], London, UK
| genre         = *[[Space rock]]<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.allmusic.com/song/set-the-controls-for-the-heart-of-the-sun-mt0012238985|title=Set the Controls for the Heart of the Sun Review  |work= Stewart Mason |accessdate=13 June 2012 }}</ref><ref name="Segretto 2022">{{cite book|title=33 1/3 Revolutions Per Minute - A Critical Trip Through the Rock LP Era, 1955–1999|first=Mike|last=Segretto|date=2022|chapter= 1968|pages= 190–191|publisher=Backbeat|isbn=9781493064601|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=jtNtEAAAQBAJ}}</ref>
*[[avant-garde music|avant-garde]]<ref name=Players92>{{cite book|last=Gulla|first=Bob|title=Guitar Gods: The 25 Players Who Made Rock History|url=https://archive.org/details/guitargodsplayer00gull|url-access=limited|year=2009|publisher=Greenwood Press|location=Westport, Conn.|isbn=978-0-313-35806-7|page=[https://archive.org/details/guitargodsplayer00gull/page/n100 92]|chapter=David Gilmour}}</ref> 
*[[psychedelic music|psychedelia]]
| length        = * 5:27 (''[[A Saucerful of Secrets]]'' version)
* 9:27 (''[[Ummagumma]]'' live version)
* 10:32 (''[[Pink Floyd: Live at Pompeii|Live At Pompeii]]'' version)
| label         = [[Columbia Graphophone Company|EMI Columbia]] (UK), [[Tower Records (record label)|Tower]] (US)
| writer        = [[Roger Waters]]
| producer      = [[Norman Smith (record producer)|Norman Smith]]
| misc          = {{External music video|header=Official audio|{{YouTube|bbWOmh_rRq0|Set the Controls for the Heart of the Sun}}}}
}}
"'''Set the Controls for the Heart of the Sun'''" is a song by the English [[Rock music|rock]] band [[Pink Floyd]], appearing on their second album, ''[[A Saucerful of Secrets]]'' (1968). It was written by [[Roger Waters]], taking lyrics from a [[Chinese poetry]] book, and features a drum part by [[Nick Mason]] played with [[timpani#Sticks and mallets|timpani mallets]]. It is the only song recorded by Pink Floyd to feature material from all five band members, as there are several different guitar parts recorded by both [[David Gilmour]] and [[Syd Barrett]], although the guitar parts are buried in the mix.

The song was regularly performed between 1967 and 1973 and can be heard on the live disc of the 1969 album ''[[Ummagumma]]'' and seen in the 1972 movie ''[[Pink Floyd: Live at Pompeii]]''. Waters has also played the song on several solo tours, as has Mason.

==Composition==
The song was written by [[Roger Waters]] in mid-1967, who came up with a riff over which he could sing a melody within his vocal range.{{sfn|Mason|2004|p=118}}{{sfn|Guesdon|Margotin|2017|p=112}} One of the group's managers, [[Peter Jenner]] said it was the first song that Waters wrote that he thought was a similar quality to those by [[Syd Barrett]].{{sfn|Guesdon|Margotin|2017|p=112}}

Waters borrowed the lyrics from a book of [[Chinese poetry]] from the [[Tang dynasty]] (which was later identified as the book ''Poems of the late T'ang'', translated by [[Angus Charles Graham|A.C. Graham]]).{{sfn|Guesdon|Margotin|2017|p=112}} The title was derived from the 1965 novel [[The Fireclown]] by [[Michael Moorcock]].{{sfn|Banks|2021|p=326}}{{sfn|Reisch|2011|p=111}} Among the borrowed lines from Chinese poetry (as translated by Graham) were those written by [[Li He]], whose poem "Don't Go Out of the Door" contains the line "''Witness the man who raved at the wall as he wrote his [[Heavenly Questions|questions to Heaven]]''" (公看呵壁書問天);<ref>{{cite book | last=Palacios | first=Julian | title=Syd Barrett & Pink Floyd: Dark globe | year=2010 | publisher=Plexus | location=London | isbn=978-0-85965-431-9 | page=265 | url=https://books.google.com/books?id=DvgH58uEPFAC&pg=PA265 | quote = Waters borrows a succinct line from 9th-century poet Li He's 'Don't Go Out of the Door', which appeared in the original poem as: 'Witness the man who raved at the wall as he wrote his questions to Heaven.'}}</ref>{{sfn|Guesdon|Margotin|2017|p=114}} and [[Li Shangyin]], whose poetry contained the lines "''watch little by little the night turns around''" ({{lang|zh|暫見夜闌干}}), "countless the twigs which tremble in dawn" ({{lang|zh|撼曉幾多枝}}) and "one inch of love is one inch of ashes" ({{lang|zh|一寸相思一寸灰}}).{{sfn|Guesdon|Margotin|2017|p=114}}

Recording started on 8 August 1967 at [[Abbey Road Studios]],{{sfn|Povey|2007|p=67}} including the lead vocal on 23 October, and overdubs continuing through to January and February 1968.{{sfn|Povey|2007|p=90}}{{sfn|Guesdon|Margotin|2017|p=113}} According to guitarist [[David Gilmour]], the studio version of the song contained minor guitar work both from him and [[Syd Barrett]], making "Set the Controls for the Heart of the Sun" the only Pink Floyd song that features all five band members.{{sfn|Blake|2011|p=117}}{{sfn|Guesdon|Margotin|2017|p=113}} Keyboardist [[Richard Wright (musician)|Richard Wright]] made prominent use of the [[Farfisa]] organ, and also played [[vibraphone]] on the track.{{sfn|Guesdon|Margotin|2017|p=113}} Drummer [[Nick Mason]] enjoyed recording the track as it allowed him to emulate [[Chico Hamilton]]'s drumming on "Blue Sands", using [[Percussion mallet|mallets]], as seen in the 1958 film ''[[Jazz on a Summer's Day]]''.{{sfn|Mason|2004|p=118}}

==Release==
The track was planned for release as a single, with "[[Scream Thy Last Scream]]", on 8 September, before this was vetoed by the band's record company, [[EMI]].<ref name="Lost180">{{cite book|last=Palacios|first=Julian|title=Lost in the Woods: Syd Barrett and the Pink Floyd|year=1998|publisher=Boxtree|location=London|isbn=0-7522-2328-3|page=180|chapter='Like Summer Tempests Came His Tears' (July 1967 – January 1968)}}</ref> It is one of two songs from ''A Saucerful of Secrets'' which appear on the 2001 compilation album ''[[Echoes: The Best of Pink Floyd]]'' (the other being "[[Jugband Blues]]").{{sfn|Mabbett|2010|p=60}}<ref name="Echoes">{{cite web|url=http://www.pinkfloyd.co.uk/echoes/ae/credits.html |title=Echoes: the album credits |publisher=Pink Floyd |accessdate=20 June 2013 |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20100602090825/http://www.pinkfloyd.co.uk/echoes/ae/credits.html |archivedate=2 June 2010}}</ref>

==Reception==
In a negative review of ''A Saucerful of Secrets'', Jim Miller of ''[[Rolling Stone (magazine)|Rolling Stone]]'' described "Set the Controls for the Heart of the Sun", along with "[[Let There Be More Light]]", as "boring melodically, harmonically, and lyrically."<ref name="rolling stone">{{cite magazine|last1=Miller|first1=Jim|title=A Saucerful of Secrets|url=https://www.rollingstone.com/music/albumreviews/a-saucerful-of-secrets-19681026|magazine=Rolling Stone|accessdate=27 July 2017|date=26 October 1968}}</ref> Miller further described the production work as "not as glittery as the first album's, and the instrumental work is shoddy and routine.<ref name="rolling stone" /> Miller also described the track as too long.<ref name="rolling stone" />

Mason later gave a positive view of the song, saying it was "the most interesting ... in relation to what we were doing at the time".{{sfn|Guesdon|Margotin|2017|p=116}}

==Live performances==
Pink Floyd performed the song from 1967 to 1973. A performance on 9 September 1967 featured Barrett and Waters switching guitars.<ref name=DarkG271>{{cite book|last=Palacios|first=Julian|title=Syd Barrett & Pink Floyd: Dark Globe|year=2010|publisher=Plexus|location=London|isbn=978-0-85965-431-9|edition=Rev.|page=271|chapter=Summer Tempests}}</ref> The group's performance of the song on 27 April 1969 at [[Mothers (music venue)|Mother's]], Birmingham and on 2 May 1969 at the [[Manchester Metropolitan University|Manchester College of Commerce]] was used for the live half of the double album ''[[Ummagumma]]''.{{sfn|Povey|2007|p=108}} On 27 February 1971, a live performance of "Set the Controls" was filmed for [[ORTF]], while a performance in Studio Europanisor, Paris, was filmed for ''[[Pink Floyd: Live at Pompeii|Live at Pompeii]]''.{{sfn|Povey|2007|pp=141,151}} During these performances, the song was significantly extended with a range of dynamics, including a free-form middle section.<ref name=toby160>{{cite book|last=Manning|first=Toby|title=The Rough Guide to Pink Floyd|year=2006|publisher=Rough Guides|location=London|isbn=1-84353-575-0|page=160|edition=1st|chapter=The Albums}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|last=Mason |first=Stewart |url=http://www.allmusic.com/song/set-the-controls-for-the-heart-of-the-sun-mt0012238985 |title=Set the Controls for the Heart of the Sun - Pink Floyd : Listen, Appearances, Song Review |publisher=AllMusic |date= |accessdate=30 October 2012}}</ref> The last documented performance by the group was on 13 October 1973 at the [[Wiener Stadthalle]], [[Vienna]].{{sfn|Povey|2007|p=179}}

[[File:Set the Controls.jpg|thumb|Waters performing the track on his [[The Dark Side of the Moon Live]] tour]]
The song has been a staple of Waters' solo tours. It was the opening song on 1984–1985 tours promoting ''[[The Pros and Cons of Hitch Hiking]]''{{sfn|Povey|2007|p=326}} in a radically rearranged form, with female backing vocals, saxophone solos and a guitar solo (and even a [[shakuhachi]] solo in 1985). A truncated version (just the three verses) of the song, featuring a simple acoustic guitar part, was performed at a handful of the [[Radio K.A.O.S (tour)|Radio K.A.O.S shows]] in 1987. The song was included in the setlist for his 1999–2002 [[In the Flesh (Roger Waters tour)|''In the Flesh'' tour]], with stills from the promotional videos of "[[Arnold Layne]]" and "[[The Scarecrow (song)|The Scarecrow]]" projected on large screens. This version – featuring a psychedelic guitar solo by [[Snowy White]], and a sax solo – appears on Waters' 2000 ''[[In the Flesh – Live]]'' DVD and live album.{{fact|date=April 2025}} In June 2002, Waters' former Pink Floyd bandmate  Mason performed as guest drummer on the track for two nights at [[London]]'s [[Wembley Arena]], the first indication of a reconciliation following the acrimonious split of the mid-1980s.{{sfn|Guesdon|Margotin|2017|p=116}} It was also performed at [[The Dark Side of the Moon Live|Waters' 2006–2008 tour]].<ref>{{cite web|last=Sweeting |first=Adam |url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/culture/music/3673529/Roger-Waters-set-the-controls-for-the-heart-of-the-Floyd.html |title=Roger Waters: set the controls for the heart of the Floyd |publisher=Telegraph |date=20 May 2008 |accessdate=9 December 2012}}</ref>

In 2016, Waters included the song in his concerts at the [[Zocalo Square]] and [[Foro Sol]] in Mexico, and the [[Desert Trip]] festival in the [[United States]], but it was dropped from the setlist of his 2017 [[Us + Them Tour|''Us + Them'' Tour]].

The song was played by [[Nick Mason's Saucerful of Secrets]] in 2018, 2019 and 2022.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.setlist.fm/setlist/nick-mason/2018/the-half-moon-london-england-3bed3048.html|title = Nick Mason's Saucerful of Secrets Setlist at the Half Moon, London| website=setlist.fm }}</ref><ref name="Bailie">{{cite web |last1=Bailie |first1=Geoff |title=Concert Review: Nick Mason's Saucerful Of Secrets - Ulster Hall, Belfast - April 14th, 2022 |url=https://progreport.com/concert-review-nick-masons-saucerful-of-secrets-ulster-hall-belfast/ |website=The Prog Report |access-date=24 April 2022 |date=19 April 2022}}</ref> For the 18 April 2019 show in New York City, Waters performed lead vocals.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://consequenceofsound.net/2019/04/roger-waters-nick-mason-nyc-watch/|title = Roger Waters reunites with Pink Floyd bandmate Nick Mason at New York City gig: Watch|date = 19 April 2019}}</ref> "I really like playing 'Set the Controls'…'" Mason noted, "which is an unusual drum part, played with mallets rather than sticks."<ref>{{cite magazine|first=Henry|last=Yates|title=Set the controls for 60s Floyd|magazine=[[Classic Rock (magazine)|Classic Rock]]|date=July 2018|issue=250|page=14}}</ref>

== Popular culture ==
The song gave [[Douglas Adams]] the idea for a rock band called Disaster Area, in his book ''[[The Restaurant at the End of the Universe|The Restaurant At The End Of The Universe]].'' The band planned to crash a space ship into a nearby star as a stunt during a concert''.''<ref>{{Cite web |date=2017-05-25 |title=Celebrate Towel Day with Disaster Area: The loudest band in the Galaxy |url=https://www.nme.com/blogs/nme-blogs/celebrate-towel-day-disaster-area-loudest-band-galaxy-2078072 |access-date=2022-03-10 |website=NME |language=en-GB}}</ref>

A [[Rock climbing|rock climb]] at Twll Mawr, in [[Gwynedd]], [[North Wales]] has been named after the song.<ref>{{Cite web |title=UKC Logbook - 'Set the Controls for the Heart of the Sun' |url=https://www.ukclimbing.com/logbook/crags/twll_mawr-636/set_the_controls_for_the_heart_of_the_sun-263585#overview |access-date=2022-03-10 |website=www.ukclimbing.com}}</ref>

The [[LCD Soundsystem]] song "[[All My Friends (LCD Soundsystem song)|All My Friends]]" includes the lyric, "We set controls for the heart of the sun, one of the ways we show our age."<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://genius.com/1177867/Lcd-soundsystem-all-my-friends/We-set-controls-for-the-heart-of-the-sun-one-of-the-ways-that-we-show-our-age|title=We set controls for the heart of the sun / One of the ways that we show our age|website=Genius}}</ref>

==Personnel==
*[[Roger Waters]] – vocals, bass guitar, [[gong]]
*[[Richard Wright (musician)|Richard Wright]] – [[Farfisa organ]], [[vibraphone]], [[celesta]]
*[[Nick Mason]] – drums (played with [[Timpani#Sticks and mallets|timpani mallets]])
*[[Syd Barrett]] – electric guitar
*[[David Gilmour]] – electric guitar

==References==
'''Citations'''
{{Reflist|30em}}

'''Sources'''
{{refbegin}}
* {{cite book|last=Banks|first=Joe|title=Hawkwind: Days of the Underground: Radical Escapism in the Age of Paranoia|publisher=MIT Press|year=2021|isbn=978-1-913-68912-4}}
* {{cite book|last=Blake|first=Mark|author-link=Mark Blake (writer)|title=Pigs Might Fly : The Inside Story of Pink Floyd|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=fC_BAgAAQBAJ|publisher=Arum Press|year=2011|orig-year=2007|isbn=978-1-781-31519-4|access-date=18 November 2021|archive-date=21 May 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210521212507/https://books.google.com/books?id=fC_BAgAAQBAJ|url-status=live}}
* {{cite book|last=Guesdon|first=Jean-Michel|last2=Margotin|first2=Philippe|title=Pink Floyd All the Songs – The Story Behind Every Track|publisher=Running Press|year=2017|isbn=978-0-316-43923-7}}
* {{cite book|last=Mabbett|first=Andy|title=Pink Floyd: The Music and the Mystery|publisher=Omnibus Press|year=2010|isbn=978-0-857-12418-0}}
* {{cite book|last=Mason|first=Nick|title=Inside Out: A Personal History of Pink Floyd|year=2004|publisher=Widenfeld & Nicolson|isbn=0-297-84387-7|edition=New}}
* {{cite book|last=Povey|first=Glenn |title=Echoes : The Complete History of Pink Floyd |year=2007 |publisher=Mind Head Publishing |isbn=978-0-9554624-0-5 |edition=New }}
* {{cite book|last=Reisch|first=George|title=Pink Floyd and Philosophy: Careful with that Axiom, Eugene!|publisher=Open Court|year=2011|isbn=978-0-812-69745-2}}
{{refend}}

==External links==
{{Wikiquote|A Saucerful of Secrets}}
* {{YouTube|oxs-TZeDVZE|Set The Controls For The Heart Of The Sun (Live) (2011 Remastered Version)}}

{{A Saucerful of Secrets}}
{{Ummagumma}}
{{Pink Floyd}}
{{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Set The Controls For The Heart Of The Sun}}
[[Category:1968 songs]]
[[Category:Pink Floyd songs]]
[[Category:Experimental rock songs]]
[[Category:Songs written by Roger Waters]]

[[he:Set The Controls For The Heart Of The Sun]]