‘See Emily Play’: Pink Floyd's First Major Hit

“See Emily Play” was Pink Floyd’s first genuine chart hit, peaking at No. 6 on the UK singles chart in June 1967. It broke them out of the underground London psychedelic scene and onto national radio, even though the BBC initially banned it for “drug references” (the line “putting on the gown” was allegedly code for taking LSD).

The song’s music-hall melody, backward guitars, and Syd Barrett’s whimsical lyrics captured the Summer of Love mood perfectly. It was originally written for a one-off event called “Games for May,” where the band used a primitive quadraphonic sound system and handed flowers to the audience. The single’s B-side, “Scarecrow,” was equally trippy, and together they made Pink Floyd the poster band for British psychedelia.