Astronomy Domine is a song by Pink Floyd. It was the band’s first space rock song, and the opening track from their 1967 album Piper At The Gates Of Dawn. Unlike the flower power visions of the time, the lyrics are dark and brooding.
The lyrics mention the planets of outer space, including Pluto. The song is a collaboration between Barrett and Wright, who provide the lead vocals. The song’s instrumentals are dominated by the bass line from Roger Waters and the Farfisa organ from Wright. Occasionally, Jenner’s megaphone recitation can be heard in the background.
In Astronomy Domine, Syd Barrett reveals a man who was a recluse from the pop scene of the late sixties and had turned to an inner life. The lyrics hint at the direction that Floyd might have taken without him. But that’s part of the endless fascination with the mysterious Syd Barrett.