Fearless is one of Pink Floyd's most overlooked songs. The track comes from the album Meddle, one of Pink Floyd's most experimental and complete works. This period in Pink Floyd's musical career is certainly an interesting one - it was after Syd Barrett's departure; it was before Waters' dictatorial ego fragmented the band; and it was before the mainstream breakout of Dark Side of the Moon. Indeed, it was a time where Floyd had a fervent creative and artistic drive to be the best, most accomplished rock band in the world. There were no limits here other than the sky.
Whilst Meddle is largely known for the twenty-three minute magnum-opus Echoes, the album also spawned a (then) uncharacteristically quiet, slow-burning track that also happens to be one of the most radical and subversive works in all of Floyd's catalogue. That song is Fearless, and it is more meaningful now than perhaps ever before.
Let's take a closer look at it, shall we? We will break it down section-by-section.
The song begins with the following:
You say the hill's too steep to climb
Chiding
You say you'd like to see me try Climbing
This sets up the philosophical principles of the song. Essentially, we are being told that the protagonist of the song can not climb a hill because it is, apparently, too steep. Of course, the hill is metaphorical here - it is not literally a hill, but a symbol of doing something that nobody around you (whether it be your family, your community or even society at large) believes you can do or believes you should do. They 'chid' (i.e., express disapproval of) the idea. Rather, you are expected to be complacent and subservient just like everybody else, and not follow your inner-ambitions or convictions. Just conform, essentially.
You pick the place and I'll choose the time.
And I'll climb the hill in my own way
Just wait a while, for the right day
These lyrics will become particularly salient as the analysis of the song continues. Here, the protagonist of this song decides to take the challenge to climb the hill...but he is still somewhat doubtful and ambivalent. While he agrees to challenge himself by climbing the hill in his 'own way', he still wants somebody else (i.e., an authoritative figure, perhaps, in his family, community or society) to pick the place. And if the place is indeed set, he wants to 'wait a while' for the 'right day'.
So, what is being said here? The person we are following in this song is beginning to become an individual, beginning to stand by his convictions, beginning to perhaps not conform to the values and doctrines set by those around him. But he has not fully evolved yet on a philosophical level. He is still hesitant and he is still doubting his prospective actions. He wants to wait a while because he is not yet set to do the very thing that will clearly undermine and subvert those around him.
It is this thought that indeed many dissenters across world history have presumably encountered. Is taking the risk worth it? Am I willing to risk everything based on my convictions and personal philosophy? Or should I just continue the way I am? It represents a state of indecision.
And as I rise above the treeline and the clouds
I look down hearing the sound of the things you said today
Rising above the treeline and the clouds is, once again, metaphorical. Here, it represents the protagonist of the song standing fully by his convictions and taking a radical risk, probably at the expense of ostracism, condemnation and social sanctions. Yet what Pink Floyd is saying here is really quite beautiful and inspiring - it is above the treeline and clouds where all the dissidents and subversives go when they decide to do what they believe is true. This section of the song has some subtle Christian symbology, denoting heaven as a place where all the true dissidents will go. I don't mean to say that Pink Floyd are referencing heaven in a Christian context, per-se, but more subscribing to the idea that up above the clouds, up in the sky, is a place where the 'good one's' go. And, in this case, the good are indeed those who stand by their convictions and do not remain subservient to oppression or immoral wrongdoing. This is very important to Floyd, and it is consistent across much of their work.
Fearlessly the idiot faced the crowd, smiling
Merciless, the magistrate turns 'round, frowning
We have reached a period in the song where our protagonist has clearly decided to take actions into his own hands. He is now being socially sanctioned and punished for it. Perhaps he was a political dissident or whistleblower? Maybe he was somebody who lived in an oppressive society and decided to courageously speak out against the state? Or perhaps he did something that was not lawful and law-abiding?
The song refers to the protagonist as an 'idiot'. This is interesting. It is clearly being used in a sardonic context here. The dissenter is labeled as an idiot by society, not by Floyd. When we look at some of the most eccentric and non-conformist individuals in world history, they have often been outcasted and marginalised in their time as weird, stupid, or, indeed, idiotic.
The protagonist smiles at the crowd. To me, this shows that this dissident or social misfit is somebody well ahead of his time. The smile is a fearless one, but also probably a snarky one. He has no fear being persecuted or sanctioned because he believes that his actions, his convictions, his principles are right and for the greater good. He refuses to be seen as an example of the state or some authoritative institution.
Indeed, showing fear and vulnerability when persecuted is what any authority entity wants. This is because it dissuades others not to do the same thing. But the dissident in the song refuses to show his fear. Consequently, the 'magistrate', clearly the embodiment of authority, is frowning mercilessly. All figures of authority detest subversive individuals who undermine their power and status.
And who's the fool who wears the crown
Go down in your own way
And everyday is the right day
And as you rise above the fear lines in his brown
You look downHear the sound of the faces in the crowd
Here, the dissident has made the evolution and development that initially impeded him earlier on in the song. If you recall, the dissident originally wanted to 'wait a while for the right day' before he did what he did. This was because he was hesitant and doubtful. But now, 'everyday is the right day' to, yep, you guessed it, 'go down in your own way'. He no longer feels constrained or restricted. He is fully empowered and liberated.
While the dissident has indeed been persecuted for what he has done, he did it in his own way. He refused to show his fear to be seen as an example to those watching in the crowd; he subverted and lampooned authority by implying that they are merely fools who wear crowns; and because of this, everyday is the right day to do exactly what he did. His persecution brought him incredible empowerment and conviction.
The song ends with a recorded chant from a football match where the crowd are singing You Will Never Walk Alone. This is a nice thematic conclusion to the song. While the dissident has become persecuted and sanctioned by the state, there appears to be this overwhelming support from the crowd. This suggests that the dissident perhaps engendered the start of a revolution or uprising. And his actions, those that were deemed idiotic, were indeed anything but. His sacrifice has a legacy, and it is precisely this legacy that will inspire others to incite radical and meaningful change.
The greatness of Fearless is that we can interpret who the dissident is. He could be a whistleblower, a political activist or maybe just a son or daughter from an oppressive family. It is a truly poignant and beautiful song about standing by your convictions, being empowered and liberated by your conscious, and standing up for what you believe in, regardless of how much you may be sanctioned and persecuted.
