"See Emily Play" is a song written and composed by Syd Barrett for the English rock band Pink Floyd, who released it as their second single on 16 June 1967 on Columbia in the UK, with "The Scarecrow" as the B-side. It reached number 6 in the UK charts. It was a non-album single in the UK, but it opened the US edition of the debut album The Piper at the Gates of Dawn (1967). Barrett wrote it after the band's Games for May concert of 12 May 1967 at Queen Elizabeth Hall. Producer Norman Smith tried to duplicate the sound of "Arnold Layne", and the song was recorded in May 1967 at Sound Techniques studios in London. Engineer Jeff Jarrett recalls a longer take edited down for release, with backward tapes, heavy echo and reverb, and a piano bridge recorded slowly and then sped up. A classic psychedelic pop single, it was performed three times on BBC Top of the Pops in July 1967, though the band seldom played it live. Several other artists have recorded it, including David Bowie in 1973. Later compilations include Relics, Works, Shine On, Echoes and The Early Years 1965-1972.
