"Pow R. Toc H." is an instrumental, with vocal effects, by the English rock band Pink Floyd on their 1967 album The Piper at the Gates of Dawn. In addition to the vocal effects, the piano is a prominent instrument in the piece.

Background

Toc H. was the army signallers' code for "TH", representing Talbot House, a club where officers and enlisted men were equals, which later became an interdenominational Christian fellowship organization serving the community. (The emblem of Toc H. is an oil lamp, so a "power Toc H." would be an electric torch—probably with a dim bulb, as per the saying "as dim as a Toc H. lamp".) According to Nick Mason, the original four members of Pink Floyd (Syd Barrett, Roger Waters, Richard Wright and Mason) were present at Abbey Road Studios and watched the Beatles record "Lovely Rita" from Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band. Voice effects and noises similar to those used in "Lovely Rita" could be heard in "Pow R. Toc H.", recorded in the next studio during the same period. Waters also uses the "scream" he later used in "Careful with That Axe, Eugene".

Alternative and live versions

"Pow R. Toc H." was renamed "The Pink Jungle" in the "Journey" part of The Man and The Journey. Pink Floyd performed the song live from 1967 to 1969.

Personnel