"Terrapin" is the opening song on Syd Barrett's first solo album The Madcap Laughs.
Its arrangement is sparse, like much of the album, and features only acoustic and electric guitar accompaniment to the vocals.
[3] The song reappeared on the Harvest Records compilation Picnic – A Breath of Fresh Air and is The Madcap Laughs' sole representative on The Peel Session.
[4] The Syd Barrett Appreciation Society titled its official magazine Terrapin (published 1972–1976), in tribute to the song.
Preparing Madcap, in April 1969, Barrett played demo tapes of songs to producer Malcolm Jones,[5] at the latter's request.