Strange Hobby

[Triple-o]

Arnold Layne had a strange hobby indeed, but what I would like to know more about the name. Syd Barrett said the name just came to him. Close your eyes and pick a name, I doubt it’s Arnold Layne.He said it was based on a real person, but unknown to him. So, what’s  the secret Roger took to the grave. What about Syd, Roger seemed to tell different origin stories of his nick name. 
 

Probably the only song written about someone stealing knickers off a  clothes line.

[Ice9]

According to legend, there was a road in Cambridge UK called Laundry Lane which was home to many people with the surname Arnold and as such became known as Arnold Lane by the locals. One of these was called John Arnold who was a small time crook and together with producing illicit alcohol, his "thing" was stealing high end clothing from clothes lines to resell. John Arnold was known to Roger Waters and was the inspiration for the song. I don't know how much of this is actually true but it's a story I've heard more than once.