Wish You Were Here Lyrics – Wish You Were Here – Pink Floyd
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Wish You Were Here Lyrics
(Waters, Gilmour) 5:17
So, so you think you can tell
Heaven from Hell,
Blue skys from pain.
Can you tell a green field
From a cold steel rail?
A smile from a veil?
Do you think you can tell?
And did they get you to trade
Your heros for ghosts?
Hot ashes for trees?
Hot air for a cool breeze?
Cold comfort for change?
And did you exchange
A walk on part in the war
For a lead role in a cage?
How I wish, how I wish you were here.
We’re just two lost souls
Swimming in a fish bowl,
Year after year,
Running over the same old ground.
What have we found?
The same old fears.
Wish you were here.
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About the Song
“Wish You Were Here” is the title track of Pink Floyd’s 1975 album and one of the band’s most beloved songs. It’s a poignant ode to absence and disenchantment, with particular reference to Syd Barrett, the band’s former lead guitarist and primary songwriter, whose decline due to mental health issues led to his departure from the band.
“Wish You Were Here” stands as one of Pink Floyd’s most heartfelt and enduring songs, combining a wistful melody with introspective lyrics that explore themes of disconnection and the desire for authentic experience. The acoustic guitar intro, with its iconic four-note motif, immediately sets a reflective tone that resonates throughout the track.
Roger Waters’ lyrics poignantly question the nature of personal success and authenticity, captured in lines like “Did they get you to trade your heroes for ghosts?” and “Did you exchange a walk-on part in the war for a lead role in a cage?” The song contemplates the trade-offs made in pursuit of fame and the alienation that can accompany it, symbolized by the absence of their friend and former bandmate Syd Barrett.
David Gilmour’s vocals, along with his guitar solos, are emotive and evocative, weaving through the song’s fabric and giving voice to the underlying sense of melancholy. The seamless blend of acoustic and electric guitars showcases Pink Floyd’s musical dexterity and complements the song’s thematic depth.
“Wish You Were Here” is both a lament for lost innocence and a commentary on the artificiality of the music industry. It remains a powerful piece of music that connects deeply with listeners, many of whom have found their own meanings in its haunting lyrics and memorable melody.
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