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'Wish You Were Here' by Pink Floyd Lyrics, What is The True Meaning?

Pink Floyd’s Wish You Were Here (1975) is one of the band’s most personal and layered work.

'Wish You Were Here' by Pink Floyd Lyrics, What is The True Meaning?
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Pink Floyd’s Wish You Were Here (1975) is one of the band’s most personal and layered work.... Selengkapnya

Liputan6.com, Jakarta Pink Floyd’s Wish You Were Here (1975) is one of the band’s most personal and layered work.

'Wish You Were Here' is the ninth studio album by English rock band Pink Floyd, released on 12 September 1975 through Harvest Records in the UK and Columbia Records in the US, their first album for the label.

Based on material Pink Floyd composed while performing in Europe, 'Wish You Were Here' was recorded in several sessions throughout 1975 at EMI Studios in London.

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Lyrics of 'Wish You Were Here' by Pink Floyd

So, so you think you can tell

Heaven from hell?

Blue skies from pain?

Can you tell a green field from a cold steel rail?

A smile from a veil?

Do you think you can tell?…

Did they get you to trade your heroes for ghosts?

Hot ashes for trees?

Hot air for a cool breeze?

Cold comfort for change?

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 fishbowl,

Year after year

Runnin' over the same old ground,

What have we found?

The same old fears,

Wish you were here...

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The Meaning Behind 'Wish You Were Here' by Pink Floyd

Syd Berret
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Syd Berret, the original lead man of Pink Floyd.... Selengkapnya

There are several meaning behind the song, such as:

1. Tribute to Syd Berret

The most direct meaning is that the song reflects the band's feelings for Syd Barrett, Pink Floyd's original vocalist, who left the band in 1968 due to serious mental health issues, exacerbated by excessive LSD use. The lyrics express longing, sadness, and guilt—missing Barrett and the spark of creativity he embodied before his decline.

  • “We’re just two lost souls swimming in a fishbowl, year after year” shows the feelings of isolation Barrett experienced and the feelings of entrapment the band felt without him.
  • The title itself, Wish You Were Here, is both literal (wishing Barrett could be with them again) and metaphorical (wishing the real Barrett, before his breakdown, could return).

2. Disconection and Alienation

Beyond Barrett, the song reflects broader themes of absence and emotional distance. It’s about being physically present but spiritually disconnected—from people, from creativity, and even from yourself. This mirrors the band’s own disillusionment with fame, the music industry, and the pressures of success after The Dark Side of the Moon.

3. Critic for Music Industry and Universal Longing

The album as a whole critiques the commodification of art, and Wish You Were Here exemplifies this by comparing authentic human connection to the "cold steel rails" of industry. The song laments how art and true emotion can be lost under the machine of commercial expectation.

On a broader scale, the song resonates because it captures the human experience of losing someone or something vital—whether it's a friend, a lover, or even a missing part of yourself. Its simple acoustic style amplifies that sincerity, making it feel deeply personal to each listener.