Pink Floyd manager, Steve O'Rourke, who lobbied to be included on one of the group's albums, appears at the end with Gilmour's stepson, Charlie, who hangs up a telephone on O'Rourke.
The beginning of "High Hopes" is reminiscent of another of his songs, "Fat Old Sun", from the Pink Floyd album Atom Heart Mother. Bells chime at the beginning of both pieces, for example.
The bird sounds and fly buzzing can also be traced back to "Grantchester Meadows", a song from the 1969 Pink Floyd album, Ummagumma, written by Roger Waters.
This being the very last song that Pink Floyd has written to date (and its placement at the end of their last album of new material to date) lends itself to the interpretation that the song narrates the story of the band's career, from their beginnings to their grandiose success (with The Dark Side of the Moon and The Wall) to their breakup to their carrying on. The final line ("The endless river, forever and ever") ties into one of the band's first hits, "See Emily Play" ("Float on a river, forever and ever").
"High Hopes" was included in the 2001 compilation, Echoes: The Best of Pink Floyd with a shortened slide-guitar solo. The group Nightwish closes their Highest Hopes album with a cover version of this song.
High Hopes
Pink Floyd Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
In a world of magnets and miracles
Our thoughts strayed constantly and without boundary
The ringing of the division bell had begun
Along the Long Road and on down the Causeway
Do they still meet there by the Cut
Running before times took our dreams away
Leaving the myriad small creatures trying to tie us to the ground
To a life consumed by slow decay
The grass was greener
The light was brighter
When friends surrounded
The nights of wonder
Looking beyond the embers of bridges glowing behind us
To a glimpse of how green it was on the other side
Steps taken forwards but sleepwalking back again
Dragged by the force of some inner tide
At a higher altitude with flag unfurled
We reached the dizzy heights of that dreamed of world
Encumbered forever by desire and ambition
There's a hunger still unsatisfied
Our weary eyes still stray to the horizon
Though down this road we've been so many times
The grass was greener
The light was brighter
The taste was sweeter
The nights of wonder
With friends surrounded
The dawn mist glowing
The water flowing
The endless river
Forever and ever
"High Hopes" is a Pink Floyd song that speaks of the nostalgic longing for the wonder and beauty of a younger age, and the sadness of reaching adulthood and realizing that some of the dreams that we had will never be accomplished. The first stanza sets the stage for the song's themes, as we are taken on a journey of recollection and remembrance, looking back at an idyllic time that was filled with the wonders of childhood. The second stanza introduces the concept of the "ragged band," which represents the youthful dreams of the singer and their companions. This band represents a time of innocence and wonderment, which is fading away as the "division bell" rings out, a metaphor for time itself.
The third stanza talks about the beauty and joy of those youthful times, with the grass being greener, the light being brighter, and the nights being filled with wonder. The fourth stanza continues this theme, speaking of the nostalgia that the singer feels for those times and their desire to return to them. However, this desire is tempered by the realization that the past is gone, and that the best that can be hoped for is perhaps a fleeting glimpse of it, seen through the "embers of bridges glowing behind us."
Line by Line Meaning
Beyond the horizon of the place we lived when we were young
When we were young, we longed to explore beyond our physical and emotional confines.
In a world of magnets and miracles
Our imagination led us to an amazing world full of endless possibilities and wonders.
Our thoughts strayed constantly and without boundary
Our mind wandered endlessly, without any constraints or limitations, seeking new and exciting experiences and knowledge.
The ringing of the division bell had begun
We were hearing the warning signs of societal conflict and unrest.
Along the Long Road and on down the Causeway
We journeyed through life's many paths and challenges, seeking a greater understanding of ourselves and the world around us.
Do they still meet there by the Cut
Do old friends still reunite and reminisce about their shared memories and experiences?
There was a ragged band that followed in our footsteps
Others, inspired by our dreams and aspirations, joined us on our journey.
Running before times took our dreams away
We raced towards fulfilling our wildest hopes and desires before life's uncertainties and difficulties could destroy them.
Leaving the myriad small creatures trying to tie us to the ground
We left behind those who could not understand or support our ambitions, who weighed us down and held us back.
To a life consumed by slow decay
For those without dreams, life is aimless, monotonous, and unfulfilling, a living death.
The grass was greener
Our memories are tinged with nostalgia, making the past appear rosier and more vibrant than the present.
The light was brighter
The world was full of more possibilities and potential when we were young and idealistic.
When friends surrounded
Our companionship and social connections gave us comfort, support, and happiness.
The nights of wonder
We experienced so many magical and transcendent moments that filled us with awe and joy.
Looking beyond the embers of bridges glowing behind us
We reminisce about our past lives and experiences, reflecting on the warmth and light of those times.
To a glimpse of how green it was on the other side
We wonder what we might have missed or neglected while pursuing our dreams so fervently.
Steps taken forwards but sleepwalking back again
Although we have made progress and matured, we often slip back into old habits and ways of thinking, obstructing our path forward.
Dragged by the force of some inner tide
Our inner impulses, feelings, and fears often push us in conflicting directions, confusing and changing us.
At a higher altitude with flag unfurled
We pursued our ambitions and dreams with courage, pride, and determination, and achieved great heights and success.
We reached the dizzy heights of that dreamed of world
We made real our wildest and most ambitious aspirations, realizing our potential and leaving behind the constraints of our past.
Encumbered forever by desire and ambition
Our restless and insatiable hunger for more, both for ourselves and for the world, never ceases to drive us forward.
There's a hunger still unsatisfied
Despite all that we have accomplished and enjoyed, we still yearn for more, to experience new and exciting things.
Our weary eyes still stray to the horizon
Despite our weariness and disappointments, we still look to the future with hope, imagining new dreams and possibilities.
Though down this road we've been so many times
Although we've experienced the highs and the lows of life's journey many times, we keep moving forward, ever hopeful and ambitious.
The taste was sweeter
Life was richer, more beautiful and more rewarding when we were young and full of hope and imagination.
With friends surrounded
Having the support and camaraderie of friends makes even the most mundane or difficult parts of life more bearable and enjoyable.
The dawn mist glowing
The beauty of nature and the passage of time can represent the enduring and majestic quality of life itself, setting the stage for new beginnings.
The water flowing
Water represents the constant flux of life, always moving and cycling through endless forms and possibilities.
The endless river
Life itself is a journey, a river that never stops, where one destination leads to another, and the possibilities flow endlessly, like an ever-changing, infinite landscape.
Forever and ever
Life is eternal and infinite, a majestic and beautiful journey of endless possibility that we continue to dream about and experience, forever and ever.
Lyrics © CONCORD MUSIC PUBLISHING LLC
Written by: David Jon Gilmour, Polly Anne Samson
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@mohamedmessaoudi9609
To whoever is listening to this song now, wherever you are.... Sending you love, peace, healing and all good wishes. May your life be good
@94Tarciso
for you too, my friend
@MrRobiL
You to , hello from Sweden
@NevatAfriat
You too , from israel
@mohamedmessaoudi9609
@@NevatAfriat wish you all the best from tunisia
@mohamedmessaoudi9609
@@MrRobiL wish you all the best from tunisia
@basudevbiswal6572
If you're reading this, I want you to know, you have a great taste in music. Have a great life ahead.
Edit: I am overwhelmed by the amount of likes you all have given. I know it is a very difficult time for all of us. No matter what, Stay strong. And most importantly, Never lose HOPE.
@gabrielbauer5595
Same, from Brazil.
@XI_Daisy_XI
Basudev Biswal
✨Peace&Blessings✨
🙌
@imagestory7988
ok