Wish You Were Here
? Pink Floyd Lyrics

The lyrics of Pink Floyd's "Wish You Were Here" are a poignant reflection on the disillusionment and emptiness of modern society. The opening lines address the idea of spiritual discernment in a world full of suffering and confusion. The lyricist asks whether the listener can discern between heaven and hell, joy and pain, and truth and deception. Later in the song, the lyrics focus on the losses that people experience as they struggle to make sense of their lives. The line "Did they get you to trade your heroes for ghosts?" speaks to the notion that people often lose their connections to meaningful figures and concepts as they become more consumed with materialism and conformity.

As the song progresses, the lyrics become increasingly longing and regretful. The chorus, "How I wish, how I wish you were here," refers to a desire for connection with someone who is gone or distant. This is followed by the line "We're just two lost souls swimming in a fishbowl year after year," which speaks to the feeling of isolation that many people experience, despite their attempts to navigate the complexities of life. The final lyrics of the song bring an echoing sense of despair, with the haunting phrase "and how we found the same old fears" highlighting the cyclical nature of suffering and loss.