Wish You Were Here
♫ Pink Floyd Lyrics


Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴  Line by Line Meaning ↴

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?
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
And how we found




The same old fears
Wish you were here

Overall Meaning

The lyrics of the song Wish You Were Here by Pink Floyd reflects on the theme of loneliness, abandonment, and societal pressure. Starting with the question, "So, so you think you can tell Heaven from hell, blue skies from pain?" suggests that life is not just about the good and the bad, but it is a blend of both, and one needs to be able to distinguish the two. The line "Can you tell a green field from a cold steel rail?" suggests the fading of nature and the rise of technology, indicating the shift in values from an appreciation of nature to greed for industrial growth. The line "A smile from a veil?" suggests how difficult it is to read someone's expression, especially in today's society, where people are hiding their true emotions behind a facade.


The lines "Did they get you to trade your heroes for ghosts? Hot ashes for trees?" question societal pressure and how people lose touch with their values and morals in today's world. People often give up their beliefs for material gains or to fit in with the current trends. The line "And did you exchange a walk-on part in the war for a lead role in a cage?" talks about how people sell out their freedom and individuality for comfort and security.


The refrain "How I wish, how I wish you were here" is the cry of the lonely soul that is lost and looking to reconnect with a lost love or a friend. The line "We're just two lost souls swimming in a fishbowl year after year" is a metaphor that compares life to a fishbowl, where people are continuously repeating the same old routine day after day. The line "And how we found the same old fears" suggests that life is full of uncertainties and challenges, and people tend to be stuck in their fears.


Line by Line Meaning

So, so you think you can tell
Do you really believe that you can distinguish


Heaven from hell
between absolute bliss and terrible misery?


Blue skies from pain
Can your perception differentiate soaring freedom from unbearable suffering?


Can you tell a green field
Can you differentiate an inviting, lush landscape


From a cold steel rail?
from a harsh, unforgiving industrial product?


A smile from a veil?
Can you differentiate a genuine expression of happiness from a masked, insincere facade?


Do you think you can tell?
Is your perception and intuition sharp enough to do so?


Did they get you to trade
Did external influences trick you into exchanging


Your heroes for ghosts?
your respected, admirable models for illusory, intangible beings?


Hot ashes for trees?
Did you replace your passion, your fiery unbridled nature for mere vegetation that stays still?


Hot air for a cool breeze?
Or did you abandon refreshing coolness for meaningless, empty words?


Cold comfort for change?
And did you accept compromising consolation for worthwhile transformation?


And did you exchange
Did you choose to relinquish


A walk on part in the war
A minor, insignificant role in conflict and struggle


For a lead role in a cage?
for a position of prominence in isolation, captivity and confinement?


How I wish, how I wish you were here
The lyrics express a desire for someone's presence, not only physically but also emotionally.


We're just two lost souls
We are both individuals who are wandering aimlessly through life


Swimming in a fish bowl
We are floating in a small, enclosed space that is teeming with life, but is ultimately restrictive and confining


Year after year
This state of being has persisted for a significant amount of time


Running over the same old ground
We are treading over familiar territory, repeating the same behaviors and experiences


And how we found
Ultimately, we have discovered


The same old fears
Our anxieties and apprehensions have remained unchanged despite being presented with numerous opportunities to grow and evolve


Wish you were here
The singer yearns for someone's presence, for them to share in the experiences and emotions of life together.




Lyrics © CONCORD MUSIC PUBLISHING LLC, BMG Rights Management
Written by: David Gilmour, Roger Waters

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
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Comments from YouTube:

@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

462 More Replies...

@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

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