Echoes
David Gilmour/Nick Mason/Rick Wright/Roger Waters Lyrics


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Overhead the albatross hangs motionless upon the air
And deep beneath the rolling waves
In labyrinths of coral caves
The echo of a distant time
Comes willowing across the sand
And everything is green and submarine

And no-one showed us to the land
And no-one knows the where or whys
But something stirs and something tries
And starts to climb towards the light

Strangers passing in the street
By chance two separate glances meet
And I am you and what I see is me
And do I take you by the hand
And lead you through the land
And help me understand the best I can

And no-one calls us to move on
And no-one forces down our eyes
And no-one speaks and no-one tries
And no-one flies around the sun

Cloudless everyday you fall upon my waking eyes
Inviting and inciting me to rise
And through the window in the wall
Come streaming in on sunlight wings
A million bright ambassadors of morning

And no-one sings me lullabies
And no-one makes me close my eyes




And so I throw the windows wide
And call to you across the sky

Overall Meaning

The first paragraph of the song sets the scene with vivid descriptions of the environment, both in the sky and beneath the rolling waves of the ocean. The image of the albatross hanging motionless overhead conveys a sense of stillness and tranquility, while the labyrinths of coral caves suggest a mysterious and intricate landscape. The echo of a distant time adds to the ethereal nature of the scene, and the green and submarine world further emphasizes the otherworldly quality of the setting.


The second paragraph shifts focus to the singer’s own experiences in the world. The lyrics suggest a sense of aimlessness and confusion, with the lines “no-one showed us to the land / and no-one knows the where or whys.” Despite this lack of guidance, there is a feeling of determination and resilience conveyed through the lines “and something stirs and something tries / and starts to climb towards the light.” The paragraph ends with a call to connection and understanding, expressed through the lines “and do I take you by the hand / and lead you through the land / and help me understand the best I can.”


The final paragraph returns to the natural world, with the image of “cloudless everyday” inviting and inciting the singer to rise. The window in the wall allows for the entrance of a million bright ambassadors of morning on sunlight wings, suggesting a hopeful and expansive view of the world. The final lines of the song suggest a desire for communication and openness, with the singer throwing the windows wide and calling to you across the sky.


Line by Line Meaning

Overhead the albatross hangs motionless upon the air
The majestic bird, albatross, is suspended in mid-air, signifying the beauty of nature that brings awe and wonder to humans.


And deep beneath the rolling waves
Far below the surface of the sea, where humans cannot easily reach, lies a world of mystery and wonder.


In labyrinths of coral caves
The coral reefs are intricate and maze-like structures that form an otherworldly landscape beneath the sea.


The echo of a distant time
A reminder of something long gone, an echo from a distant past that still resonates in the present.


Comes willowing across the sand
The echo floats gently across the sands, like the leaves of a willow tree blowing in the wind.


And everything is green and submarine
The underwater world is teeming with life, enveloped in a greenish hue. It's a submarine environment that's full of vibrant colors.


And no-one showed us to the land
Humans have been left to explore and discover the world on their own; no one has provided a map or a guide to life.


And no-one knows the where or whys
Despite humanity's vast knowledge, there are still unanswered questions about the universe and the purpose of existence.


But something stirs and something tries
A desire to understand and improve exists within humans, leading to a search for meaning and solutions to life's problems.


And starts to climb towards the light
We struggle to find enlightenment, seeking growth and knowledge to improve ourselves and the world around us.


Strangers passing in the street
Two random people crossing paths in public, who have never interacted before and don't know each other's stories.


By chance two separate glances meet
Glimpses caught out of the corner of their eyes, two strangers briefly make unexpected eye contact.


And I am you and what I see is me
Despite our differences and individuality, we are still connected and able to see our own reflection in others.


And do I take you by the hand
There's a desire to connect with others and assist them in their journey through life.


And lead you through the land
Guiding others through difficult times by sharing experiences or pearls of wisdom.


And help me understand the best I can
A willingness to understand and empathize with others, offering as much help as possible during challenging times.


And no-one calls us to move on
No one dictates the pace of our lives or the direction we choose, allowing individuals to chart their own course.


And no-one forces down our eyes
There is no one to make us see things in a certain way or restrict our ability to interpret the world around us through our own unique lens.


And no-one speaks and no-one tries
There are no preconceived notions or expectations thrust upon us, allowing for true freedom and individual expression.


And no-one flies around the sun
No one has the ability to defy natural laws or possess supernatural powers, even if they may desire it at times.


Cloudless everyday you fall upon my waking eyes
Clear skies awaken us to each new day, free of obstructions or limits that might restrict our vision and perspective.


Inviting and inciting me to rise
The beauty of the world inspires us to grow and expand our horizons, pushing us to continually reach for more and better things.


And through the window in the wall
A unique perspective on the world, offering fresh insights and new ways of looking at things.


Come streaming in on sunlight wings
A flood of inspiration and new ideas, free and unencumbered by any obstacles, rays of light that light the way.


A million bright ambassadors of morning
A legion of infinite possibilities and paths that empower us to take on each new day with hope and courage.


And no-one sings me lullabies
No one is there to bring comfort or ease in our moments of despair or need. It’s up to us to pick ourselves up from the comfort and overcome the challenges this world inevitably brings.


And no-one makes me close my eyes
No one forces us to turn away from reality or deny the truth, leaving us with free will and a sense of agency to confront the things we might otherwise wish to avoid.


And so I throw the windows wide
A willingness to take on the world, throwing open the window to allow for fresh air to enter and to embrace the new ideas and experiences that life has to offer.


And call to you across the sky
Hailing out to others, sharing experiences and connecting with others in pursuit of the greater good.




Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Warner/Chappell Music, Inc., Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd.
Written by: DAVE GILMOUR, NICK MASON, RICK WRIGHT

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
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Comments from YouTube:

Velhomiguel

It's insane how good Gilmour's and Wright's voices blended together. 0:28 to 0:59 is just fucking legit.

Sotis175

Ikr! I think Syd and Wright was the perfect combo though

Rosa Ragnvindr

Yes! You're so right! It sounds perfect!

Pheunith: Psychic-Water Type

I wish they did more together

Brad Herr

Really cool to hear Rick's voice by itself. He was never the best vocalist in PF, but his voice sounds very nice there. I've never appreciated it in full in the full mix.

Austin Angler

Paint Box is a sole vocal song by him

Brad Herr

+Austin Angler Oh, I meant without instrumental accompaniment, but Paint Box is a cool song. My favorite Rick lead vocal is Summer 68. Awesome keys in that song, too.

Hemalatha Vegi

+Brad Herr His harmonies in time and echoes kind of made the song

Ryan Tan

+Brad Herr Time's chorus and Wearing the inside out was sang by him.

Johan Fallstrand

Listen to "Wearing the inside out" :)

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