Wish You Were Here
David Gilmour/Nick Mason/Rick Wright Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
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?
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 leading 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
What have we found?
The same old fears
Wish you were here
The song Wish You Were Here by Roger Waters is a beautiful and poignant ballad that delves deep into themes of isolation, alienation, and the emptiness that comes with fame and fortune. The opening lines of the song set the tone for what is to come - an existential question about being able to distinguish between good and bad, heaven and hell, and even the illusion of happiness from true joy. The reference to a green field and a cold steel rail is a metaphor for the comfort of nature and the cold, sterile environment of modern urban life.
The lyrics go on to question if one can give up on their values and aspirations to fit into the mainstream and conform to societal norms. The line "did they get you to trade your heroes for ghosts?" is a reference to the manipulation and propaganda that often sway people's opinions and beliefs. The references to "hot ashes for trees," "hot air for a cool breeze," and "cold comfort for change" further express the sense of disillusionment and compromise that comes with giving up on one's dreams.
The final lines of the song bring the message home with a sense of melancholy and longing. The singer wishes they were here with the person they're addressing, even though they're both lost souls living in a fishbowl, repeating the same motions, and struggling with the same anxieties every year. This is a tribute to the loneliness that comes with success and fame, which often alienates people from the world around them and leaves them feeling empty.
Line by Line Meaning
So, so you think you can tell Heaven from Hell
Do you think you have the ability to distinguish good from bad?
Blue skies from pain
Can you differentiate happiness from sadness or suffering?
Can you tell a green field from a cold steel rail?
Can you tell the difference between natural beauty and man-made coldness?
A smile from a veil?
Can you tell when someone is genuinely happy or just putting a mask on?
Do you think you can tell?
Do you have the confidence to make those judgments?
And did they get you to trade your heroes for ghosts?
Did they convince you to give up on your idols and opt for something less substantial?
Hot ashes for trees?
Have you traded something valuable and alive for something that's burnt and dead?
Hot air for a cool breeze?
Have you given up something real and refreshing for something fake and empty?
Cold comfort for change?
Did you settle for something mediocre and unfulfilling instead of seeking true transformation?
And did you exchange a walk on part in the war for a lead role in a cage?
Did you give up a small but meaningful role in the greater events of the world to be trapped in a meaningless existence?
How I wish, how I wish you were here
I deeply desire your presence and companionship
We're just two lost souls swimming in a fish bowl, year after year
We're just two aimless people trapped in a repetitive and unremarkable existence
Running over the same old ground
Repeating the same mistakes and patterns
What have you found? The same old fears
What have you gained? The same old worries and apprehensions
Wish you were here
I long for your company and support.
Lyrics © Ultra Tunes, BMG Rights Management, Universal Music Publishing Group, CONCORD MUSIC PUBLISHING LLC, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Songtrust Ave, Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd.
Written by: David Gilmour, Roger Waters
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind