Gilmour was born in Cambridge, England. His father, Douglas Gilmour, was a senior lecturer in zoology at the University of Cambridge and his mother, Sylvia (née Wilson), was a teacher and film editor who raised her family at Grantchester Meadows, later immortalised by a Roger Waters song on Pink Floyd's Ummagumma. Gilmour and his siblings were encouraged by their parents in their musical abilities. Gilmour has a younger brother, Peter, who has been a guitarist for a slightly longer time than Gilmour. Gilmour attended The Perse School on Hills Road, Cambridge, which he "didn't enjoy" but where he met future Pink Floyd guitarist and vocalist Syd Barrett, along with bassist and vocalist Roger Waters who attended Cambridgeshire High School for Boys, also situated on Hills Road. In 1954, Gilmour bought his first single, Bill Haley's "Rock Around the Clock". At age 13, Gilmour was given his first guitar, a Tatay, by his neighbour, Gilmour started learning how to play using a book and record set by Pete Seeger.
In September 1962, he studied modern languages to A-Level and, along with Syd Barrett, went to Cambridge Technical College. Despite not finishing the languages course, Gilmour would eventually become a fluent French speaker. Gilmour and Barrett spent their lunchtime practising guitar together, Barrett would often refer to Gilmour as "Fred". They were not yet bandmates, however, and Gilmour started playing in the band Jokers Wild in 1962, which Gilmour left in 1967.
Gilmour joined Pink Floyd in 1968, when he was asked to replace former front man and guitarist Syd Barrett. Barrett was becoming increasingly difficult to work with (due to his deteriorating mental state), so Gilmour stepped in to fill the void. Gilmour's contributions helped to define what would become known as the "Pink Floyd" sound. With Roger Waters, Gilmour co-wrote many of Pink Floyd's classic songs, including "Shine On You Crazy Diamond"(Itself about Syd), "Wish You Were Here" (about Roger's father) , "Time", "Dogs", "Echoes", "Comfortably Numb", and "Run Like Hell". When Waters left the band in 1984 to pursue a solo career, Gilmour took over Pink Floyd as leader, and they released two more albums, A Momentary Lapse of Reason (1987), and The Division Bell (1994). Both albums performed very well, proving that the Pink Floyd name was stronger than any individual member. On July 2, 2005, David Gilmour and Roger Waters briefly set aside their differences and performed as Pink Floyd for one final performance at Live 8. The reunion was the most talked about event of the day, and sales of Pink Floyd's back catalogue shot through the roof. Rumours of a full scale tour began to surface shortly after the show, with both Gilmour and Waters being offered millions of dollars, but it wasn't meant to be. Neither Waters nor Gilmour showed much enthusiasm to work together again, with Gilmour being quoted as saying that he would rather spend his time pursuing his solo career.
Much to everyone's surprise, Gilmour and Waters reunited once again on July 11, 2010 for a charity performance for "The Hoping Foundation," an organization that supports Palestinian refugee kids. At Ronnie Scott's club in London, the duo performed four songs together: "To Know Him is to Love Him" (a cover of the old Teddy Bear's song), "Wish You Were Here," "Comfortably Numb," and finally (after a special request) "Another Brick in the Wall Part 2." Once again, just like after the Live 8 Reunion, speculation began regarding future reunions. No official Pink Floyd reunion has yet been set, but Gilmour did promise that he would join Roger Waters for one show on his 2010-11 "The Wall" tour, performing "Comfortably Numb." The show that Gilmour is set to play is being kept a secret to surprise fans and (most likely) to prevent scalpers from selling tickets at outrageous prices.
The door now seems slightly ajar that David Gilmour and Roger Waters may possibly work with each other again, either as a duo, or as Pink Floyd once again. On Roger Waters's facebook page, he wrote: "We (played together), and it was fucking great! End of story. Or possibly beginning."
As a solo artist, David Gilmour has released 3 studio albums; David Gilmour (1978), About Face (1984), and On an Island (2006). In September 2008, he released his first live album Live In Gdansk , a recording of a concert he and his band performed in Gdansk Shipyard during his 2006 On An Island tour. In addition, he has two live DVDs - 2002's mostly acoustic "In Concert" and 2007's Remember That Night.
In 2015 he released his forth studio album: Rattle That Lock followed by a live album Live at Pompeii in 2017 which was recored on 7th and 8th July 2016 at his two gigs in Pompeii.
Wish You Were Here
David Gilmour 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
David Gilmour's "Wish You Were Here" is widely considered one of his most powerful compositions. The opening verse asks whether the listener thinks they can truly distinguish between good and bad, and whether they can differentiate between contrasting emotions - heaven and hell, blue skies and pain. Gilmour then ponders whether the listener has the ability to distinguish between a beautiful, green landscape and a bleak, metallic railway line, or if they can notice the difference between a sincere, smiling face and one that is hiding behind a veil. The repetition of the question “do you think you can tell?” throughout the song highlights the idea that appearances can be deceiving and that a true understanding of a situation may require more than just surface-level observation.
The second verse contemplates the trade-offs and decisions we make in life. Gilmour asks if the listener has ever relinquished their heroes to become consumed by their past or exchanged trees for ash, a cool breeze for hot air, or change for cold comfort. He then reflects on the prospect of choosing a supporting role in a war or a leading one in a confined space as he sings, "And did you exchange a walk-on part in the war for a lead role in a cage?" The song concludes with a wish that someone could be here to share the hardships of repeated failures and year after year struggles embarked upon by ourselves, known also as lost souls.
Line by Line Meaning
So, so you think you can tell
Do you believe you can distinguish
Heaven from Hell
Between the paradise and the agony
Blue skies from pain?
Differentiate the bright days from the sadness?
Can you tell a green field
Can you recognize an open grassland
From a cold steel rail?
From an icy metal track?
A smile from a veil?
A grin from a cover-up?
Do you think you can tell?
Do you reckon you can distinguish?
And did they get you to trade
And have they convinced you to exchange
Your heroes for ghosts?
Your idols for phantoms?
Hot ashes for trees?
Burning remains for floras?
Hot air for a cool breeze?
Empty promises for refreshing winds?
Cold comfort for change?
Unsatisfactory contentment for transformation?
And did you exchange
And have you given up
A walk on part in the war
A minor role in the battle
For a leading role in a cage?
For a significant part in confinement?
How I wish, how I wish you were here
How much I desire you to be with me
We're just two lost souls
We're both aimlessly wandering spirits
Swimming in a fish bowl year after year
Living in a tiny space year after year
Running over the same old ground
Going over the repetitive path
What have we found?
What have we discovered?
The same old fears
The same old terrors
Wish you were here
I wish you were here with me
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
Toby Martin
The entire album is a masterpiece but this song will always be the best of the best
Jack Hackman777
Everyone of there songs are true masterpieces no other group comes close to there level that's true perfection at its finest
fr fr
@Jack Hackman777 My favourite song of theirs changes every day.. thats how good they are.
Andy Hüwe
good to know
Nancy
I agree
Chris G
Yup!
Bepmooo
Literally chills as the crowd sung that, reminds me of a Queen Concert.
Leonis Pacarizi
When crowds sang Pink Floyd songs, Queen Elizabeth wasn’t born yet
Μανώλης Κωνσταντάκης
@Leonis Pacarizi well
sweetcron
But better