High Hopes
Gilmour Lyrics


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Beyond the horizon of the place we lived when we were young
In a world of magnets and miracles
Our thoughts strayed constantly and without boundary
The ringing of the division bell had begin

Along the long road and on down the causeway
Do they still meet there by the cut
There was a ragged band that followed in our footsteps
Running before time took our dreams away
Leaving the myriad small creatures trying to tie us to the ground
To a life consumed by slow decay

The grass was greener
The light was brighter
With friends surrounded
The night of wonder

Looking beyond the embers of bridges glowing behind us
To a glimpse of how green it was on the other side
Steps taken forwards but sleepwalking back again
Dragged by the force of some inner tide

At a higher altitude with flag unfurled
We reached the dizzy heights of that dreamed of world

Encumbered forever by desire and ambition
There's a hunger still unsatisfied
Our weary eyes still stray to the horizon
Though down this road we've been so many time

The grass was greener
The light was brighter
The taste was sweeter
The nights of wonder
With friends surrounded
The dawn mist glowing
The water flowing
The endless river





Forever and ever

Overall Meaning

David Gilmour's song High Hopes is a nostalgic reflection on the idealism of youth, contrasting with the unfulfilled hopes and desires of adulthood. The opening lines suggest a longing for a place beyond the bounds of familiarity, and a sense of awe and wonder at the mysteries of the universe. The "division bell" is a reference to the Pink Floyd album of the same name, which explored the theme of communication breakdown.


The second verse is a vivid description of youthful rebellion and the pursuit of dreams that may have been left behind in adulthood. The "ragged band" represents a collective spirit of adventure and nonconformity, while the "myriad small creatures" symbolize the mundane responsibilities and societal expectations that can weigh us down. The repetition of the phrase "slow decay" reinforces a sense of disappointment and disillusionment.


The third verse brings us back to the present, with the singer acknowledging the constant pull of ambition and desire. This internal conflict is mirrored by the imagery of looking both forwards and backwards, as if caught between the past and an uncertain future. The final lines suggest an acceptance of this paradox, as the cycle of life and longing continues unabated.


Line by Line Meaning

Beyond the horizon of the place we lived when we were young
We often think back to the place where we grew up, but we realize that the world extends far beyond that.


In a world of magnets and miracles
We live in a world defined by both powerful forces and wondrous moments that often defy explanation.


Our thoughts strayed constantly and without boundary
Our minds are capable of wandering freely, exploring new ideas and possibilities beyond the constraints of the present moment.


The ringing of the division bell had begun
The warning signs of impending change are present and we must adapt accordingly.


Along the long road and on down the causeway
We've taken a long journey, forging our way through the twists and turns of life's path.


Do they still meet there by the cut
We wonder if the people we once knew are still out there, meeting and creating their own stories.


There was a ragged band that followed in our footsteps
We've left a trail behind us, inspiring others to chase after their own dreams and ambitions.


Running before time took our dreams away
We pursued our aspirations with the fervor of someone trying to outrun the inexorable march of time.


Leaving the myriad small creatures trying to tie us to the ground
We've left behind the petty distractions that threaten to hold us back from our goals and purpose.


To a life consumed by slow decay
Instead of being held back, we strive to keep moving forward and avoid stagnation and decline.


The grass was greener
In hindsight, we may remember days gone by as being easier or better than they actually were.


The light was brighter
In our memories, we might recall past events as being more vibrant and intense than they actually were.


With friends surrounded
We cherished the times when we were supported by those closest to us.


The night of wonder
We've had many magical experiences in life, moments that have left us in awe and wonder.


Looking beyond the embers of bridges glowing behind us
We look back on the past with a mix of nostalgia and regret, acknowledging the good and the bad times we've had.


To a glimpse of how green it was on the other side
We can't help but wonder if there might have been other paths in life that would have led to different, possibly better outcomes.


Steps taken forwards but sleepwalking back again
Despite our best efforts to move forward, we sometimes find ourselves slipping back into old patterns or routines.


Dragged by the force of some inner tide
We're subject to powerful internal drives and emotions that can be difficult to resist or control.


At a higher altitude with flag unfurled
We've achieved great heights in life and are proud to stand up for what we believe in.


We reached the dizzy heights of that dreamed of world
Despite facing adversity and doubt, we've succeeded in attaining our goals and realizing our dreams.


Encumbered forever by desire and ambition
We're driven by an unrelenting desire to achieve and accomplish more, never satisfied with what we have.


There's a hunger still unsatisfied
Despite making progress, we still feel a deep need to keep striving and pushing ourselves to do better.


Our weary eyes still stray to the horizon
We're always looking towards the future, seeking out new opportunities and challenges to overcome.


Though down this road we've been so many time
We've traveled down this path before and faced setbacks and obstacles, but we keep moving forward regardless.


The grass was greener
We remember the past fondly and often think of it as being better than it actually was.


The light was brighter
Our recollections of the past may be tinged with a sense of romanticism and idealism that obscures the reality of those times.


The taste was sweeter
In our minds, experiences from the past might seem more vivid and intense than they actually were, possibly due to nostalgia or emotion.


The nights of wonder
We've had many magical moments in life that have left us with a strong sense of awe and wonder.


With friends surrounded
The people we spend time with are a crucial aspect of how we experience life, and being surrounded by supportive friends can be a great source of comfort and encouragement.


The dawn mist glowing
The early morning can be a time of great beauty and tranquility, with the rising sun casting a gentle, comforting glow.


The water flowing
Water is a powerful, transformative force in nature that can symbolize change and growth.


The endless river
Life is like a river, flowing inexorably forwards, with twists, turns, and surprises along the way.


Forever and ever
Life is a journey that never truly ends, and we must continue to grow, learn, and evolve as we move forward into the future.




Lyrics © CONCORD MUSIC PUBLISHING LLC
Written by: David Jon Gilmour, Polly Anne Samson

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
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Most interesting comment from YouTube:

@HDPinkFloyd

Beyond the horizon of the place we lived when we were young
In a world of magnets and miracles
Our thoughts strayed constantly and without boundary
The ringing of the division bell had begun
Along the Long Road and on down the Causeway
Do they still meet there by the Cut
There was a ragged band that followed in our footsteps
Running before times took our dreams away
Leaving the myriad small creatures trying to tie us to the ground
To a life consumed by slow decay
The grass was greener
The light was brighter
When friends surrounded
The nights of wonder
Looking beyond the embers of bridges glowing behind us
To a glimpse of how green it was on the other side
Steps taken forwards but sleepwalking back again
Dragged by the force of some in a tide
At a…



All comments from YouTube:

@pinkyfloyd1789

Wonderful, Powerful, Excellent, with Guitar God and Richard ! Richard! Richard! Rest in Peace missed by many

@richardperreault4976

No. . Every body miss Richard. When he died, David mentioned that the band was really over. We still don't realize Richard Wright's fabulous contribution. He was the base of the pyramid from which David Gilmour's immense guitar virtuosity could fly to its summit. Waters often relied on this basis to emphasize itself as well. And how many times he himself radiated from the base to the top with here an electric piano melody, and there with the deep sound of an organ to make the biggest cathedrals pale. One only has to think of Echoes, without his genius for writing music on his instruments, this piece would not have reached such a peak. Listen to all the majesty of his support at the end when the acoustic guitar playin in this song. . . Sublime!. . . Rick Wright was an essential piece to this eternal group. (Excuse my English, I am French but from the bottom of my heart, that is my opinion).

@lorenzotorres4888

Genial

@alexanderwalther7302

Pas Problem Richard ☺☺joyeux Noel ☺☺🌲🌲

@saraparker6310

no. one.

@michaelserby7697

RIP ❤ Richard.

💜🎶🎵💙🎶🎶🎵💛🎶🎵🎶

115 More Replies...

@HDPinkFloyd

Beyond the horizon of the place we lived when we were young
In a world of magnets and miracles
Our thoughts strayed constantly and without boundary
The ringing of the division bell had begun
Along the Long Road and on down the Causeway
Do they still meet there by the Cut
There was a ragged band that followed in our footsteps
Running before times took our dreams away
Leaving the myriad small creatures trying to tie us to the ground
To a life consumed by slow decay
The grass was greener
The light was brighter
When friends surrounded
The nights of wonder
Looking beyond the embers of bridges glowing behind us
To a glimpse of how green it was on the other side
Steps taken forwards but sleepwalking back again
Dragged by the force of some in a tide
At a…

@samuelluria4744

before *time

@samuelluria4744

*with friends surrounded

@samuelluria4744

some *inner tide

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