Echoes
Rick Wright & David Gilmour Lyrics
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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 knows the where's or why's
But something stirs and something tries
And starts to climb toward 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
No one speaks and no one tries
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
So I throw the windows wide
And call to you across the sky
The lyrics of "Echoes" by Rick Wright and David Gilmour, performed by Pink Floyd, invoke a sense of wonder and introspection. The song begins with the imagery of an albatross, a majestic bird that hangs motionless in the sky, symbolizing a sense of freedom and transcendence. The reference to the albatross suggests a connection to nature and the vastness of the world. Going deeper, the lyrics mention the coral caves beneath the rolling waves, hinting at the mystery and enormity of the ocean depths.
The line "The echo of a distant time" evokes a feeling of nostalgia and longing for a past that perhaps no one fully understands. It suggests that there is a connection between the present and the past, but its significance remains elusive.
The song then takes a turn towards human connections, as strangers pass each other on the street and their glances meet. This chance encounter leads to a realization that the other person is a reflection of oneself. This idea of interconnectedness and shared experiences is further emphasized by the notion of leading each other through the land, seeking understanding together.
The lyrics also touch upon a sense of isolation and lack of guidance. There is a mention of no one showing them the land, no one knowing the reasons behind it all, and no one calling them to move on. This can be interpreted as a commentary on the uncertainty and confusion of life, where individuals must find their own way without external direction.
The song then brings in the theme of everyday life, with cloudless days inviting and inciting the singer to wake up and rise. The window in the wall symbolizes the barrier between the inner and outer world, and through it, a flood of light and hope pours in. The "bright ambassadors of morning" represent new possibilities and a fresh start.
Overall, the lyrics of "Echoes" explore themes of connection, solitude, existential questions, and the beauty of nature. It encourages the listener to reflect on their own experiences and search for meaning in a complex world.
Line by Line Meaning
Overhead the albatross
High above, the majestic albatross
Hangs motionless upon the air
Is suspended in stillness, defying gravity
And deep beneath the rolling waves
Far beneath the turbulent ocean surface
In labyrinths of coral caves
Within intricate networks of underwater caves formed by coral
The echo of a distant time
The reverberation of a distant era
Comes willowing across the sand
Slowly and gracefully wafts across the sandy shore
And everything is green and submarine
And the surroundings are filled with vibrant green hues, immersed in the watery depths
And no one showed us to the land
No one guided us to our destination
And no one knows the where's or why's
And no one comprehends the location or reasons
But something stirs and something tries
However, a stirring is felt, and an effort is made
And starts to climb toward the light
Initiating a gradual ascent towards illumination
Strangers passing in the street
Unfamiliar individuals crossing paths in the urban expanse
By chance, two separate glances meet
By coincidence, their gazes unexpectedly intersect
And I am you and what I see is me
I see my reflection in you, and you in me
And do I take you by the hand
Am I willing to guide you forward
And lead you through the land
And accompany you on this journey
And help me understand the best I can?
And assist me in comprehending to the best of my abilities?
And no one calls us to move on
No one beckons us to continue our progression
And no one forces down our eyes
And no one compels us to direct our gaze downwards
No one speaks and no one tries
Nobody speaks up or makes an attempt
No one flies around the sun
No one traverses around the radiant sun
Cloudless everyday
Every day without a single cloud in the sky
You fall upon my waking eyes
You gracefully descend onto my awakened sight
Inviting and inciting me to rise
Encouraging and provoking me to ascend
And through the window in the wall
And through the aperture within the barrier
Come streaming in on sunlight wings
Come rushing in, carried by wings of sunlight
A million bright ambassadors of morning
Countless radiant messengers of the new day
And no one sings me lullabies
No one serenades me with soothing songs
And no one makes me close my eyes
And no one compels me to shut my eyes
So I throw the windows wide
Therefore, I fling open the windows wide
And call to you across the sky
And beckon to you across the expanse of the heavens
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Songtrust Ave, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: David Gilmour, George Waters, Nicholas Mason, Richard Wright
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
HDPinkFloyd
Overhead the albatross
Hangs motionless upon the air
And deep beneath the rolling waves
In labyrinths of coral caves
An echo of a distant time
Comes willowing across the sand
And everything is green and submarine
And no one called us to the land
And no one knows the where's or why's
Something stirs and something tries
Starts to climb toward 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 called us to the land
And no one crosses there alive
No one speaks and no one tries
No one flies around the sun
Hrithik Srivastava
Rick was an underappreciated magician.
vasevas1
@My3dviews Thanks. The way I see it is:
We admire David's wonderful ''narrations'' inside Rick's Palace!
My3dviews
@vasevas1 It was Waters who wanted him gone. Gilmour brought him back to Pink Floyd for the album, A momentary Lapse of Reason and The Division Bell.
lucifer 1090
Not in my house , we worship the man
Mark Bellamy
Very much so. He's not a household name but Floyd fans knew what a talent he was and how much he brought to that band. Superlative musician and underrated vocalist. He blended perfectly with Dave's voice. Excellent harmonizing. He was a huge loss.
Vito Fra
Not true for PF fans... we know how was magic the contribution of Rick
ELVISFX
4:15 that call and response moment, now I understand why Gilmour refuses to play echoes again without his old friend, RIP Richard Wright
Wodzjar
So glad I saw them both in 2006 in Amsterdam doing Echoes…. I was surprised they did this song. 😊
Tyler Sims
Really cool comment.
Firstyawan Alfandi
:(