The song lyrics were written by the band Van Halen, as they were asked to write a song for the 1979 movie "Over the Edge" starring Matt Dillon. The movie (and the lyrics, although more obliquely) are about bored, rebellious youth with nothing better to do than get into trouble. If you see the movie, these lyrics will make more sense. It's a great movie if you grew up in the 70s/80s you'll definitely remember some of these characters from your own life. Fun fact, after writing the song, Van Halen decided not to let the movie use it.
[YOUNG MALCOLM]
I wish you were here
How I wish you were here
[CIXX PAC]
Too many deaths in the family, everybody around me
They droppin like flies and is makin' me crazy
Another year, another one passed
Mourn a brother seem you locked up and dead in that bodybag
But now he gone to a better place
But then we won't never be the same if you ain't standin' face to face
Everybody shed a tear when they go down
But loc as you reminiscin' you know they still around
So drop your head to the church song
And for that one that can you take it for them, gotta stay strong
Some callin' a miracle, some callin' a blessing
Call it what you want but the homie still left me
And now we're going to ?? of bud
Don't go them Gates in wait so that it mean they show you love
I reminisce so I shed a tear
Shouts out to Tiny Half Dead wishing you was here
[YOUNG MALCOLM]
I wish you were here (I wish you were here)
How I wish you were here (I wish you were here)
[GREEN EYES]
Now I'm back up in the hood on the tuesday
I gots to say Rest In Peace to Pumpkin and A-Bay
Blue Dukie, Radio and Slap, ?? y'all got guts
And my Relative Chance A-K-A O.G. Peanut
Ricky One, ?? Mean and Low Koolay I got love
From Green Eyes West Side Inglewood Family Gangsta Bloods
Now like Redrum said all dogs go to heaven
And that's on the 4 A-Block 9-Deuce to 7-7
West up Young Leak, Slow Mo, Smurph and Frankie
be -Loc, Taco, Havoc and the homegirl Goldie
Killa A-Baby, Lil' J and Lil' Bangin'
And Dogg and all my homies from the Family Gang
And I can't forget about the 10 and the 4 Mafia Riders
Lil' Hawk, Dock, Nutty, Bams and Spider
be -Blood in the 'Wood, Damus stick together
Y.G. Green Eyes Inglewood forever
[YOUNG MALCOLM]
I wish you were here (I wish you were here)
How I wish you were here (I wish you were here)
[LIL' LANIAK]
It's much love to the M.I.P
Slap, Ride, Jackie be
Lil' Rock, Stacey
Pint and Rampage, everybody was strapped
Now my loved one is gone and he ain't never comin' back
It's a known fact I gotta act to fool ?? strain
All that pain West Side M Gang
Lil' Hawk and S-P, Y.G. be -Riders
Big Bazzarro and Red, out of the slugs to side you
Mafias In Peace
[YOUNG MALCOLM]
I wish you were here (I wish you were here)
How I wish you were here (I wish you were here)
[BIG FREEZE]
Memories of many homies left dead in the streets
Of casualties, all my homies caught without they heat
Fatalities left my young partner dead in the casket
The first shout pop, drop my loc when they blasted
Then I'm right out to these days I still hearse
So when I reminisce on Tiny Half
I put it in work
And living on the memory of the dead trick
And I'll be scopin' like a shark shooter with the 30 ?? 6
Hennessy keeps my mind kinda glossy
I choke one of that indo smoke
Man, I miss my loc
In lovin' memory of Tiny Half
My homie Rock T
My young player partner Thai Tsu
Death for death I love y'all 'cause
Big Freeze and I'm out
[YOUNG MALCOLM]
I wish you were here (I wish you were here)
How I wish you were here (I wish you were here)
[SCARFACE & G-BONE]
Dynasty Dave, Atlantic Drive won't forgive a bold brother
Oak and Ride, Mark and Mil, Monte Long gettin' busy but 'nother
Devil Warren 'cause D.I.P.
Now the Atlantic Drive In Peace for the Compton A.D.C.
To my homies Rest In Peace I need to send a little shout out
To let you I know that locs I still thought about
?? homie left from Gangsta Bone and B.G. 'Face
I wish you was here I shed tears till this very day
[LIL' HAWK]
Back Down Mafia Lane
It's the YGB Little Hawk to representin' CMG
To the day that I die like my homies did
Like we promised too
Ever since we was kids
I'ma ride for this
I will die for this
I gotta tear on my eyes cause I even cry for this
Ride, slide through the West Side
Thinkin' to myself will I live or will I die?
Cause this gangbangin' drama have to be taken for no joke and
I'm hopin' that you hear me Blood you hear-hear to memory
It's the bhico, chico, a Inglewood's brazy
You can't fade this and bless this while I made this
It's the be
The couple of S-H-I to the T
It's the YG Little Hawkster and my dogg S.P. Woop Woop!
[YOUNG MALCOLM]
I wish you were here (I wish you were here)
How I wish you were here (I wish you were here)...
Lyrics submitted by SongMeanings
Wish You Were Here Lyrics as written by Marty Spencer Tracie Spencer
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Lyrics powered by LyricFind
Add your thoughts
Log in now to tell us what you think this song means.
Don’t have an account? Create an account with SongMeanings to post comments, submit lyrics, and more. It’s super easy, we promise!
More Featured Meanings
Light Up The Sky
Van Halen
Van Halen
Standing On The Edge Of Summer
Thursday
Thursday
In regards to the meaning of this song:
Before a live performance on the EP Five Stories Falling, Geoff states “It’s about the last time I went to visit my grandmother in Columbus, and I saw that she was dying and it was the last time I was going to see her. It is about realizing how young you are, but how quickly you can go.”
That’s the thing about Geoff and his sublime poetry, you think it’s about one thing, but really it’s about something entirely different. But the lyrics are still universal and omnipresent, ubiquitous, even. So relatable. That’s one thing I love about this band. I also love their live performances, raw energy and Geoff’s beautiful, imperfectly perfect vocals. His voice soothes my aching soul.
Gentle Hour
Yo La Tengo
Yo La Tengo
This song was originally written by a guy called Peter Gutteridge. He was one of the founders of the "Dunedin Sound" a musical scene in the south of New Zealand in the early 80s. From there it was covered by "The Clean" one of the early bands of that scene (he had originally been a member of in it's early days, writing a couple of their best early songs). The Dunedin sound, and the Clean became popular on american college radio in the mid to late 80s. I guess Yo La Tengo heard that version.
Great version of a great song,
I Can't Go To Sleep
Wu-Tang Clan
Wu-Tang Clan
This song is written as the perspective of the boys in the street, as a whole, and what path they are going to choose as they get older and grow into men. (This is why the music video takes place in an orphanage.) The seen, and unseen collective suffering is imbedded in the boys’ mind, consciously or subconsciously, and is haunting them. Which path will the boys choose? Issac Hayes is the voice of reason, maybe God, the angel on his shoulder, or the voice of his forefathers from beyond the grave who can see the big picture and are pleading with the boys not to continue the violence and pattern of killing their brothers, but to rise above. The most beautiful song and has so many levels. Racism towards African Americans in America would not exist if everyone sat down and listened to this song and understood the history behind the words. The power, fear, pleading in RZA and Ghostface voices are genuine and powerful. Issac Hayes’ strong voice makes the perfect strong father figure, who is possibly from beyond the grave.
Magical
Ed Sheeran
Ed Sheeran
How would you describe the feeling of being in love? For Ed Sheeran, the word is “Magical.” in HIS three-minute album opener, he makes an attempt to capture the beauty and delicacy of true love with words. He describes the magic of it all over a bright Pop song produced by Aaron Dessner.