(Yes, and disciplinary remains mercifully)
(Yes, and um, I'm with you Derek, this star nonsense)
(Yes, yes)
(Now, which is it?)
(I am sure of it)

So, so you think you can tell
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?

Did they get you to trade
Your heroes for ghosts?
Hot ashes for trees?
Hot air for a cool breeze?
Cold comfort for change?
Did you exchange
A walk on part in the war
For a lead 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


Lyrics submitted by Demau Senae, edited by kehlankr, galaxiaad, bwheeler78, sharkycharming, JohnEightThirtyTwo, GrimTone, robodok, dimaqq, afloyd674, nasses321

Wish You Were Here Lyrics as written by Roger Waters David Gilmour

Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, CONCORD MUSIC PUBLISHING LLC

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Wish You Were Here song meanings
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  • +5
    General Comment

    This song definitely is not about syd or relationships or drugs IMO. Both roger and dave have mentioned it clearly that the theme of this album is absence. Dave, in his interview, has claimed that after the success of DSOTM the band were confused as to whether they were musicians or businessmen. They felt some sort of absence during WYWH period.

      We also know that roger and dave longed for their childhood innocence. And this song is pointing at the absence of the same innocence. "Did they get you to trade, your heroes for ghost........ Etc" simply put they wrote this song for their younger self. Where they did what they loved without thinking about the consequences. As opposed to the WYWH period where they had to think and work like businessmen and write hits as per the demands of the record labels. No wonder they started writing anti music industry songs during the same period. It's a brilliant piece of work. If people realise the real meaning of this song, they'll fall in love with it all over again. Happened with me. 
    mayankuniyalon September 15, 2014   Link

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