Radiohead – Wish You Were Here (Pink Floyd cover)

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So, so you think you can tell
Heaven from hell
Blue skies from rain
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
Of how we found the same old fears
Wish you were here

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Lyrics submitted by deadeye093, edited by Mellow_Harsher


Wish You Were Here (Pink Floyd cover) song meanings
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  • 0
    My Interpretation:Just read "The Present" at truthcontest.com. Then listen to this song again; the meaning of it will be obvious. ;)
    Flagged Vincent720on February 19, 2013   Link
  • 0
    General Comment:Hi watched the recent prog on " wish you were here " Roger explained...."walk on part etc.." was him saying he would have been the Foot Soldier on the front line rather than the Top Brass stuck in H.Q...the implication was they were very removed and just sending the troops into battle...i guess bases on thoughts about his Father ?......Overall he seemed to be saying that the whole song was about really living rather than just going along with things..........
    Flag mikeypooson February 16, 2013   Link
  • 0
    My Opinion:Not about Syd. This song is about Water's father. As are most of his songs. Did you exchange, a walk on part in the war, for a lead role in a cage. About all those poor bloody soldiers coming back from the second world murder fest, to be stuck inside factories and offices and being used like captured animals. Heroes! No medals in Heaven.
    Flag xylophonepurpleon August 04, 2010   Link
  • 0
    General Comment:I think that Thom is playing the piano and singing through the telephone on this recording, and Mark Linkous is playing the guitar.. I think
    Flag girlintheyellowcoaton August 10, 2009   Link
  • 0
    General Comment:I always get this watery feeling from this version of Wish You Were Here. It feels like you are on a boat the way the music sorta creeks and rocks. Even the nod to pink floyds use of random talking in their songs, in this song sounds like a radio transmission one might hear on their CB radio on a boat. To me the original Pink Floyd version is more aerial, you can hear planes flying as if you are in an airport, but Radiohead and sparklehorse's version is aquatic. Also the crisp sound of Thom yorkes voice from singing it through a speaker phone...I love the effect. Of course this song takes on its own meaning and has its own personality which, in my opinion is hard to do with an already classic song. I'm not sure if Thom Yorke changed up some of the lyrics intentionally to give it his own personal meaning or if it was just by accident but to me that is the only true flaw to this awesome cover of a classic song.
    Flag peoplewithhandson May 28, 2009   Link
  • 0
    General Comment:Excellent cover, Pink Floyd's is still better by a landslide, though. If anyone wants to hear another great cover, listen to Tool's version of Led Zeppelin's "No Quarter". That's the best cover ever, in my opinion.
    Flag Nebuchadnezzaron January 08, 2009   Link
  • 0
    General Comment:i love this cover so much
    the vocals and emotion in this song is amazing
    so soothing and relaxing, never get tired of it
    Flag innovateon January 30, 2007   Link
  • 0
    General Comment:actually this song was also written while thinking about syd barrett i'm pretty sure.

    anyways, this version wasn't bad at all. i enjoy it, really freshened it up for my modern ears.
    Flag lazyoldsunon October 30, 2006   Link
  • 0
    General Comment:I'm pretty sure you can find this recording on Limewire.....
    Flag SleepyJennaon May 22, 2006   Link
  • 0
    General Comment:this wasn't about Syd Barret it was about loneliness in general the song about Barret was Shine On You Crazy Diamond...and he isn't in a mental institution he walks around Cambridge regularly you see him quite often enough in papers...like on the 1st of July (the day before Live 8) anyway...the original's grea I was just wondering..where's this version?
    Flag floydmasteron April 02, 2006   Link

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