1
(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
(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, Songtrust Ave
Lyrics powered by LyricFind
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The song was written for Syd Barret. However, we all relate since we’ve all had someone special in our life that chose a different path. This is the way I would interpret it.
So, so you think you can tell Heaven from Hell, blue skies from pain.
(Just because Syd chose a different path and because he thinks he knows what he’s doing doesn’t make it true or right… on the contrary the author of the song is telling him that he is wrong)
Can you tell a green field from a cold steel rail? A smile from a veil?
(When one is addicted to something they think they know better than everyone else. The author is trying to make Syd understand that what he’s doing is wrong, thus wants him to think twice about his life)
Do you think you can tell?
(And asks again… it’s like: are you sure you want to be doing this?)
And did they get you trade your heroes for ghosts?
(They: he’s referring to Syd’s inner voices that keep him straying… so, everything he believed earlier doesn’t stand anymore? (Syd’s beliefs that is))
Hot ashes for trees? Hot air for a cold breeze?
(Past experiences (good times) for new greater ones. However, the author says here that these will not be the same, what’s gone is gone)
Cold comfort for change? And did you exchange
(Again, points out to Syd that he wrongly believes that change is better than what he’s used to)
a walk on part in the war for a lead role in a cage?
(Asking if he’s exchanged something he could’ve got himself out of for a lifetime trap. In other words if it’s too late to turn back, and if the drugs have completely taken over his life)
How I wish, how I wish you were here.
(The author here gets nostalgic and wishes that Syd was there with him like the good old times)
We're just two lost souls swimming in a fish bowl, year after year, running over the same old ground. What have we found?
(Two soul mates, the author and Syd, who went different ways. I believe that there are two fish bowls, each one trapped in their own, realising that they’re just going into circles)
The same old fears, wish you were here.
(All those years of experience and nothing is gained, back to square one… he wishes Syd was there with him to share that moment)
I truly enjoyed your comment on this...I was myself have love loved Floyd all my life and only 36yrs old....but did do a high school essay on Syd, I would give you two thumbs up if possible.
@fallen_flower <br /> He clearly writes "two lost souls swimming in A (singular) fish bowl". So this probably means that he is speaking about just one, not two fish bowls.
@fallen_flower I think you translation is a little too literal as Pink Floyd often used a full verse or sentence to say something quite simple. For example two lost souls swimming in a fish bowl... I take to mean two people in a generally unwinnable situation. I definitely agree that it is written about Syd, but I interpret the song to be a more general expression of emotion and questioning towards Syd and his situation, as most of the questions point back to the same simple question of why did you trade good for bad. The point is reinforced over and over to say I don't understand why you made that choice.
I think aside from the album's Syd theme, there's a more general meaning. One that struggled with with going through life and now see my own daughter fall into the same cycle. Having idealistic and maybe self centered ideals that tend to keep you in turmoil. I watch her try to contort reality into what she thinks is good, or what she wants at that time and inevitably sets herself back to a state of lesser understanding. Figuratively a lost soul swimming in a fish bowl.
@fallen_flower think you nailed it. Emphasize the hurtful yearning, the nostalgia. Breathes throughout the song.
@fallen_flower I couldn't have said it any better. Syd had a very troubling life. He had too many demons and they just destroyed him inside and out. Rock In Peace Syd.
@fallen_flower This is the BEST explanation ever. Good job..............<br />
@fallen_flower Thank you, kind stranger. This was beautiful. Love from India.
@fallen_flower <br /> <br /> shine on you crazy diamond was written for Barrett this one was about the delusionment and alienation the band felt after their success.
@fallen_flower I feel like this explanation leans a little too hard on the drug use and not enough the schizophrenia. With mental illness, drugs are often used to mask the illness; they're usually a symptom of it, so it kind of throws the issue of "bad choices" out the window, or at least minimizes it.<br /> That said, presuming the accuracy of your interpretation, I realize my issue may be less with you and more with Waters.