Beyond the horizon of the place we lived when we were young
In a world of magnets and miracles
Our thoughts strayed constantly and without boundary
The ringing of the division bell had begun

Along the Long Road and on down the Causeway
Do they still meet there by the Cut

There was a ragged band that followed in our footsteps
Running before times took our dreams away
Leaving the myriad small creatures trying to tie us to the ground
To a life consumed by slow decay

The grass was greener
The light was brighter
When friends surrounded
The nights of wonder

Looking beyond the embers of bridges glowing behind us
To a glimpse of how green it was on the other side
Steps taken forwards but sleepwalking back again
Dragged by the force of some sleeping tide
At a higher altitude with flag unfurled
We reached the dizzy heights of that dreamed of world

Encumbered forever by desire and ambition
There's a hunger still unsatisfied
Our weary eyes still stray to the horizon
Though down this road we've been so many times

The grass was greener
The light was brighter
The taste was sweeter
The nights of wonder
With friends surrounded
The dawn mist glowing
The water flowing
The endless river

Forever and ever



Lyrics submitted by Demau Senae

Track duration: 07:53

"High Hopes" as written by Richard James Witter, Paul Adrian Banks, Thomas Peter Gladwin, Alan Steven Leach

Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group

Lyrics powered by LyricFind


High Hopes song meanings
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139 Comments

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  • 0
    My Interpretation:I always knew this song had some hidden meaning in it somewhere. I just didn't know what it was until I read "The Present" at truthcontest.com, then it was obvious. ;)
    Flagged Vincent720on February 19, 2013   Link
  • 0
    General Comment:When we were young, the world had mystery.

    As we develop, we start to distinguish ourselves and long for anything other than what we have.

    Life makes us think that we can’t have what we think we want.

    We just keep on hoping, and the world just keeps on making hope seem futile.

    The unfurled flag is a declaration amid a hostile and confusing environment.

    Somehow, we still focus on hope after it has done nothing but draw us astray.

    Memory of the past and desire of the future always look better than the present.
    Flagged AmberBon November 11, 2012   Link
  • 0
    General Comment:I think this song is about losing the innocence of childhood and not realizing how amazing things seem when you are young. 'magnets and miracles' the wonders of what you cant understand when you are a child. This is my all time favorite song. The imagery and beautiful lyrics have touched me from a very young age :)
    Flagged sazza84on September 08, 2012   Link
  • +1
    General Comment:..

    This song is distinctly meant to not only be the last song on "The Division Bell" but also the last song .. ever .. for Pink Floyd.

    This outro of the song is the music before the death of a great, great band.

    The lyrics go through the years of Pink Floyd and all the things it *felt* like. There are also allegories to aging and dying and looking back at one's life and the way it *felt*.

    The final phrasing, the couplets, are supposed to be an ode to the final song (Eclipse) on Dark Side of the Moon as the work that Floyd will be most remembered for. They are both written in the same style.

    I believe, personally, that this song turned out so good that any time that David might have been tempted to resurrect the band in the ensuing decade, I think he kept looking back at this song and thinking, "I don't think I can put it to bed any better than that. That just about perfect." So, he let Pink Floyd be and die gracefully and in silence.

    This is a Top 5 song in the history of Floyd. A true masterpiece.

    You did good with the eulogy, Dave.

    You did good.

    ..
    Flagged StealBreezon August 18, 2012   Link
  • 0
    General Comment:Lyrics are written by David Guilmour wife. Great song
    Flag alex42on August 10, 2012   Link
  • 0
    General Comment:This song touches me very deeply and emotionally. I'm not sure why, though. The song, and the video, remind me of some unknown place that I've always been looking for... some perfect, beautiful world. I guess it's one step closer to knowing where that place is? It's a very special song, for that matter.

    I think it's about the path of life, and struggling through childhood to adulthood, but every now and then thinking about the past and the time when "The grass was greener, the light was brighter, when friends surrounded, the nights of wonder."
    Flag EnduringChillon July 23, 2012   Link
  • +1
    General Comment:Reminiscing the fun they used to have with pink floyd before and just after DSOTM, but when their desire for succes finally helped them 'reach the dizzy heights of that dreamed of world' (meaning succes), their life soon became 'consumed by slow decay'. So they think back to the time before, when everything was still fun.

    Also it could just be reminiscing youth in general, and how the desire to grow up made you forget how much fun you were having when you weren't.
    Flag TheUniversalSighon April 13, 2012   Link
  • 0
    Song Meaning:well, seeing as it mentions things like 'a myriad of small creatures' (Several Species of Small Furry Animals Gathered Together in a Cave and Grooving with a Pict?) 'the cut' (the final cut?) has the drumming like in 'Bring The Boys Back Home', and mentions 'embers of bridges burning behind us' (burnt bridges of gilmour and waters's relationship?) i reckon this song is loosely based on the High Hopes David Gilmour (or all the remaining band members)had when joining the band and how upset he/they are to see it is not there anymore.
    Flag frankyfloydon November 12, 2011   Link
  • 0
    General Comment:This song is so goddamn beautiful. It makes me think about my friendship that appears to be fake from its very beginning... and about growing up, and about the things in life - just another obstacle we need to go through.
    Flag bobecaon April 13, 2011   Link
  • 0
    My Interpretation:This is my ultimate favorite Pink Floyd song. I know a lot of people have said it reminds them of lost ones or growing up, but I've always interpreted it in a different way. I'm an addict currently in recovery, but over the years I've relapsed more times than I can count. I'm constantly being dragged (or sleepwalking back again) to hell (my addiction) because I find myself yearning for something more than sobriety (the unsatisfied hunger). The lyrics "At a higher altitude with flag unfurled
    We reached the dizzy heights of that dreamed-of world" signify my surrendering to this addiction and living a normal life which has been a dream of mine for years. Come to think of it, I suppose my interpretation really does have a lot to do with losing someone (myself) and growing up.
    Flag brohannaon February 12, 2011   Link

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