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 inner 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, edited by toddk, hollowscene

High Hopes Lyrics as written by Polly Anne Samson David Jon Gilmour

Lyrics © CONCORD MUSIC PUBLISHING LLC

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High Hopes song meanings
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  • +7
    General Comment

    This song is about growing older, and never quite being at peace with your place in the world. About how you're never able to achieve all your desires and ambitions, and how as a kid you somehow envisaged your life being better than how it turned out to be. Even the things that turn out right are never what you expect them to be.

    One of many Floyd songs that refer to the loss of childhood innocence, and life never being as much fun as an adult as it was as a kid.

    I think the lyrics do deliberately parallel the Floyd's career ('the dizzy heights of that dreamed of world' is the superstardom which was thrust upon them after the runaway success of 'Dark Side Of The Moon'), but I think the song as a whole is much broader than that.

    Either way, this is probably my favourite Pink Floyd song.

    ch0ganon December 16, 2004   Link

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