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Pink Floyd — Wish You Were Here
Album: Wish You Were Here
Avg rating:
9.2

Your rating:
Total ratings: 7870









Released: 1975
Length: 5:17
Plays (last 30 days): 0
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
Comments (945)add comment
As close to perfection as it gets 😌
There is no 11...What s shame  :(
9.2 Do I hear a 10!
 Sofa_King wrote:
Who the hell are the 84 people who gave this a 1?!?

My guess is there’s some negative association enmeshed with their reactions; perhaps đŸ€” visceral and unconscious?! 
At the risk of overstating the obvious, this is a straight up masterpiece!
Who the hell are the 84 people who gave this a 1?!?
Greatest album ever created. Every song is a 10.
I believe this is THE highest rating I've ever seen on RP, no?
 jwynn80 wrote:

Brings tears to my eyes. Every time. And that's not a bad thing. Thank you boys.




No Words.. Epic
Brings tears to my eyes. Every time. And that's not a bad thing. Thank you boys.
 timmus wrote:

I wonder about those 85 people who gave it a "1".  Why that low?



Bollox to em I say!
 timmus wrote:

I wonder about those 85 people who gave it a "1".  Why that low?




Hearing loss, bad taste, mental illness. Could be a number of things.
Dear Syd.. They never, ever forgot him. Nor should we..
So funny! I just updated my profile to add Wish You We’re Here as my favorite album. Happy Birthday Bill! You have been a part of our daily listening for a long time.
Syd Barrett left due to deteriorating mental health.
But he showed up for the recording of Wish You Were Here.
And now I am verklempt:

"Syd Barrett's tortured spirit was already hovering over Pink Floyd's ninth
studio album, even before he unexpectedly crashed the sessions for Wish
You Were Here on June 5, 1975." - UltimateClassicRock.com

I wonder about those 85 people who gave it a "1".  Why that low?
 Jayesea wrote:

That beautiful ratings graph to the left says it all on this one.




The heck with the ratings!! I like all Pink Floyd except the entire "The Wall" album, which is highly rated here!

"Did they get you to trade, your heroes for ghosts?"

For so many... this line gets lost in translation.
That beautiful ratings graph to the left says it all on this one.
 mac.knowles955 wrote:



The fish bowl is about being rock performers in the public eye year after year.

Yeah? Well, you know, that's just like uh, your opinion, man.

It's all so overplayed, I heard all of these songs soooooo many times growing up with garbage AOR radio...

So I have been able to take a years-long break from Pink Floyd.  Man, is this good shit.  Thanks, RP.
 zi4 wrote:

I could have also said something along the lines of:  yeah, I know, a 9.2 average rating IS A BIT low....

Lincoln was quoting someone before him, Blaise Pascal, 1657. Also Cicero, a roman orator, was attributed to this apology.
 
OMG, how many times have my 9 pulled a rating DOWN?
 Philipirata wrote:

I just noticed the guy on fire looks a little like our past president.



You know what they say "liar, liar, pants on fire". It appears the cover art was ahead of its time. 
I just noticed the guy on fire looks a little like our past president.
 christophe1 wrote:

J'aime imaginer, quand cette chanson passe, les centaines d'auditeurs de RP qui arrĂȘtent ce qu'ils font, font une dĂ©licieuse pause, en pensant Ă  toutes ces annĂ©es oĂč ils ont Ă©tĂ© accompagnĂ©s par ce chef d'oeuvre.

I like to imagine, when this song plays, the hundreds of RP listeners who stop what they are doing, make a delicious break, thinking of all those years accompanied by this masterpiece.



very nice imagination :-) 
 lizardking wrote:

I'm pretty sure all of us 10-raters of this excellent song know all the words.  It's not the quantity of words, more the quality.  
It reminds me of the Abraham Lincoln anecdote, whereby he P.S.'d a letter he'd written with the apology "sorry for the long letter. I did not have enough time to write a shorter one."  

Long Live RP!!

I could have also said something along the lines of:  yeah, I know, a 9.2 average rating IS A BIT low....

Lincoln was quoting someone before him, Blaise Pascal, 1657. Also Cicero, a roman orator, was attributed to this apology.
 MilSF1 wrote:

CeluiquiCherche wrote:

Je vous Ă©cris une longue lettre parce que je n'ai pas le temps d'en Ă©crire une courte.

Blaise Pascal (1656)

    MilSF1:

    To be pedantic, it was originally: Je n’ai fait celle-ci plus longue que parce
que je n’ai pas eu le loisir de la faire plus courte.


Thanks, I was just about to say the same thing. Funny how the original is longer, lol.
Classic tune from the Psychodelia of Pink and the Floyds.
never tire of this...such a sad, wonderful tune 
Such sad longing emotion for a goofy guy named Syd Barrett. 
 On_The_Beach wrote:

Newsflash; Not all lyrics are intended to be taken literally. You thought Roger and David were talking about actually turning into fish and swimming around in an actual fishbowl? . . . Yikes.



The fish bowl is about being rock performers in the public eye year after year.
 CeluiquiCherche wrote:

Je vous Ă©cris une longue lettre parce que je n'ai pas le temps d'en Ă©crire une courte.
Blaise Pascal (1656)

To be pedantic, it was originally: Je n’ai fait celle-ci plus longue que parce que je n’ai pas eu le loisir de la faire plus courte.

I was so lucky when i loved this song just for the song....
Now this is so meaningful to me, so painful, so hard to listen without really whishing him to be there, that it's not a song anymore....
It is more like a prayer...
Perhaps music is more about how it makes one feel, not how it makes one think...
A rare 10.  This song always causes me to pause and listen.  So many great memories sharing this song with others.
 jimmistrat2112 wrote:
I remember my first joint...  :)
 
Mine was a dovetail in woodwork...
 2Hawks wrote:
Just not my cup of tea. I don't understand the raves Roger Waters receives. So dark.
 
See my comment below - enjoy the music and the sound, if not the gloom.
 t0m5k1 wrote:
Wonderful tribute to Roger/Syd Barrett.

If the lyrics confuse then pay closer attention to all the songs syd wrote and whats between the lines.
Big clues are also found in the documentaries about Syd.
 
From the war reference I've always thought it was part of Roger's fixation caused by the loss of his father in the war, rather than Syd. This is echoed in some of the Google references to interviews on the subject. I tend to find Roger's lyrics unremittingly downbeat so prefer to immerse myself in the sound and the music rather than analyse them! 
This is one of those songs where I wish there was an “11”.
I remember my first joint...  :)
Minimalist and haunting, for me this is GODLIKE...."10"..
Just not my cup of tea. I don't understand the raves Roger Waters receives. So dark.
 ckcotton wrote:
71 “1” votes...

incredible

10 x10 for me 
 
Haters gonna hate.
Just have to stop work and soak this up in all its majestic glory.
As an adult learning to play the guitar (started a few years ago in my 40's) this was one of my first songs learned. A fave for sure.
This I had to put at 10 classic
I do not go throwing my 10's around. 10/10 means perfect, has no rival, is second to none; few songs can boast that quality. THIS IS A 10! Pure perfection.

In the tradition of Spinal Tap, I say we turn it up to 11.
Always great to hear this and most other DGs tracks played on RP - the guitars DG played on this and many of his other classic tracks will never be heard live again - I'm pleased I saw PF 3 or 4 times over the years!!
J'aime imaginer, quand cette chanson passe, les centaines d'auditeurs de RP qui arrĂȘtent ce qu'ils font, font une dĂ©licieuse pause, en pensant Ă  toutes ces annĂ©es oĂč ils ont Ă©tĂ© accompagnĂ©s par ce chef d'oeuvre.

I like to imagine, when this song plays, the hundreds of RP listeners who stop what they are doing, make a delicious break, thinking of all those years accompanied by this masterpiece.
Morning Mood by Edvard Grieg followed up with this to start my day.....time to go hit the donate now button.  Thank you!
Wow. They just don't write lyrics like this anymore.  
 CeluiquiCherche wrote:

Je vous Ă©cris une longue lettre parce que je n'ai pas le temps d'en Ă©crire une courte.
Blaise Pascal (1656)
 
Thanks for the source of the quote!  
.maybe Abe wasn't as honest as we all thought!  
I'll echo the sentiment from a comment on the previous song. The segue from Edvard Grieg to Pink Floyd is perfect. Subtle. Sublime.
 lizardking wrote:

I'm pretty sure all of us 10-raters of this excellent song know all the words.  It's not the quantity of words, more the quality.  
It reminds me of the Abraham Lincoln anecdote, whereby he P.S.'d a letter he'd written with the apology "sorry for the long letter. I did not have enough time to write a shorter one."  

Long Live RP!!
 
Je vous Ă©cris une longue lettre parce que je n'ai pas le temps d'en Ă©crire une courte.
Blaise Pascal (1656)
Wonderful tribute to Roger/Syd Barrett.

If the lyrics confuse then pay closer attention to all the songs syd wrote and whats between the lines.
Big clues are also found in the documentaries about Syd.
 gmsingh123 wrote:
9.2?  Really?  Has anyone listened to the actual words?  Two lost souls swimming in a fish bowl in one verse  and running over the same old ground in the next.  And then you have to wonder why the singer is wishing the other person was there when they're busy swimming in a fish bowl together and then growing legs and running over the same old ground.  Somehow it's not nearly as painful when I look at Dylan's or Cohen's or Neil Young's or Paul Simon's lyrics.  The music is quite good, of course.
 
Newsflash; Not all lyrics are intended to be taken literally. You thought Roger and David were talking about actually turning into fish and swimming around in an actual fishbowl? . . . Yikes.
 gmsingh123 wrote:
9.2?  Really?  Has anyone listened to the actual words?  Two lost souls swimming in a fish bowl in one verse  and running over the same old ground in the next.  And then you have to wonder why the singer is wishing the other person was there when they're busy swimming in a fish bowl together and then growing legs and running over the same old ground.  Somehow it's not nearly as painful when I look at Dylan's or Cohen's or Neil Young's or Paul Simon's lyrics.  The music is quite good, of course.
 
I'm pretty sure all of us 10-raters of this excellent song know all the words.  It's not the quantity of words, more the quality.  
It reminds me of the Abraham Lincoln anecdote, whereby he P.S.'d a letter he'd written with the apology "sorry for the long letter. I did not have enough time to write a shorter one."  

Long Live RP!!

I could have also said something along the lines of:  yeah, I know, a 9.2 average rating IS A BIT low....
9.2?  Really?  Has anyone listened to the actual words?  Two lost souls swimming in a fish bowl in one verse  and running over the same old ground in the next.  And then you have to wonder why the singer is wishing the other person was there when they're busy swimming in a fish bowl together and then growing legs and running over the same old ground.  Somehow it's not nearly as painful when I look at Dylan's or Cohen's or Neil Young's or Paul Simon's lyrics.  The music is quite good, of course.
 Steely_D wrote:
I always wonder if a band, while recording a legendary album, recognizes what they're doing. Did they feel this, and not feel it when they did Division Bell? What did they feel? Why didn't they stop, rethink it, and try again? (This isn't about the presence of Waters, but the idea that a band might recognize that the planets had aligned for this moment, allowing them to make great art. You could ask the same question of Peter Gabriel making So and then making Scratch my Back.)

 
I could make the same argument comparing Katy Lied to Two Against Nature but it would be as unfair to The Dan as this comparison is to Floyd (and Gabriel).  I guarantee that both bands enjoyed writing and producing those later efforts and look as fondly upon them as the work from earlier in their career.   Bands evolve.  As does their sound.  Sometimes the fans just can't get over the nostalgia or the ageism to see the later work for what it is: a part of the continuum of a great band that is still working hard and creating.
 lizardking wrote:
This has got to be one of the best songs of all time...and FOR SURE is the best song EVER that begins with the guitarist coughing up a phlegm ball.  10→11!! 
 
HAHA! Nice catch!
This has got to be one of the best songs of all time...and FOR SURE is the best song EVER that begins with the guitarist coughing up a phlegm ball.  10→11!! 
I like Pink Floyd trivia.

Did you know this song was somewhat written about former bandmate Syd Barrett?

Did you know he sort of just showed up while they were working on the album after having not seen anyone in the band for quite some time? https://ultimateclassicrock.com/syd-barrett-wish-you-were-here-sessions/

A bizarre story.



71 “1” votes...

incredible

10 x10 for me 
Ahhhh....I'm lying on the floor and letting Pink Floyd sweep all over me. 
but then it's also a cautionary tale kinda like death of a salesman, no?

and sparklehorse.  
 hypotenuse wrote:
So love this album.  Fitting tribute to my cousin.  Played as we walked into his funeral.  So many singing it, with tears in their eyes.

 
I lost my cousin (and best friend) to suicide in 1985.  This song still reminds me of him, and I still get tears in my eyes every time it comes on.  Wish you were here, Chris.
It really doesn't get any better than this. 
 lizardking wrote:
Where's the REPEAT button at?
 
I hear you, brother. 
Where's the REPEAT button at?
What a song! Pink Floyd at their best! {#Guitarist}
I was in a band in high-school and we covered this song. We thought we did a pretty good... turns out someone had been recording it and we played it at probably 1.5x speed... opps.
 DanielHLloyd wrote:
One of the greatest songs. Ever. Period. The end. Also a very underrated album. If you own Dark Side and The Wall and think you have all the best Floyd albums you do not. You must complete the Trifecta with WYWH. {#Notworthy}

 
{#Notworthy}{#Notworthy}{#Notworthy}

{#Meditate}

{#Good-vibes}
One of the greatest songs. Ever. Period. The end. Also a very underrated album. If you own Dark Side and The Wall and think you have all the best Floyd albums you do not. You must complete the Trifecta with WYWH. {#Notworthy}
{#Music}
So love this album.  Fitting tribute to my cousin.  Played as we walked into his funeral.  So many singing it, with tears in their eyes.
13
Maybe I accidently hit the PSD button and stepped into this "I wish I could rate it an 11" track just now, and I am NOT complaining.  In fact, I logged on specifically to shout out to BillG and THANK YOU for offering a LOSSLESS format on the Android App....and how fitting that one of the first songs I hear with the new setting is one of my 11 11-rated songs.  SUPER AWESOME, and LONG LIVE RP!!
not just for this song, but for all your great songs you play. grate work!!!! I love it
Fantastic group and fantastic songs 
I always wonder if a band, while recording a legendary album, recognizes what they're doing. Did they feel this, and not feel it when they did Division Bell? What did they feel? Why didn't they stop, rethink it, and try again? (This isn't about the presence of Waters, but the idea that a band might recognize that the planets had aligned for this moment, allowing them to make great art. You could ask the same question of Peter Gabriel making So and then making Scratch my Back.)
Just saw Waters Us & Them show last week - AMAZING - highly recommended.
Yes, I still wish you were here.
This. Entire. Album.{#Notworthy}
And did you exchange
A walk on part in the war
For a lead role in a cage?
 {#Clap}gedhickman wrote:
11

 


{#Cheers}
Awesomeness 
They are few and far between................IMHO.....this is 11....
11
{#Sunny}
 Bert7 wrote:
Classic...

 
Thats true! Always a 10 from Germany!
Classic...
There is actually the slightest little smidgin of life in this one. Damn, there is actually even the slightest little teensy weensy bit of human emotion as well. A rare thing from The Void. They musta woke up and realize they missed the guy.
pink floyd the division bell would be good
When you first learn the guitar, and someone teaches you the opening stanza, you feel on top of the world. Easy to play, and oh so cool. Good one RP.
 musicforme wrote:
Wish you were playing Danny Gatton, please give PF a rest and thank you for the PSD button.

 
You have your PDS button and we enjoying Pink Floyd! Isn't nice, there is something for every one. 

Love this! {#Clap}{#Meditate}{#Notworthy} 
Wish you were playing Danny Gatton, please give PF a rest and thank you for the PSD button.
well said skooba
That vote histogram says it all.
Hi Bill how about playing Bettye Lavette's version from The British Rock Songbook.It's brilliant.
Wish rating scale went to 11.
Seriously, this hasn't been played since Jan 11th? Great to hear it now :)
not only perfect song, but sadly perfect timing...

we all wish you were here, Mr Bowie


Perfect 11
I wish Robert S. McNamara was still here.  His perspective is missed.  
 sirtezza wrote:
Far too much Pink Floyd here. Tired dull old shit that is SO ANNOYINGLY OVERRATED !!
So much great music out there, so little time.
 
I agree.  There is so much great music out there.  This just happens to be better than 99.99% of it.  Happy Holidays, and may you have a healthy and prosperous New Year!    {#Cheers}
 sirtezza wrote:
Far too much Pink Floyd here. Tired dull old shit that is SO ANNOYINGLY OVERRATED !!
So much great music out there, so little time.
 
..no... 
 I use my one 11 for this.  {#Music}

ckcotton wrote:

I need this ALL THE TIME!

One of the best songs ever written 

 


You gotta love hearing the fingers scratching on the guitar strings on the first eight bars.

Damn the sound mixing board....pure, unadulterated RnR straight ahead, captain! 
 For the sake of saving the lost Citizen Kane, I rather find this pretty surprising and aftermath long-lasting.
Claudia ich liebe dich
 coloradojohn wrote:
Reminds me of my 3 months in the Amiata region of Tuscany. As I hiked and biked the local hills, this song was in my head, and really stayed there. I sang it to myself. Then one night at a local gathering at a wine bar, a band started to play it; they didn't know the words, spotted me, saw a spark in my eye, and next thing I knew, they asked me to sing. I was taken aback, but, wow, what synchronicity The Universe exhibits sometimes! After all, I was prepared — I'd been rehearsing it all along. Apparently, I nailed it. I felt as if it was not me singing it; the voice of The Music took over; it felt like when making pottery in Ishikawa, or climbing a mountain, or dancing in a frenzy...

 
Wow, what a nice moment for you. Thank you to share:-).
 coloradojohn wrote:
Reminds me of my 3 months in the Amiata region of Tuscany. As I hiked and biked the local hills, this song was in my head, and really stayed there. I sang it to myself. Then one night at a local gathering at a wine bar, a band started to play it; they didn't know the words, spotted me, saw a spark in my eye, and next thing I knew, they asked me to sing. I was taken aback, but, wow, what synchronicity The Universe exhibits sometimes! After all, I was prepared — I'd been rehearsing it all along. Apparently, I nailed it. I felt as if it was not me singing it; the voice of The Music took over; it felt like when making pottery in Ishikawa, or climbing a mountain, or dancing in a frenzy...

 
Nice...living well man!
 rharvey658 wrote:

I believe this is sound effects to create the illusion that Gilmour is listening to himself on a bad radio (maybe AM), and then starts to play along (when the guitar sounds clearer). You can hear him clear his throat right before he starts to play.  Just my guess.

 
I read somewhere that David revealed that he had recorded the AM radio tuning and interfearence noises in his Ford Cortina.

I would love to know what Derick had thought of this "star nonsence".
Bill, 

I notice you've been playing a lot of Pink Floyd lately.  Whatever you did to tweak your playlist algorithm, well done, man.   
need to play the parts 6 - 9 now, PF should never be in bite sized pieces, they said that themselves.
Syd died 9 years ago TODAY!
 coloradojohn wrote:
Reminds me of my 3 months in the Amiata region of Tuscany. As I hiked and biked the local hills, this song was in my head, and really stayed there. I sang it to myself. Then one night at a local gathering at a wine bar, a band started to play it; they didn't know the words, spotted me, saw a spark in my eye, and next thing I knew, they asked me to sing. I was taken aback, but, wow, what synchronicity The Universe exhibits sometimes! After all, I was prepared — I'd been rehearsing it all along. Apparently, I nailed it. I felt as if it was not me singing it; the voice of The Music took over; it felt like when making pottery in Ishikawa, or climbing a mountain, or dancing in a frenzy...

 
I love coloradojohn's trips back to beautiful experiences, thank you for posting them Dude! big smiles each time, now that's COOL : )