• A_norny_mousse@piefed.socialEnglish
    181·
    1 day ago

    And just because it’s a great song about Syd Barrett:

    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 fishbowl, year after year  
Running over the same old ground, what have we found?  
The same old fears  
Wish you were here
      • A_norny_mousse@piefed.socialEnglish
        81·
        1 day ago

        Lyrically, the song is often considered to be a direct tribute to Syd Barrett. However, on the documentary The Story of Wish You Were Here, Gilmour and Waters separately describe the original concept that differs from this interpretation. Waters, who mainly wrote the lyrics complementing Gilmour’s initial riff idea and subsequent joint composition, describes the lyrics as being directed at himself. Gilmour, on the other hand, recognises that he never performs the song without remembering Syd Barrett. Waters later adds that the song is nevertheless open to interpretation.

        https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wish_You_Were_Here_(Pink_Floyd_song)

        • MonaySimpson@lemmy.ml
          1·
          19 hours ago

          Cool. I also looked up to Shine On You Crazy Diamond and the front page says:

          The song is written about the Pink Floyd founder member Syd Barrett, who left in 1968 following mental health problems.

          And goes on to mostly talk about Syd. Lots of cool stuff.