#RocktoberMusicFest : Pink Floyd - Wish You Were Here
Today for the #RocktoberMusicFest we are visiting a classic favorite.
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"Wish You Were Here" is the title track on Pink Floyd's 1975 album Wish You Were Here. David Gilmour and Roger Waters collaborated to write the music, and Gilmour sang the lead vocal.
Lyrically, the song is often considered to be a direct tribute to Syd Barrett. Barrett was the lead singer, guitarist and principal songwriter for Pink Floyd in its early years and is credited with naming the band. He was ousted from Pink Floyd in April 1968 after David Gilmour took over as their new guitarist, and briefly hospitalised amid speculation of mental illness and his excessive use of psychedelic drugs.
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, as his lyrics often are. Being present in one's own life and freeing one's self in order to truly experience life is a main topic in this song. Gilmour, on the other hand, recognizes that he does not ever perform the song without remembering Syd Barrett. Waters later adds that the song is nevertheless open to interpretation.
Both David Gilmour and Roger Waters have praised the song as one of Pink Floyd's finest. Roger Waters has noted that the collaboration between himself and David Gilmour on the song was "...really good. All bits of it are really, really good. I'm very happy about it." David Gilmour has playfully called "Wish You Were Here" "a very simple country song" and stated that "because of its resonance and the emotional weight it carries, it is one of our best songs."
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Mary,
ReplyDeletePink Floyd is a huge name in the mewsic industry and yet there are few songs by the group I know. I'm not even sure I can name one of their song titles without checking with Google. "Another Brick in the Wall" was stuck in my head but I couldn't recall the song name exactly. I know that's embarrassing but I consider myself in the company of a good friend, so I don't mind sharing it with you. :) It's great to listen to another sample of the legendary rock bands' mewsic and to read a bit behind the song's story. Thanks for hosting and for the early visit!
Thanks, Cathy!
DeleteDon't you worry a bit about not knowing names of songs. I am definitely in that category quite frequently myself. I plenty of 'Oh, THAT song' moments. In fact, the song I have lined up for tomorrow is just one of 'those' songs for me. You know you've heard it a million times, but never quite connected name of song and artist with it.
Thanks for joining in the fun today!
~Mary
Great post, Mary! It was very interesting to read the backstory for this song. Pink Floyd is my favorite part of road trips, because it's the only time I get to listen to one of their albums in its entirety without any interruptions. I jokingly told my oldest son (who I shamelessly corrupted with my taste in music) that Pink Floyd created the first audio book, you have to listen to their records from beginning to end to get the whole story.
ReplyDeleteThank you!
DeleteI love how the music flows from album to album with a story as well. This is one song that I can get lost in.
Thanks for stopping in. Can't wait to see what you come up with for tomorrow :)
~Mary
Great song!
ReplyDeleteThanks, Mike!
DeleteYou should join us. No commitment other than your post needs to include Rock music. We're playing every day, all month!
~Mary