The 1975 title track to the Pink Floyd album Wish You Were Here is, and has been for almost 40 years, one of my all time favorite songs. Surprisingly, this was the only Pink Floyd song ever released that was co-written by both Roger Waters and David Gilmore. The two band leaders typically wrote independently of one another, but they decided to collaborate on this masterpiece because of the songs tremendously important subject matter: most music experts and friends of the band agree that the song is a tribute or even memorial dedicated to Pink Floyds original founder Syd Barrett and his tragic fall into madness, institutionalization and eventual death due to his massive use of LSD in the 1960s. I also believe that the song has some truly romantic symbolism in the lyrics, talking about two lost souls swimming in a fish bowl and how they dearly love each other, but like so many of us, just cannot quite become the true soulmates they so desperately desire to be. But they carry on in their own little world, sharing unique similarities that draw them together, yet feeling strangely (or perhaps even comfortably detached) from the world around them. I can certainly identify with that feeling with regards to my girlfriend and me. The sense of loss and the deep despair it can bring also is something I have struggled with now for over a decade and has unfortunately become quite acute in the last week or so due to a sad development in our relationship. Changing the subhect to a lighter note, I am by no means a good guitarist, but this was one of those songs as a kid growing up in the 1970s that I just had to learn to play. And after an eternity of practice, I did figure it out...finally!!!!! And, even more amusing, in the summer of 1979, I won a radio contest when before playing the song Wish You Were Here the DJ challenged the listening audience to name who the song was written about. The first person to show up at some particular record store with the right answer would win free tickets to an upcoming Pink Floyd show. And being the classic rock know-it-all that I was/am, as well as a fast driver, dont you know I won those tickets!!! It was the first of 3 Pink Floyd shows I have seen in my llife. And to be honest, despite my passion for rock music, they are one of a very short list of bands I would still go see today. I prefer to look back on the dozens of great shows I saw back when concerts were still concerts (with few if any rules), a ticket to see The Rolling Stones - probably the most in demand ticket to get - cost a mere $12.50 (a have the ticket stub to prove it), DJs spinned albums and actually took requests live over the phone like they were one of your friends, and Rock still ruled! I hope you enjoyed my little story about a great band, a timeless song and the impact it has had on this fan and I know millions of others.
Posted on: Sat, 27 Sep 2014 03:09:13 +0000
Trending Topics
Recently Viewed Topics
© 2015