Many people mistakenly think this is about Syd Barrett, but in an interview Roger Waters said quite emphatically that the only song on the WYWH album that was about Syd was "Shine on you crazy diamond". He went on to say that when he wrote the lyrics to "Wish You Were Here" he had in mind someone close who had refused to move on in life and had been left behind. He also said that at other times it meant something else, and that some days he didn't really know what it meant himself. He deliberately made the lyrics enigmatic so that the listener could make them mean whatever they wanted them to mean, and they have become an anthem for anyone who has lost someone close to them. David Gilmour has said that he often thinks of Syd when he's performing it, even though it wasn't written about him. The opening guitar chords were composed by David Gilmour who had in mind someone listening to a poor quality radio all alone in their bedroom late at night, and upon hearing the guitar joining in himself with the crisper sound of the second guitar. Overall, a stunningly beautiful composition, both instrumentally and lyrically, and a work of complete genius. I associate it with someone very close that I lost long ago and it never fails to bring a tear to my eye.

As an artist, you may enjoy one of pink floyds earlier releases. In 1971when the band members were about 25 years old, and 2 years before they became super famous with the release of "Dark side of the Moon", filmed and recorded a live performance of them playing at the roman amphitheater at Pompei, Italy. The only audience were the ghosts of the people who were killed there with the volcanic eruption in 79 ad. It is called "Echoes part 1.

I was at the Pulse concert in Roterdam Netherlands in 1994. It is to this day my favorite concert I ever been to. When I was there, litterally started crying of joy....

Roger wrote, David gave soul.

Pink Floyd’s music has a remarkable ability to evoke deep emotions and create immersive atmospheres that take listeners on an emotional journey. Pink Floyd’s music can provides a rich and emotionally resonant experience. You can't help but love the Floyd and shed an occasional tear while listening to their music.

The main reason the crowd was going insane when the song started is because this was the first song of their three song encore! They've been gone for a while and everyone was screaming and yelling when all of a sudden the music started with the first note and not only was it the group coming back on stage but they knew what song it was!!

Such a beautiful song, and yes, it's about longing. As a senior, this song, like many PF songs, seem to take on additional meaning as I grow older. I still ilsten to them routinely and always will. Great reaction!

Also „must hears“ from the Pulse Concert: „High Hopes“, „Shine on you crazy diamond“, „Keep talking“

I am really happy you are doing more from the pulse concert it was such a great night of music I loved every second of it and reliving it here now gives me chills just like I was there again.

The line you pointed out: "Did you exchange, a walk on part in the war, for a lead role in a cage." Always seem to me to say: Did you sacrifice freedom, for security.

A song that makes a pretty girl blush. Nothing better.

50 years have got behind me since I first heard it

Great emotional song i,ve been to the pulse concert in philly, usa, best concert ever. Another emotional song is "poles apart" give it a listen you won,t regret it keep up the good reactions. Hope you feel better soon. Hope you keep going down the pink floyd rabbit hold, if i went back 50 years when i was your age the music was totally different. The walk on partin the war is up on stage to be number one in the music world. But he syd barret couldn,t handle the pressure, so he hid in drugs and away from the public, sad story thats why its so emotional. Take care love ya!

I'm 50. I've been listening to the song for decades. Floyd's songs are poems put to tunes. You're very close in your assessment.

I really enjoyed your reaction to this song, I thought along similar lines to you. It gets me too, for me it was one of the early songs that I learnt on guitar - it took me ages to get it right 😂. You should check out more from this concert, it’s probably the best live performance ever!

My favorite song by my favorite band.

It supposed to mean exactly what you feel like it says to you. That's the beauty (as you said) of art, everyone sees it from their own perspective. And truly great works of art will be powerful, regardless of the perspective of the person interpreting it. Pink Floyd is a huge part of some of the greatest memories in my life, and I'm sure that I see it differently than you do. But it can be equally as important to you, in your own way. I loved your reaction, please keep making more music reaction videos.

So happy you decided to watch this performance. Thank you! Have a great day.

My favourite song of all time. I remember when I first heard this back in 1994, it was during the summer and I was day dreaming looking out of my bedroom window. I had an instant connection to it which remains to this day. I love both this version and the album version, both give me different thoughts and memories. Thank you for reacting

This time I saw the details of this song in your glowing face on the left side of the screen. And there was your well spoken reaction after that. It was so much an addition of what I experienced on the concert in Rotterdam back then. Thank you!

The song was part of an entire album written predominantly as an ode to their founding member Syd Barrett. Syd had a mental breakdown and left the band a few years earlier. To understand Pink Floyd, it helps to listen to their albums in totality as they were intended; afterwards you will appreciate each song for its meaning in the big scheme.

I never get tired of listening to this 🤘🏻🤘🏻🤘🏻🤘🏻🤘🏻

One explanation for the lyrics is that it refers to Roger waters father not coming back from the war.

I played this to my son he is now touring the world playing guitar 😊

From the same Pulse collection of excellent live music, please check out HIGH HOPES, and also SORROW.

just enjoy the Floyd

"Coming Back to Life" from this same concert is absolutely breathtaking. You should have a listen, you'll love it.

I wasn't born in 1994, "wish you were here" this song will still be heard from time to time. My English is too bad, I like your reaction. Thank You ❤

Roger Waters has said in an interview that he appreciates and encourages people to get their own interpretations to his songs and lyrics, he says the "did you exchange a walk on part of a war for a lead role in a cage" is about someone opting for a sedentary life instead of a life full of activity.

Its fine to feel emotional ! Every time i hear this song i feel emotional too and i'm an ole guy lol You should check out the whole album of Pulse ,its fantastic full of different emotions ,highs ,lows and in-between :) this is what Dave Gilmour said about it .... 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, recognises that he never performs the song without remembering Syd Barrett who was one of the founders of the band in the 60,s and sadly left due to mental illness and drug use . Waters later adds that the song is nevertheless open to interpretation.

Lovely reactions and at 65 my favorite band of all time!

You need to check out Great gig in the sky (have tissues handy) and Us & Them, truly epic songs. Great reaction. 👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻

How is this possible? The man looks like a farmer! Unbelievable.

Nice reaction! I look forward to more Pink Floyd from you.

Thanks again for sharing

I saw them back on the crazy days of Barrett and Saucerful, they've got 'different' over the years (comparisons are odious). I love your reactions - 'refreshingly straightforward' (but not simple!) I watched the emotion catch up with you. Having watched you dissect the lyrics - (and you just said that!) take it a line at a time and relate it to you - if you can. Then go back and relisten/watch - I'm (nearly) 70 and reflective lyrics as you put it mena more as you put mileson the clock. Re: meaning - you got it pretty much. Thank you!

My husband loves this song. It reminds him of his dad. He fought in Korea and was a POW with the Chinese for 27 months 17 days. He went in weighing 180 pounds and came out at 82 pounds. He had problems from the things that happened to him the rest of his life. He always had trouble sleeping amongst other things.

I feel like "did you exchange a walk on part in the war for a lead role in a cage" means that would you rather be part in something meaningful that gives you the same value as the rest of people, or better be the "leading role" of your loneliness😞

It's a longing for the past and how the band and the friendships the band members had. Sid Barrett one of the main founders of the group had to leave due to mental illness. It left everyone longing for the days past.

It's about war, mothers who lost sons, and wives who lost husbands,

This was written when those who refused to be drafted were imprisoned. The question goes to the heart of the issue.

so happy to see you lett the song go , and enjoy the music. and yes it's the whole package that makes you listen and enjoy. don't forgett Music is the onley language we all understand.............

Beautiful

Nice reaction 👍🏻 You definitely should check out Neverland (live '09) by Marillion 🙏 It's a love song, you'll love it for sure ❣️ Very similar to Pink Floyd, awesome 🎸 and 🎤!!!

Goosebumps is an understatement and your reaction is priceless.

High hope pulse concert

Brain fog or not we still love you, hope you get to feeling better soon. Also I like the way you present your reaction videos and pink Floyd is amazing as always and so are you.

Thanks for this one ! I would suggest you also listen to Floyds, Echoes / Live at Pompeii ( full ) ! It may clear up your sinuses ! lol

Beautiful song

Despite it's very specific meaning when written it resonates with many other emotional situations.

Really appreciate your openness to the power of art, and it helps that you're an artist. Keep listening to more PF, and I hope your enjoyment of their music grows. (P.S. I'll put in a plug for two songs, one more well-known, "One of These Days," and one less so, "Yet Another Movie.")

Nice reaction to a nice song. I hope you are feeling better by now. :)

English is not my native language. But listening to you feels like it is. Thank you so much for your reactions. Hope you gonna react more on Pink Floyd songs.

They missed their friend and mentor Syd, who'd become a pyschiatrically disabled. For an out of the box suggestion for further back PF emotional, try 'Grantchester Meadows '

blessed to have seen this live in 1994 Raleigh NC!! it was unbelievable!

Watching from Ireland

Saw Pulse in El Paso!

Pink Floyd are the best band of their era in my opinion. You're gorgeous by the way! Hope it's OK to say that

You should listen to the entire “Wish You Were Here” album. It’s a concept album (written by Roger Waters) about people and things that are missing, but should present, including himself and his band mates. He wrote it about how he felt after their greatest success at the time, the “Dark Side of the Moon” album. They were all exhausted from a very long tour and went into the studio feeling empty (all poured out). After some experimenting, he decided to write about how this emptiness felt. This is why it’s so relatable even if you don’t know what each song is specifically about. Hope you’re feeling better, Cheers!

I have heard them play this song all over the world and everyone the people sing the words to this. "Pulse 1994" 14 days in a row sold out ( and their last), second grossing entertainment in 1994. Watch ANY song from this experience and you won't be disappointed.

"Wish You Were Here", the album and the song, is about co-founding member of Pink Floyd in 1964 Syd Barrett and his tragic demise. He's the one they 'Wish Were Here', also the name of their 1975 album. Respectfully, the meaning of the song is not up to interpretation. In 1985 another co-founding member of Pink Floyd, Roger Waters, quit the band and the other three members continued on as Pink Floyd until keyboardist Rick Wrights' death from cancer in 2008. The three actual members of Floyd here are, David Gilmour, (guitar and lead vocals), Nick Mason, (drums), and Rick Wright, (keyboards, vocals). the other musicians and singers you see onstage are Floyds' touring band for that time period, (1994). Both Mason and Wright are also founding members of the band, and David Gilmour joined the band in 1968 as the replacement of Syd Barrett. Syd Barretts story is truly a sad and tragic one.

Epic!!!!

I'm glad this made you feel better. Pink Floyd will do that for you !

I completely get what you said about art and meanings. The artist may have had something in mind at the time, but that may change for the artist over time, and good art has layered meanings that can hit people in different ways. I was just listening to Sinead Oconner’s Nothing Compares to U. Originally written by Prince, thinking of a girl, a love interest. Sinead made it her own, about her difficult relationship with her mother. Same song, almost identical lyrics, but it’s her own in that context. I’ve never been a fan of taking art on a completely literal level.It’s neat to hear what the original inspiration and intent was, but great art exists way outside of that box.

In my opinion, i understand, exactly, what you said: "You don't know, what the lyrics are about, but you liked it"...I'm french, i was listening to them, and saw them in 1994, the Pulse tour, in my french hometown, Strasburg....I was 14, and i wasn't able to talk and understand english! But, the music touched me so deeply, it was incredible😂....Until 1992, when i was 12 years old, i was listening to rap, hip hop, techno....Then i heard Jimi Hendrix! It changed my life forever! My father was 20 in 1969, so the right generation, for rock n roll😂He gave my all his vinyls, of Chuck Berry, Fats Domino, Hendrix, Led Zeppelin, Pink Floyd, etc....He was playing guitar, he helped me to start playing guitar, everyday, i went at music university, and i worked as a roadie, on a lot of crazy concerts, in France, in the world, i traveled a lot to see a lot of legends... Pink Floyd, Clapton, Rolling Stones, Deep Purple, ac/dc, Santana, Dire Straits, Lenny Kravitz, Ben Harper, jazz musicians, classical orchestra, etc....I saw and worked with so much good peoples....I, was just too young to see my 2 favourite's bands: Jimi Hendrix and Led Zeppelin....All that to say: now i speak and understand english better, (except some peoples in usa, with terrible accents😂), and it changes nothing! Real good bands, like Pink Floyd, no need to understand the lyrics, to like it....And, it's so cool to see your smile, even when you cry you're beautiful👍....Songs of Pink Floyd i cried a lot, are "Sorrow" and "On the turning away", "Comfartably Numb" too....Peace from France ✌️🌹😂

Right feels

Great reaction, real reaction. Thank you. The very root of the song is life's journey and the choices/paths we take, looking back to see if the difference is significant or not. The song has different meanings beyond that to each of the artists who participated in creating it, and they changed their perspective as it was created. The song started out a reflection of the journey the band took from obscurity to fame, but was altered/adopted when they went to record it due to the events and circumstances surrounding those recording sessions at the studio. Roger's view over time comes to a different conclusion than David's and both are different than Rick's. An interview with David summed it up best for me when he said you could apply it to yourself, the difference between intent/desire and outcome/reality of the choices made along the pathway to where you are. Or, you could apply it to a friendship or relationship that diverged somewhere along the way giving separation, with a reuniting moment and the comparison of how different all are having taken different roads in life from where they were before the separation. Or, you could take it as a cultural/societal overview, the realists looking back at the idealist and how time and choices seem to have altered it all. So, take it for what it means for you, it's meant to be that too.

Lovely reaction. The more you listen to them, you'll become addicted to their music.. Enjoy the musical journey I've been on since the early 70s. Love your channel and reactions from one Aussie to another!

great reaction, i knew that you would like this one, you carnt go far wrong with the pulse concert, id recommend that you try " TIME " from the same pulse concert

Ive still got my ticket stub from this concert in Atlanta Ga. I was 24..

I was at this very concert at Earl’s Court, mind blowingly good…

what a great tribute to Pink Floyd's co-founder, the late Syd Barrett (R.I.P)

65 years old and this is still genius !!!!

Ilove sing for you reaction yees beautiful is the Best ilove you mat from Indonesia

You have to watch all of the concert videos. Songs like Sorrow High Hopes Great gig in the sky There are many more. It is in the opinion of many to be some of the best live performances ever. To me they played at their pinnacle during Pulse covert. After 30 years still unmatched. You are just getting started.

Probably my second favorite song after Numb. The way David harmonizes with his guitar is something to see and hear. Really amazing. I've been loving them since 73. I was 13. No adult supervision. Another 3 times after. Nothing like em. Gotta remember context. The Vietnam War was still going strong.

Creo que está canción fué escrita para Sid Barret, cuando fué perdiéndose debido a las drogas. Para mí, es especialmente importante porque mi madre fué una Pinkfloydiana fanática 😢. Ella falleció hace 5 años con casi 97 años y en vida, me pidió que en su funeral pusiéramos a Pink Floyd. Así lo hicimos..." como quisiera que estuvieras aquí" fué la mía y Mother la de mi hermano. Muchas gracias por traerlos a tu canal 💓

I think your falling for Pink Floyd😊. So many great songs to come.

Since my stroke I have re discovered them

I will provide a general statement. There were four different members of the band prior to Dark Side of the Moon. A breakdown of one member lost them for DSotM, so the three pulled in a new member and cut the album. It flew up the charts and became a hit. Wish You Were Here the album was about missing that band member since much of DSotM was his vision. So, this song, it has been said was a call out to that person wishing they were on the journey with their fame. The person that left had a breakdown, spending time in rehab and institutionalized. Keep the faith, music in general means what it means in you, like all art. It either communicates with you or it doesn't.

Very interesting

❤❤❤❤❤

The lyric "did you exchange a walk on part in the war for a lead role in a cage". This was written during the Vietnam war when people were running away to not be drafted into the army. And if caught you were put in jail.

это классика !!! привет из России красотка !

I hope that made you feel better

I still get emotional listening to it

A suggestion! October ends ' new song is on a whole ottheyr level. You should react to their new song! 🔥

Philly 1994 70,000 people singing together unforgettable.

When we had the draft, if you didn't go to war, you went to prison.

😊 🥰

they invented the laser-technology just for this show, it didn't excist before

I think you reached the right conclusion; Roger Waters wrote the lyrics as part of a collaboration with Dave Gilmour, and for him it is about a personal quest for freedom, whilst Gilmour associates it with Syd Barrett, but Waters makes the point that it can be interpreted subjectively by anyone and that the lyrics can be relevant to many people for many reasons. That’s probably why it means so much to so many, because it helps them to find expression for something deep and meaningful in their lives, whether it’s a yearning for someone who has been lost to us, or a wish to open someone’s eyes, or something else.

All the pulse!

Interpreting "Wish You Were Here" as a tribute to former Pink Floyd bandmate Syd Barrett: The opening lines, "So, so you think you can tell / Heaven from hell? Blue skies from pain?" could be seen as a reflection on Barrett's mental health struggles and the band's difficulty in understanding his condition. It speaks to the confusion and pain experienced by both Barrett and the band as they witnessed his decline. The imagery of "a green field / From a cold steel rail" and "A smile from a veil" might represent Barrett's transition from a carefree, creative spirit to a more troubled and isolated individual. It reflects the band's struggle to reconcile the person they once knew with the one who seemed distant and changed. The lines "Did they get you to trade / Your heroes for ghosts? Hot ashes for trees? Hot air for a cool breeze? Cold comfort for change?" could be interpreted as questioning whether Barrett was influenced or manipulated by external forces, such as fame or mental illness, to forsake his true self. The reference to "A walk-on part in the war / For a lead role in a cage?" could symbolize Barrett's departure from the band and his subsequent withdrawal from the spotlight. It suggests the contrast between his early role as a creative force within the band and his later struggles with mental health issues, which led to his retreat from public life. The repeated refrain "How I wish, how I wish you were here" takes on added poignancy when interpreted in the context of Barrett, expressing the band's longing for their former friend and collaborator. The image of "two lost souls / Swimming in a fish bowl / Year after year" could represent the shared sense of isolation and disconnection felt by both Barrett and the band members. The final lines, "Running over the same old ground / What have we found? The same old fears / Wish you were here," could reflect on the band's reflection on their journey without Barrett and the realization that despite their success, they still miss his presence and creative contribution. In this interpretation, "Wish You Were Here" becomes a heartfelt tribute to Syd Barrett, expressing Pink Floyd's enduring affection and regret for their lost friend and acknowledging the impact of his absence on their lives and music.

They wrote it for their old singer...

Next Avenged Sevenfold "wish you were here" cover

Best song.

Stick with this great Pulse concert. You can't go wrong if you do. Try High Hopes next.

I am a stroke survivor

kust oh oh..............