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Pink Floyd Question

CS8161
In the song, "Wish you were here", who is that referring to? Did Barrett do time in jail?


Can you tell a green field from a cold steel rail?
A smile from a veil?
Do you think you can tell?
And did they get you to trade your heroes for ghosts?
Hot ashes for trees?
Hot air for a cool breeze?
Cold comfort for change?
And 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.
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Comments

10 comments

Date Votes
  • Marc1301
    A wish for another round of acid?
    You got me![:D]
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  • MVP
    I always think it is the mind that walked to far out on an acid trip and he wished it would come home.
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  • fishermanben
    Their original lead singer, Syd Barett.

    syd712.jpg

    He grew up with most of the members of Pink Floyd, and his song writing, and style got them famous. He was addicted to prescription qualudes, he had passed out on stage, and was not performing well at all. One day they didn't pick him up for band practice, and they never talked to him after that. Many of their songs refer to him. He died last year at the age of 60, alone, and a hermit.

    Syd-90.jpg

    Ben
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  • fishermanben
    Here are a couple of good examples of Pink Floyd's roots. Both are off of their first album, Piper At the Gates of Dawn, which was entirely composed by Syd.

    Astronomy Domine
    http://youtube.com/watch?v=xCKsWMAnnW8

    Arnold Lane
    http://youtube.com/watch?v=bhJYqa_htCY
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  • cce1302
    So that's what those lyrics are. Never could figure out what they were saying.
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  • Sav99
    Syd Barett was my guess too. "Shine on" (You crazy diamond) was about Barett so "Wish you were here" may have been as well.
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  • Fatstrat
    Personally I don't think the song "Wish you were here" is dedicated to anyone. But more of an expression of whimsical feelings. Perhaps pertaining to the loneliness of fame.
    Kind of be careful what you wish for, because you just might get it theme.
    I do think that some tunes and alot of "The Wall" is kind of loosely about Barrett. But I don't think as many Floyd tunes are about him as people think.
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  • Mk 19
    quote:Astronomy Domine
    http://youtube.com/watch?v=xCKsWMAnnW8

    I have always prefered the muscial composistion that Voivod did with that one
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  • mrseatle
    quote:Originally posted by Chris8161

    And did you exchange a walk on part in the war for a lead role in a cage?


    [}:)]
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  • 1911a1-fan
    quote:Originally posted by fishermanben
    Their original lead singer, Syd Barett.

    syd712.jpg

    Ben




    thats what they want you to think, he got a tan and is now known as prince
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