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Wish you were here...

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“Wish you were here” has always been one of my favorite Pink Floyd songs, but as I listened to it this morning, I - as I often do - wonder what Waters was referring to.

Or, to be more specific, which war was Waters referring to?

Though Waters wrote at length about WWII in The Final Cut, I don't see how “Did you exchange a walk-on part in the war for a lead role in a cage?” can be anything other than Vietnam.

What do you think?

Comments

  • Anonymous
    August 10, 2004
    The comment has been removed

  • Anonymous
    August 10, 2004
    He was referring to Sid Barrett in his prolific way. There were numerous songs about/to Sid. Source: interviews of Waters/Gilmore.

  • Anonymous
    August 10, 2004
    The comment has been removed

  • Anonymous
    August 10, 2004
    Yeah, he's referring to Syd, check out:
    http://experts.about.com/q/555/2817710.htm and
    http://earcandy_mag.tripod.com/rrcase-3.htm

  • Anonymous
    August 10, 2004
    Did some googling and although it doesn't answer the your question Eric, it makes for some interesting reading and chuckling...

    http://www.amiright.com/misheard/song/wishyouwerehere.shtml

  • Anonymous
    August 10, 2004
    The comment has been removed

  • Anonymous
    August 10, 2004
    I've always taken it in the light of being a metaphorical reference to Syd's decline in mental health.

  • Anonymous
    August 10, 2004
    I always thought he was referring to the Vietnam war, seeing how it happened during the Pink Floyd era. Lotsa Pink Floyd info at http://www.pinkfloydonline.com/.

  • Anonymous
    August 10, 2004
    The whole album centers on Syd, not just "Shine On.." and "Wish You Were Here". "Welcome to the Machine" has clear references to Syd ("you bought a guitar to punish your ma'" being just one), and "Have a Cigar" is about the pressures of the music industry that many feel contributed to Syd's mental decline.

  • Anonymous
    August 10, 2004
    The comment has been removed

  • Anonymous
    August 10, 2004
    what about San Tropez ?

  • Anonymous
    August 11, 2004
    It depends whether it's literal or not...there are many ways of being in a cage

  • Anonymous
    August 11, 2004
    The comment has been removed

  • Anonymous
    August 22, 2004
    The comment has been removed

  • Anonymous
    January 01, 2008
    PingBack from http://music.247blogging.info/?p=3320

  • Anonymous
    April 14, 2008
    PingBack from http://findsongbylyricsblog.info/eric-gunnersons-c-compendium-wish-you-were-here/

  • Anonymous
    May 23, 2008
    “Wish you were here” has always been one of my favorite Pink Floyd songs, but as I listened to it this morning, I - as I often do - wonder what Waters was referring to. Or, to be more specific, which war was Waters referring to? Though

  • Anonymous
    June 09, 2009
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