Wish You Were Here

The story behind

The music of Wish You Were Here has a way of starting that immediately transports you. Imagine tuning an old radio: you hear snippets from different stations, until suddenly, a twelve-string acoustic guitar, processed to sound as if it were coming from an old transistor, begins to weave the main melody. Then, another layer of acoustic guitar joins in, fuller, and the feeling is as if a musician were playing along with the radio. This radio effect was recorded using David Gilmour's own equipment, and the idea was for it to sound as if someone were listening to the radio and started playing along. The lyrics, written mainly by Roger Waters, speak of disconnection and the importance of being present in your own life to truly experience it. Although often interpreted as a tribute to Syd Barrett, Waters and Gilmour have pointed out that the original idea was more introspective, directed towards oneself.