How I wish, how I wish you were here
We’re just two lost souls
Swimming in a fish bowl
Year after year
Hey Otterites! I’m sure you recognize the melancholy lyrics of one of my favorite Pink Floyd songs, Wish You Were Here from 1975. The tune is one of the best collaborations of Roger Waters and David Gilmour. Gilmour features on the haunting vocals and the affecting guitar track.
Much of Pink Floyd’s early work revolves around the mental health issues of co-founder Syd Barrett. Barrett’s issues with his health and drugs forced him from the band, to be replaced by Gilmour. Barrett always seems top of mind for Waters in his early songwriting. They hated that his issues and behavior forced them to exclude him, and even years later Waters made sure Barrett received any royalties he was due.
Critical opinion is that Barrett was a tremendous songwriter and musician, innovative and experimental. He was influential to tons of British rock, both of the progressive, jazz influenced bands like Floyd, but also of many other British rockers who would come after.
Floyd is one of those bands that seems to engender huge loyalty from fans, but “meh” from others. No one hates them or anything, but just figure if you aren’t in sparking fat doobage and staring at the stars, there’s not much point in Floyd. At least that’s been my experience.
For me, though, I love the musicianship Floyd always displays. Gilmour is just amazing. Love to just focus on the guitar in tons of Floyd tunes. The songwriting aches with personal pain, too, which appeals to me. When songwriters make it personal, giving us a glimpse of their lives, that makes for great rock tunes.
So Otterites, if you have the time tonight, hook your Spotify or iHeartRadio or whatever up to some Pink Floyd for me, and think of Syd Barrett. And if you are a fan of Floyd, shoot us an email. Tell us what Floyd means to you. You can also dig this recent episode on rock music. Wish you were here, indeed.
