Wish You Were Here (1975)
Basic info: Wish You Were Here is the ninth studio album by English progressive rock group Pink Floyd, released in September 1975. The album explores themes of absence, the music business, and former band-mate Syd Barrett's mental decline. It was inspired by material the band composed while performing across Europe, and recorded over numerous sessions at London's Abbey Road Studios. Early sessions were a difficult and arduous process but it was Roger Waters' idea to split the centerpiece track "Shine On You Crazy Diamond" in two parts, and join each half with three new compositions. "Shine On" was a tribute to Barrett, who, coincidentally, made an impromptu visit to the studio while it was being recorded. The band failed initially to recognize Barrett, who had gained weight and changed in appearance. As with their previous work, The Dark Side of the Moon, the band made use of studio effects and synthesisers. Roy Harper was a guest vocalist on "Have a Cigar". The album's packaging, again, designed by Storm Thorgerson, featured an opaque black sleeve inside which was hidden the album artwork. Wish You Were Here was released in September 1975 to instant success; record company EMI was unable to print enough copies to satisfy demand. Although it initially received mixed reviews, the album has since been acclaimed by critics, and appears in Rolling Stone magazine's list of "The 500 Greatest Albums of All Time". Band members Richard Wright and David Gilmour have each declared Wish You Were Here their favorite Pink Floyd album.
Track listing:
1. Shine On You Crazy Diamond
(26:07)
2. Welcome to the Machine
(7:30)
3. Have a Cigar
(5:24)
4. Wish You Were Here
(5:17)
Story:
Shine On You Crazy Diamond - The album opens to the current state of the band: Pink has left the band to go solo after his mental fallout proved to be so troubling. The song focuses on Floyd's decision to leave the band, and how much the rest of the members hope he does good in life, encouraging Pink to "shine on."
Lyrics: Remember when you were young, you shone like the sun, shine on you crazy diamond, now there's a look in your eyes, like black holes in the sky, shine on you crazy diamond. You were caught in the crossfire of childhood and stardom, blown on the steel breeze, come on, you target for faraway laughter, come on, you stranger, you legend, you martyr, and shine. You reached for the secret too soon, you cried for the moon, shine on you crazy diamond, threatened by shadows at night and exposed in the light, shine on you crazy diamond. Well, you wore out your welcome with random precision, rode on the steel breeze, come on, you raver, you seer of visions, come on, you painter, you piper, you prisoner, and shine. Nobody knows where you are, how near or how far, shine on you crazy diamond. Pile on many more layers and I'll be joining you there, shine on you crazy diamond. And we'll bask in the shadow of yesterday's triumph, sail on the still breeze. Come on you boy child, you winner and loser, come on you miner for truth and delusion and shine.
Welcome to the Machine - The story now jumps back to before Pink's decision to leave the band; Pink Floyd is driving hard on success, with an album already released and topping the charts. The "machine" in the song and its title refers to the music industry, as well as the success that seems to orchestrate out of it.
Lyrics: Welcome my son, welcome to the machine, where have you been? It's alright we know where you've been. You've been in the pipeline, filling in time, provided with toys and scouting for boys, you bought a guitar to punish your ma. And you didn't like school, and you know you're nobody's fool, so welcome to the machine. Welcome my son, welcome to the machine, what did you dream? It's alright we told you what to dream. You dreamed of a big star, he played a mean guitar, he always ate in the Steak Bar, he loved to drive in his Jaguar, so welcome to the machine.
Have a Cigar - Pink begins to go insane in this song. He goes to a therapist. But, this doesn't help Pink. Instead of getting advice, he gets cliched and almost unintentionally funny replies towards his problems. His therapist tells him that "everything will be okay" and that he is "going to go far" and offers him to "have a cigar" and relax, and that everything will work out for the best. His therapist is also one who knows little about Pink Floyd, and most sessions are wasted with Pink having to inform her about the band. Ultimately she offers Pink no solutions. He also receives help from his fellow bandmates, but to little effect. Between this, he also attempts to talk to the band's manager, who is more concerned over the band's success and wealth than over Pink's well-being and health. The song refers to the "riding the gravy train" as the "name of the game" - implying that this is what happens to those who are driven to constant success.
Lyrics: Come in here, dear boy, have a cigar, you're gonna go far, you're gonna fly high, you're never gonna die, you're gonna make it, if you try, they're gonna love you. Well, I've always had a deep respect, and I mean that most sincerely, the band is just fantastic, that is really what I think, oh by the way, which one's Pink? And did we tell you the name of the game, boy? We call it riding the gravy train. We're just knocked out, we heard about the sell out, you gotta get an album out, you owe it to the people, we're so happy we can hardly count. Everybody else is just green, have you seen the chart? It's a helluva start, it could be made into a monster, if we all pull together as a team. And did we tell you the name of the game, boy? We call it riding the gravy train.
Wish You Were Here - Pink's mental health causes him to leave Pink Floyd. The band's chemistry collapses. The band wishes Pink the best but, wishes he was still in the band. "Wish you were here" refers to the members' wish Pink was still with them both physically and mentally. After he leaves, he greets a musician talent agent who helps him to get started with a solo career.
