Syd Barrett (actually Roger Keith Barrett -- at 14 he took the name of a local jazz bassist Sid "The Beat" Barrett) was taught at Morley Memorial Junior School bin Cambridge by the mother of Roger Waters, and later he went to Cambridgeshire High School for Boys with Waters, and they became close friends. Then he met David Gilmour as a student in the Cambridge Technical College art department. Meanwhile, Waters, Nick Mason, and Richard Wright, fellow architecture students at the London Polytechnic Institution played together in various rock bands. In 1964 they were joined by Barrett and by late 1965, at Barrett's suggestion, they began calling themselves the Pink Floyd Sound (named in honor of American bluesmen Pink Anderson and Floyd Council). They began recording in 1967, but Barrett, the group's lead vocalist and principal songwriter, was already suffering from mental illness (possibly related to his excessive use of psychedelic drugs). he only recorded 4 singles, their 1st album and part of their 2nd album before he was fired in April 1968. He was replaced by Gilmour. The band recorded the album "Wish You Were Here" in 1975 . The title song was a rare collaboration between Waters and Gilmour. Waters had heard Gilmour play the opening riff and asked him to play it slower. They worked on the music for the chorus and verses together, and Waters wrote the lyrics, in part devoted to their mutual friend Barrett.
So, so you think you can tell Heaven from hell Blue skies from pain Can you tell a green field From a cold steel rail? A smile from a veil? Do you think you can tell?
Did they get you to trade Your heroes for ghosts? Hot ashes for trees? Hot air for a cool breeze? Cold comfort for change? 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 And how we found The same old fears Wish you were here
Syd Barrett (actually Roger Keith Barrett -- at 14 he took the name of a local jazz bassist Sid "The Beat" Barrett) was taught at Morley Memorial Junior School bin Cambridge by the mother of Roger Waters, and later he went to Cambridgeshire High School for Boys with Waters, and they became close friends. Then he met David Gilmour as a student in the Cambridge Technical College art department. Meanwhile, Waters, Nick Mason, and Richard Wright, fellow architecture students at the London Polytechnic Institution played together in various rock bands. In 1964 they were joined by Barrett and by late 1965, at Barrett's suggestion, they began calling themselves the Pink Floyd Sound (named in honor of American bluesmen Pink Anderson and Floyd Council). They began recording in 1967, but Barrett, the group's lead vocalist and principal songwriter, was already suffering from mental illness (possibly related to his excessive use of psychedelic drugs). he only recorded 4 singles, their 1st album and part of their 2nd album before he was fired in April 1968. He was replaced by Gilmour. The band recorded the album "Wish You Were Here" in 1975 . The title song was a rare collaboration between Waters and Gilmour. Waters had heard Gilmour play the opening riff and asked him to play it slower. They worked on the music for the chorus and verses together, and Waters wrote the lyrics, in part devoted to their mutual friend Barrett.
ReplyDeleteSo, so you think you can tell
Heaven from hell
Blue skies from pain
Can you tell a green field
From a cold steel rail?
A smile from a veil?
Do you think you can tell?
Did they get you to trade
Your heroes for ghosts?
Hot ashes for trees?
Hot air for a cool breeze?
Cold comfort for change?
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
And how we found
The same old fears
Wish you were here