“Wish You Were Here” by Pink Floyd

Pink Floyd, one of the greatest rock bands of all time, isn’t just known for their classic melodies and stage presence. Most of their lyrics, when given a thoughtful listen or read, tap into our most human emotions. “Wish You Were Here” is one of those songs that also happens to be a heartfelt funeral song. The opening lines, “So, so you think you can tell / Heaven from Hell / Blue skies from pain,” speak to fears one might face after losing a loved one and grappling with a loss of faith. The song continues in a somewhat somber tone, wavering between optimism and despondency; it seems as though the speaker cannot imagine moving on without that loved one in their life. By the end of the song, we are left longing for those we have lost while still bearing in mind the value of keeping them in our memories. For these reasons, “Wish You Were Here” makes for a heartfelt funeral song.

“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

What have we found?

The same old fears

Wish you were here”

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