I Wish You Were Here

“Wish You Were Here” is a song by the English rock band Pink Floyd, released as the title track of their 1975 album of the same name. The music was co-written by guitarist and vocalist David Gilmour and bassist and vocalist Roger Waters, with Gilmour providing the lead vocals. The song is popular on classic rock radio stations and remains an integral part of Pink Floyd’s discography. It was voted the 18th greatest rock song of all time by listeners of the New York radio station Q104.3, and also ranked 302nd on Rolling Stone magazine’s list of the “500 Greatest Songs of All Time”; both of these honors were awarded in 2021.

Pink Floyd recorded a lot of great songs, but it’s “Wish You Were Here” that I return to most often. Gilmour’s iconic solo is a classic of the genre. Generations of young guitarists learn from it, and for me, it’s a song without which I can’t imagine rock music.