Wish You Were Here

Recorded at Abbey Road in the first half of 1975, it features Gilmour on vocals, acoustic guitar, pedal steel and tape effects, Wright on Steinway and Minimoog, and Mason and Waters. The intro was recorded from Gilmour's car radio. Stephane Grappelli's violin, paid for at 300 pounds, is barely audible near 5:21, and an alternate mix is on the Experience and Immersion editions. Waters says the lyrics are directed at himself. Gilmour says he never plays the song without thinking of Barrett.

Live and covers

Waters played it with Eric Clapton at Tsunami Aid in 2005, and at Live 8 in 2005 the band shared the lead vocals. A version from Rome on 20 September 1994 was issued as a single on 20 July 1995. Rolling Stone ranked it 302nd in 2021.