PINK FLOYD

Wish you were here

Man: . . .and disciplinary remains, mercifully. . . Woman:. . .Yes. Now with you. . . Derek, this star nonsense. . . Man:. . .Yes, yes. Woman:. . .Now which is it. . . Man:. . .Im sure of it. . .
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? And 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. Were 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.

HELP IN INTERPRETING
PHRASAL VERBS
to tell from to distinguish, to recognize, to identify

VOCABULARY
so then, (usually introducing interrogative clauses) walk-on (part) a small acting part, where the actor says nothing, in a film, play, etc. lead role the main/principal acting part in a film, play, etc. to get somebody to do something to make/cause somebody to do something

INFORMAL WRITING OR SPEAKING

Wish = I wish (that) were // = we are

NOTE 1: In conversation ellipsis (omission of elements that can be easily

understood from the context) is very common. In this song we can see that I, was omitted

NOTE 2: In this song we can also see an example of past subjunctive (in order
to express an unrealized or unrealizable desire) where were or was is correct in the first and third person singular: I wish I were rich. OR I wish I was rich. I wish she were here. OR I wish she was here. She wishes he were here. OR She wishes he was here. They wish their mother were here. OR They wish their mother was here.