[intro]
There was a boy about twelve years old
He lived outside in the cold
Every weekend he would go
To the bookstore down the road
Brought a guitar
Was all he owned
Then they paid him to strum his chords
And he sang "i wish you were here"
Though he hadn't yet found his dear
They paid him 20 when he was done
Sometimes they paid him in 1's
And that was all that he would have
'till the next time that he strummed
[Chorus]
Then he sang out of key
And he never changed his strings
And his voice cracked flat as the sea
And he hoped one day they'd believe
And he played "i wish you were here"
And he went looking for his dear
[verse]
As a teen he started to play
Well all across the usa
Knew every woman from around the way
Has a couple that were twice his age
He had some good ones and some bad
Some made him happy some made him so sad
Though plenty of them were fun
He could feel it just wasn't the one
Oh and 15 years went by
'fore he signed on the dotted line
And then he headed across the world
Lookin for his girl
[Chorus]
Then he sang out of key
And he never changed his strings
And his voice squeaked sharp of the sea
But he said one day they'd believe
And he played "i wish you were here"
Though he hadn't yet found his dear
[verse]
Backstage at his shows
He'd still strum the chords he knows
And he'd sing "i wish you were here"
Wondering if he'd ever find his dear
I don't know how long but it was a lot
So much time i nearly forgot
I was searching the whole world through
Then it hit me one day with you
On a beach in faro, portugal
Girl i held you while the cold wind blows
And that night when we went out
I heard something that just tore me down
[outro]
I had you right there by my side
The coast was calm the moon was high
And a boy took to the stage
And he softly started to play
And it made me break down and cry
And i never really told you why
But he played "i wish you were here"
And i had finally found you dear
All the bad stuff that i went through
If it meant that id find you
Girl i'd gladly do it again
Even though we've seen our end
You know id look for you up and down
You know i searched the whole world round
Want you to know, i wish you were here
Cause i have since lost you dear
And i never played it for you
Cause you were who i was singing to
All those years
You know i don't sing out of key
And i often change my strings
And i can match the pitch of the sea
And i made a lot of people believe
Everybody except for you
