wish you were here

[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