High Hopes

High Hopes is a song from the 1994 Pink Floyd album, The Division Bell, written by David Gilmour and Polly Samson. Its lyrics speak of the things one may have gained and lost in life and also an autobiographical flair to it for Gilmour. Douglas Adams, a friend of Gilmour's, chose the album title from one of the lyrics in this song, the last song recorded for the album in what David Gilmour described as a "flash of inspiration". Pink Floyd manager, Steve O'Rourke, who lobbied to be included on one of the group's albums, appears at the end with Gilmour's stepson, Charlie, who hangs up a telephone on O'Rourke. The beginning of "High Hopes" is reminiscent of another of his songs, "Fat Old Sun", from the Pink Floyd album Atom Heart Mother. Bells chime at the beginning of both pieces, for example. The bird sounds and fly buzzing can also be traced back to "Grantchester Meadows", a song from the 1969 Pink Floyd album, Ummagumma, written by Roger Waters. This being the very last song that Pink Floyd has written to date (and its placement at the end of their last album of new material to date) lends itself to the interpretation that the song narrates the story of the band's career, from their beginnings to their grandiose success (with The Dark Side of the Moon and The Wall) to their breakup to their carrying on. The final line ("The endless river, forever and ever") ties into one of the band's first hits, "See Emily Play" ("Float on a river, forever and ever"). "High Hopes" was included in the 2001 compilation, Echoes: The Best of Pink Floyd with a shortened slide-guitar solo. The group Nightwish closes their Highest Hopes album with a cover version of this song.

[Intro] [Verse 1] Beyond the horizon of the place we lived when we were young In a world of magnets and miracles Our thoughts strayed constantly and without boundary The ringing of the division bell had begun Along the Long Road and on down the Causeway Do they still meet there by the Cut There was a ragged band that followed in our footsteps Running before time took our dreams away Leaving the myriad small creatures trying to tie us to the ground To a life consumed by slow decay [Chorus] The grass was greener The light was brighter With friends surrounded The nights of wonder [Verse 2] Looking beyond the embers of bridges glowing behind us To a glimpse of how green it was on the other side Steps taken forwards but sleepwalking back again Dragged by the force of some inner tide At a higher altitude with flag unfurled We reached the dizzy heights of that dreamed of world [Instrumental] [Verse 3] Encumbered forever by desire and ambition There's a hunger still unsatisfied Our weary eyes still stray to the horizon Though down this road we've been so many times [Chorus] The grass was greener The light was brighter The taste was sweeter The nights of wonder With friends surrounded The dawn mist glowing The water flowing The endless river For ever and ever [Instrumental] [Outro] "Hello?" "Yeah?" "Is that Charlie?" "Yes." "Hello, Charlie." *phone hangs up* "Great."