A comparison of songs by Pink Floyd and Incubus
             Twenty-six years separate the releases of two songs by Pink Floyd and Incubus, both entitled "Wish You Were Here." A large fan base grew from these songs that later became smash hits and radio airwave staples. Though Pink Floyd emerged out of England in the 1960s, their music soon became popular in the U.S. with the majority of their records being sold in the states. Similarly, Incubus became popular in the U.S. in the early 90s when the band formed in high school. Both versions of "Wish You Were Here" are examples of American popular music that, though share the same title, are two completely different songs that differ both in the general feeling they induce and their instrumentation. It is only lyrically that these two pieces are similar.
             It is important to first note that Incubus' "Wish You Were Here" is not a cover of Pink Floyd's song, but rather a completely original piece with the same title. Thus, it is easy to see how the lyrics are both different and similar at the same time.
             The lyrics of these two songs are similar in that both vocalists are sending an obvious message to a friend of theirs. The Incubus version creates detailed imagery that describes the lead singer's (Brandon Boyd) fascination with his surroundings, namely his nighttime waterfront. From this fascination emerges Boyd's desire to have his significant other (though not explicitly defined) with him to enjoy the scenery, hence the line "I wish you were here." This is similar to Pink Floyd's version in that the lyricist Roger Waters wishes for his old guitarist Syd Barret to be with him in the recording studio. However, the two lyrics contrast in that Incubus' version invokes a celebratory mood while Pink Floyd's version is more of a depressed song that stems from a sense of loss.
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