What Does Two Lost Souls Swimming in a Fishbowl Mean?

If you’ve ever heard the song “Wish You Were Here” by the classic rock band Pink Floyd, you may have wondered what these lyrics mean:

“We’re just two lost souls/Swimming in a fish bowl/Year after year.”

It’s one of the most famous lines from the song. But what does it really mean to be “two lost souls swimming in a fishbowl?” Let’s break it down.

Who’s Singing “Wish You Were Here”?

First, some background. “Wish You Were Here” is the title track from Pink Floyd’s 1975 album. The song was written by Roger Waters and David Gilmour, two members of the band.

Waters wrote the lyrics. He has said the song is about feeling disconnected from other people, including former Pink Floyd member Syd Barrett who had left the band years earlier due to mental health struggles. Waters felt the music industry had changed Barrett and made him “crazy.”

The song is sad and emotional. It’s Waters wishing Barrett could be his old friend again, before fame and the music business got to him.

Two Lost Souls

So when Waters refers to “two lost souls” in the song, he’s likely talking about himself and Syd Barrett. They were once good friends and bandmates, but now they’ve grown apart and become “lost” to each other – like soulmates split apart.

Waters uses this line to express how alienated and lonely he feels without his old friend Syd. He wishes they could go back in time to when their friendship was strong.

What Does the Fishbowl Mean?

The “fishbowl” in the lyrics is a metaphor. Waters uses it to describe the feeling of being trapped and closed off from the outside world.

You know how a pet fish is stuck in a little glass bowl? It can swim around and around, but it can’t really go anywhere or see beyond its own limited space. That’s how Waters feels – like he and Syd are isolated in their own little bubble or “fishbowl.”

Even though they’re swimming next to each other in this metaphorical fishbowl, they’re still very disconnected. The glass wall of the bowl separates them.

Why “Year After Year”?

The song goes, “We’re just two lost souls swimming in a fish bowl, year after year.” This suggests Waters’ feelings of loss and separation from Syd have gone on for a very long time without changing.

The “year after year” lyric shows how Waters seems to be stuck in this state of sadness, just endlessly swimming around his little fishbowl while missing his friend. It’s an image of feeling lonely and disconnected year after year.

Connecting with the Emotion

Even if you don’t know all the history behind Pink Floyd and Syd Barrett, you can still appreciate the emotion in these lyrics. They capture the universal feelings of losing touch with a close friend or just struggling with loneliness in general.

Maybe you’ve had a friendship that’s grown apart over time even if your friend didn’t leave your band to become a crazy rockstar! Or maybe you sometimes feel disconnected from friends or family, like a fish stuck in its bowl.

That’s the magic of these lyrics – they describe a very specific situation, but also connect with broader human emotions. No wonder “Wish You Were Here” remains one of Pink Floyd’s most popular and powerful songs!