Smile

Someone he loves is dying. He just wants to be with them again

On an Island is a really fantastic album. Much like the albums of his PF days, Gilmour provides a seamless album that feels like one long track.

More importantly though, is this song: Smile. I feel that this is about a lost love. Not lost in the physical sense though. This woman who he still loves in some sense is still around, but he doesn't love who she has become. He doesn't seem to care much for who he has become, nor does he like his inability to make his lover smile. This is unfortunate, because as the last verse explains, he feels at home seeing her smile. Seeing as this love has faded and he is unable to get home, he is soon to depart from the (quite opposite) "sad stare."

This song is extremely intricate and says WAY more than what is there. Gilmour shows his pure ability to write such a powerful song. I am curious to read in the future what others say, I'm sure there will be a lot of different interpretations.

When I was listening to this I kept picturing him having some sort of fight/argument with his wife and needing to get away for the weekend. Like it's something he was losing sleep over at the time and he hated seeing her sad.

"All alone Though you're right here"

That line makes me think it deals more with the present.

I almost totaly agree with you kalane, except it feels to me that the woman in question instead of changing into something he doesnt like, simply does not feel the same way about him anymore.

He still loves her and through the song makes the decision to leave her because she will be happier that way. All he truly wants is to see her happy.

loooooooooooooove this song!!!!

Snailman- I don't think he's decided to leave her. No lyric really suggests that.

I'm also not 100% convinced that she doesn't love him anymore (though it is likely), she could love him but be depressed.

I thought I heard that this song was about his wife, so the following is just tailoring the song to my own thoughts. I always thought this was a sweet song about putting your kid to bed.

"While sleep has taken you Where I'm out of sight..."

She's asleep, away from Daddy, where he can't protect her.

"I'll make my getaway Time on my own..."

After putting her in bed and her finally drifting off to sleep, sneaking out of the room to have some time to yourself.

"Wasting days and days On this fight (Incorrect lyrics above.) Always down and up Half the night."

Child resisting going to sleep, wanting to stay up. Dad constantly getting up to put her back to bed.

"We'll only sacrifice What time will allow us You're sighing..."

Thinking about the time that is given to us with our kids and to appreciate the time we have with them. The you're sighing lyric kills me.

It's a sappy interpretation of a fabulous song. Every time I hear it, I want to skip out on work and go home to my two daughters. (Incidentally, don't miss my posts about Slayer, Bloodbath, and Cannibal Corpse.)

By the way, don't waste everyone's time with corrections about the true meaning. I like my version better.

I think its about a guy whos on the fence about leaving his love. He's pretty sure the relationship is over and figured the easiest thing is just for him to leave. I think he has put forth an effort to make things work but she just won't come around. She probably gives him a bunch of sh*t and he figures the only she'll be happy is if he leaves.

I was fascinated with other's interpretations.

This song has particular meaning to me right now.

My wife is a chronic pain patient and regularly suffers bouts of depression.

Oh, how I miss her smile.

We were just having an argument about what it means to take a night out. The symantics can twist the meaning to be that "I don't want to be here." This would tend to exacerbate a standing problem.

In the case of this song, he takes the time that she is asleep to be on his own, to "take a night out" so to speak.

He, like I, is conflicted with the seeming hopelessness of the situation where her depression is an entrenched part of their reality.

Coming home to her smile is a dream we hold dear. It is especially meaningful because it is something we somehow seem less and less able to do for her when we are home- make her "smile".

At least that what it seems like to me.

I can understand the interpretations stated here and they are likely exactly what David intended when he wrote it, but for me personally, it's about losing a loved one. My aunt, who was like a second mother to me, passed away this past weekend and this song has been stuck in my head. Whether it's just the melody of the song and the vibe that it creates, or if it's the words and the way I can interpret them to fit my situation, or both...I'm not sure, but this is how it breaks down for me...

"Would this do To make it all right"

I'm totally lost and want to do the things to pay my respects, but she was so very special to me that I'm unsure if the things I'm doing are good enough to convey how very special to me that she truly was.

"While sleep has taken you Where I'm out of sight"

Asleep is how I like to think of her. She's on the other side but I'm not there with her yet.

"I'll make my getaway Time on my own"

Through all of the things that people have done for me during this loss, the thing that will help me the most is spending some quiet time by myself with my memories of her.

"Search for a better way To find my way home To your smile"

In the end, it's her smile and how it made me feel that will help me the most.

"Wasting days and days On this fight Always down and up Half the night"

The fight is the happiness and sorrow that I'm going back and forth with. It's peaks and valleys for both.

"Hopeless to reminisce Through the dark hours We'll only sacrifice What time will allow us"

I try to get my mind on other things but I cant help but reminisce. As time passes by, it will get easier to cope with.

"You're sighing... sighing"

She's far away and cant do anything to comfort me. Her sighing comes from not being able to help.

"All alone Though you're right here Now it's time to go From your sad stare"

I feel so empty and alone even though I was right beside her at her service and I know where her resting place is. Her sad stare was what I last saw.

"Make my getaway Time on my own Needing a better way To find my way home To your smile"

As before, it's the memories of her and her smile that will comfort me the most. I'll feel at home again when I can see her smile.

This song has such a spiritual meaning to me. I always really liked it before the past few days but it has taken on such a new meaning to me now that I cant get it out of my head. It really helped me when I delivered her eulogy. It played so loud in my head and I wish others could have heard it right then as well. I'm very sad and grieving right now, but I know I'll find my way back home to her smile.